BEAR NEEDS DONATIONS for MAJOR SURGERY
11 Month Old St. Bernard Mix
8 May 2008
BEAR came to us with his sibling TEDDY in early August of 2007 at the tender age of 7 weeks. Both puppies were very nervous and did not adapt to meeting new faces or situations very easily. We do not know the true story behind these puppies, only that they were born in Hollister.
Both pups were adopted to a home in Pleasanton in late September of 2007. Bear was returned due to issues that the family could not handle, they felt he was hindering the growth of Teddy.
Once again we are in debited to Dog House Inn, Gilroy they gave him a safe place to live, as there were available foster homes. It turned out to be that this was the BEST place for Bear to be. Rommey Kay has been working very closely with Bear since his intake in October.
In early December of 2007, Rommey noticed that Bear had a limp in his hind quarters, Rommey monitored his condition and in January 2008 x-rays were done at Animal Hospital, Hollister, and it was determined that Bear might require surgery.
He was diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia, and could possibly be a candidate for total hip replacement surgery. Bear has been on pain medications to ease his condition, and also helps him get some valued exercise and be part of the pack at Dog House Inn.
Since the original diagnosis the x-rays have been sent to specialists for further evaluation. The conclusion from Veterinary Radiology Specialists in Capitola is that Bear has Bilateral Hip Dysplasia, and that it will require a Triple Pelvic Osteotomy. Total hip replacement surgery is not performed on dogs of this age. Bear's file has been forwarded to Dr. Jim Roush who is a specialist in this field, we are awaiting a consultation date.
As of yet, the cost of the surgery has only been an initial quote of around $4,000. Until the consultation, we will not know the exact cost of his surgery.
At one point, we did consider euthanasia, but after consideration we felt Bear should be given a chance at a pain-free life, in spite of the costly procedure. He deserves our best efforts and a chance at being adopted into a family situation where he can fully bloom.
As it stands, we know there is probably no one out there who would be willing to adopt Bear, given his medical condition, and furthermore would be willing to pay for his surgery. Bear is still very nervous when facing new challenges and people, he would require a home with understanding and patience and the ability to make him face his fears, without hindering the growth he has already shown.
Rommey feels that Dog House Inn have done their job in rehabilitating Bear. He now needs to be part of a family and experience things other than living at Dog House Inn.
Bear has become a major part of DHI and has a great calming effect on in coming dogs, but a decision has been made and Bear will be going to a foster home in Santa Cruz sometime in May. There he will have the companionship of another dog and also be around new people. Rommey and Sherry will miss him, but he will return to DHI after his surgery for re-couperation , and will be under the loving care of Rommey Kay and her Vet tech nursing skills.
We are hoping that the public reads this plea and donations come in to help us get the surgery he so needs. Bear is a beautiful young dog, we have all watched him grow. He now weighs 43 pounds, which is an ideal size for him, given his medical condition.
If you would like to donate towards the cost of his surgery please mail your checks to ACGSR Inc. P.O. Box 904, Hollister, CA. 95024
Thank you so much and God Bless you all for caring for our abandoned and unwanted animals.
