What would you do if you got a message saying there was a dog lying injured by some rubbish bins? Clare Roberts had just such an experience earlier this week. Here's the story.
'I received a text message this lunchtime from a friend with a photo attached of a Podenco lying next to a bin area. The message said that the dog looked dazed and was very quiet.
When I got there to collect him, I found a badly injured dog who was nearly at death's door. I sped him to the vet's, thinking I would be too late, but we made it and the vet quickly assessed him and took an x-ray after making him more comfortable and pain-free. The x-ray showed that he has a shattered femur in his rear right leg and his pelvis/hip is also broken on that side, but it is a clean break. There were also signs of internal bleeding in his lungs and possibly his intestines.
The vet has said that they won't do anything for his breaks until he has been there 24 hours, as he may not survive the night with the internal bleeding, so he is just on pain meds and a saline drip till tomorrow. She is pretty sure he was hit by a car.
I called him Angel as I don't think he would have survived much longer by the bins, so he would have been with the angels!
If he survives, it will cost in the region of €1,000 to plate both his leg and pelvis and cover all the sundry items such as x-rays etc. This is way beyond my means at the moment! The only alternatives I have are to ask people for donations or have Angel put to sleep which I can't do. I am asking people to donate straight to the vet's so that there is no doubt as to where the money is going and what it is being used for. I am not a registered charity, but have more than 30 dogs in my care at the moment, all abandoned, so I would definitely be struggling to meet such a bill. Once he is in recovery (fingers crossed) I can offer him a home here with me - I can afford to feed him.'
Angel survived the night and is still hanging on in the vets' surgery. Looks like Clare got to him in time.
If anyone can help pay towards the current vet bill of 700 euros (photo below) for Angel then you can donate Paypal Clare roberts.clare66@googlemail.com. There will be further vet expenses post op and medication.
Let's get this boy back on his feet by helping his guardian angel pay the bill.
Hi everyone! Saturday update :-)
Angel has now had two operations to plate his leg and hip, but they found a break on the other side of the hip so he will require another operation on Monday, poor boy. This will of course mean that the bill will be higher, but the vet is giving me discount as you can see from the first bill above, and as soon as I have the revised bill I will give it to Beryl to post on here for you.
I have been to see him every night, and I see improvements in his general demeanour each time I go, for instance last night he was actually eating a little, drinking a lot and grooming himself!! I won't be able to see him until Monday after his third operation now, but the vet has assured me that they will give him plenty of cuddles! They are looking after him well; he has a mattress, blankets and even a heat lamp - 5* service I say!
Thank you all for your support, I know Angel would give you all big licks if he could xxx
Posted by: Clare Roberts | 26 October 2013 at 02:36 PM
Yes I will donate something on Thursday. Bless this good lady for caring and being such a good person.
Posted by: Kathryn | 26 October 2013 at 03:34 PM
aww bless this poor baby i will donate on monday i will txt jane and ask her to put some through
Posted by: jenny | 26 October 2013 at 06:53 PM
Clare you are Angel's Angel. I will send donation tomorrow and hope that you get the help you need for saving this poor boy.
Posted by: jane | 26 October 2013 at 11:23 PM
Bad news this morning as he wasn't strong enough for his 3rd op but what a difference a day makes!! He improved quite noticably during my visit; he ate and drank, had cuddles, and went to sleep on my hand.
The vet says he is much better this evening after the stronger meds she gave him - this morning she wasn't sure he would make it as his eyes were sunken and lifeless.
They may still wait another day for the 3rd op but she is happy to do so to give him a chance to perk up more.
The blood tests came back negative for leish, thank goodness!!
I'm back again in the late morning to give him more cuddles and love from everyone, and thank you all for your positive thoughts!!
Posted by: Clare Roberts | 28 October 2013 at 07:38 PM
ANGEL UPDATE------TUESDAY 29TH OCT------ANGEL UPDATE
He is definitely perkier this morning!! The vet seemed really pleased with his progress, but says she may still wait another day to give him more chance to regain enough strength for the next operation. If all goes well, I may be able to bring him home this weekend or Monday YAY!!! Can't wait!! So, I'd better get the rooms sorted out for him, and get the others used to not being able to go in them!!
I paid the first €500 this morning too, and will transfer another €500 on Thursday, then pay the rest as needed...the vet is not sure quite how much will be left to pay until she gets in there for the last op.
You can see from the gory pics what she saw when she first opened his hip - this is the opposite side to the leg break. Must have been some hit he took
Anyway he sends big sloppy licks to everyone and says he'll keep getting better for you all!!
Posted by: Clare Roberts | 29 October 2013 at 09:57 PM
oh thats fantastick news clare come on angel keep going for us for clare for you thinking of you boy
Posted by: jenny | 30 October 2013 at 05:34 PM
ANGEL UPDATE ---- WEDS 30TH OCTOBER ---- ANGEL UPDATE
Angel is not a happy bunny tonight. He's had his 3rd operation and it all went well but he looks as if he's just about had enough. Very little movement except a very big drink of water then he threw it back up They moved him to a clean kennel and he went straight off to sleep.
He really needs to rest and recuperate now before coming home. The vet says that he will need plenty of TLC for the next few days and he is on antibiotics, stomach meds to stop any harm, pain killer and fluids. Also I don't think he's noticed he has no danglies any more - that may come as a shock to him!
Please keep him in your thoughts tonight.
Posted by: Clare Roberts | 30 October 2013 at 07:45 PM
is angel still on the road to recovery beryl have you heard anything vless him
Posted by: jenny | 02 November 2013 at 08:36 AM
oh i am thinking of him poor soul wishing he as a quick recovery bless him
Posted by: jenny | 02 November 2013 at 02:07 PM
ANGEL UPDATE --- 4TH NOV --- ANGEL UPDATE
I really don't know how to tell you this softly, but I think we are going to lose Angel.
The vet said that he had a really good day yesterday, eating, drinking, they even got him up for a while on the harness and he seemed great. But when they arrived this morning, he was cold, completely unresponsive and as if in a coma. What they are pretty sure of is that he has had some sort of episode in the brain, either a swelling which is just now pressing on the brain or a thrombosis that has travelled to the brain. I am devastated, and so was the vet - she was crying too
Anyway, they are going to give him 24 hours to see if he can recover in any way with the meds they are giving him. If not, then I have to make a decision.
He felt so cold, and looked so bad. I felt awful leaving him in that state, but she said at least give him a day.
They could send him to the hospital to find out exactly what it is, but it would cost another €1,000 to tell them what they pretty much know anyway, and the hospital couldn't do anything more than they are doing here.
I will be going back again this evening. Please all send positive thoughts in abundance to my little man, he needs us more than ever.
Posted by: Clare Roberts | 04 November 2013 at 01:43 PM
I'm very sorry to have to tell you all that Angel passed away in my arms at 9:55 am this morning, without the use of any injection. He was not suffering, but there was no way he could come back from the damage done from the original accident and subsequent operations.
I'm so sad that I never got to know the 'real' Angel, running like the wind, enjoying life, pain free and happy. I know he would have been wonderful to see.
Thank you all so much for your help and support through this tragedy. He knew he was loved by so many. So many tears for you.
Run free my beautiful, beautiful Angel, may you have wings at your feet and love in your heart always.
I love you ♥♥♥♥
Posted by: Clare Roberts | 05 November 2013 at 09:44 AM
So sorry Clare.....Thank you for what you did for him. My heart goes out to you
Posted by: Jane | 05 November 2013 at 06:18 PM