Extra Special Dogs
Many of our dogs come to us nearly ready for adoption, and with just a couple of weeks of care, vaccinations, and spaying or neutering, they are ready to be adopted. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
Some of our dogs require special care. This may be due to medical conditions, injuries, behavioral or socialization issues, or heartworm infections. These dogs require extra effort, time, and funding before they are ready for adoption. Their time in foster care is much longer than the typical dog, as they require special treatment. You can read more about our extra special dogs below.
If you would like to sponsor or foster one of these special dogs, please click here.
Some of our dogs require special care. This may be due to medical conditions, injuries, behavioral or socialization issues, or heartworm infections. These dogs require extra effort, time, and funding before they are ready for adoption. Their time in foster care is much longer than the typical dog, as they require special treatment. You can read more about our extra special dogs below.
If you would like to sponsor or foster one of these special dogs, please click here.
Trace
Trace came to us with both rear legs damaged from being hit by an ATV approx. 2 months prior. Beforehand, Trace had been surviving with NO vet care, dragging two non-functional, infected legs. He was also malnourished and is heartworm positive. He was in critical condition when we rescued him, so we did incur some costs doing blood work to make sure that he could withstand the surgery he needed.
His left leg had to be amputated immediately. All of the muscles had atrophied and the bones had healed incorrectly. Nerve damage prevented him from having any control over it, and it could not be saved.
The right leg is missing approximately 30% of its length and most of the foot. The vet says that this part likely was ripped off and/ or rotted off before Trace was rescued. He went through several rounds of intensive antibiotic therapy because the infection had settled so deep into the bone on the leg we did not amputate. We were finally able to get the infection under control so that we did not have to amputate the right leg. Now, his right leg stump has part of a foot pad and two toe pads that have reattached haphazardly to the bottom of the stump. Because of nerve damage, Trace has no feeling in his leg. This means he can't "place" the leg consciously (take steps with it, etc). However, he does use the leg stump to prop his weight up when standing, so we have not removed it yet. We are hoping that over time the nerves will regenerate, which will allow him to move the leg, take steps, etc. If this happens, our vet plans to do a reconstructive surgery on the stump that will place the remaining toe pads on the bottom of the stump to form a new "foot" which will keep the leg bone from protruding from the stump as he walks on it.
If his right leg shows no sign of regenerating nerves in a couple of months, we will have to amputate that leg as well. At that point, we will need to purchase a wheelchair for Trace and train him to use it.
Currently, Trace walks on his two front legs surprisingly fast! He can outrun his foster mom, so that gives you an idea of his mobility. He had learned to walk on his two front legs in the months before rescue, and he continues to do that in foster care when he is not using his stump to prop up when standing. Because of this, we are confident that Trace can have a good quality of life, even if we have to amputate the remaining leg.
Now that we have his pain and infection under control, Trace has blossomed in to a wonderful, happy dog. Trace has a great, survivor's spirit and an amazing will to live. He is doing well in foster care where he gets along well with other dogs and enjoys sunbathing on warm afternoons. Trace is very affectionate with people now as well.
His left leg had to be amputated immediately. All of the muscles had atrophied and the bones had healed incorrectly. Nerve damage prevented him from having any control over it, and it could not be saved.
The right leg is missing approximately 30% of its length and most of the foot. The vet says that this part likely was ripped off and/ or rotted off before Trace was rescued. He went through several rounds of intensive antibiotic therapy because the infection had settled so deep into the bone on the leg we did not amputate. We were finally able to get the infection under control so that we did not have to amputate the right leg. Now, his right leg stump has part of a foot pad and two toe pads that have reattached haphazardly to the bottom of the stump. Because of nerve damage, Trace has no feeling in his leg. This means he can't "place" the leg consciously (take steps with it, etc). However, he does use the leg stump to prop his weight up when standing, so we have not removed it yet. We are hoping that over time the nerves will regenerate, which will allow him to move the leg, take steps, etc. If this happens, our vet plans to do a reconstructive surgery on the stump that will place the remaining toe pads on the bottom of the stump to form a new "foot" which will keep the leg bone from protruding from the stump as he walks on it.
If his right leg shows no sign of regenerating nerves in a couple of months, we will have to amputate that leg as well. At that point, we will need to purchase a wheelchair for Trace and train him to use it.
Currently, Trace walks on his two front legs surprisingly fast! He can outrun his foster mom, so that gives you an idea of his mobility. He had learned to walk on his two front legs in the months before rescue, and he continues to do that in foster care when he is not using his stump to prop up when standing. Because of this, we are confident that Trace can have a good quality of life, even if we have to amputate the remaining leg.
Now that we have his pain and infection under control, Trace has blossomed in to a wonderful, happy dog. Trace has a great, survivor's spirit and an amazing will to live. He is doing well in foster care where he gets along well with other dogs and enjoys sunbathing on warm afternoons. Trace is very affectionate with people now as well.
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