Boston Terrier special needs spotlight

If you would like to contribute to the Special Needs Program, please be sure to send your donation clearly marked for the "special needs spotlight Fund"

special needs spotlight Boston

Daisy Mae

This is Daisy Mae...she was being kept as an outside dog, not valued at all by her keepers. As a matter of fact, she was brought in to a Vet who was directed to put her down because someone in the family had supposedly run over her and they did not want to spend any additional money on her. The Vet had them turn her over to him, at which time he took x-rays, and provided them to the Rescue picking her up. After the leg was splinted it was hoped that the bones would start to fuse...that the splint would be able to keep it immobile enough. A new x-ray showed that this was not to be, and the leg had to be re-splinted.

At this point the Rescue was in the process of making an appointment with an Orthopedist so that an evaluation could be made as to whether surgery would be feasible...whether a plate could be used, as the break is so close to the elbow. The number of days that have passed since the incident will also contribute to the difficulties involved if would even be an option. The Rescue is located in a pretty rural area, and just getting to a specialist is no small task.

Before any of this could take place, Daisy was checked during regular morning rotation, and it was discovered that she had pulled her leg out of the cast.

The Rescue personnel rushed her to the nearest emergency care facility with a Specialist able to handle a problem of this nature, and provide additional diagnostics. It was found that while the bone had begun a callous formation, after somehow managing to pull the leg free the bones were now misaligned. So, it is going to be now, or never...either fix the leg surgically or lose it entirely.

On top of this she is also heart worm positive!

The cost involved in saving her leg is expected to run between $2,600 and $3,600. After what she has been through...doesn’t she deserve something better from life...??? Won’t you please help us to help Daisy...???

Update 8-9-2008

Daisy Mae is recovering slowly from her recent leg surgery. She has another appointment with the specialist in mid-August, and even if he removes the splint at that time, she will still have a very restricted regimen. The multiple severe breaks in her leg will require time and care to heal around the splinters, screws, and plate that were involved in the surgery. Daisy has also started a 2-1/2 month treatment for heartworm.

She loves being carried outside and back in. We could tell from the start that air conditioning was a treat to which she was unaccustomed. We are certain that Daisy Mae had never been waited on or given the loving attention these wonderful dogs deserve. She had been kept outside and that was a waste of the adorable companionship she can offer. Daisy Mae is very good natured and loving, and she thrives on attention.

Once her cast is off, Daisy will need physical therapy in order to get her leg back in full operation. Her foot has been useless the entire time she has been in rescue, so she will need to “unlearn” not using it.

To date, her bills are $3,000 and that figure will go up considerably when she starts her physical therapy. Daisy Mae's rescue volunteer had to take out a personal loan in order to pay for her surgery. As you can imagine, it is extremely difficult to run a rescue operation and repay such a large loan.

We really do need your help to pay Daisy Mae’s bills for surgery, and physical therapy. Please, whatever amount you can spare will be gratefully received and your donation is tax deductible as allowed by law.

Thank you.

Daisy Mae getting her stitches out

Daisy Mae after her surgery

Update 9-5-2008

Daisy had her splint removed on Aug 18, X-rays were taken and studied. The radius implants (plates and screws), seem to be without complication. The ulnar implant seems to have loosened, so the leg is not normally aligned as the uninjured leg. She is on restrictive exercise and can only be leashed walked for moderate duration. She uses the leg about 20% of the time, and should naturally continue to increase it's use. Some of that is due to the fact that it was immobilized for a long period, and some degree of habit is in play. The other factor is normal progression/healing.

She will need rehab exercises, the Ulna might require additional surgery to lessen a degree of lameness, however that is not a likely scenario due to the already high expenses in mending to this point.

She is still undergoing heart worm treatment, and is due to receive a last oral Dose on Sept 11, then following 3 additional weeks of restriction, then she may be allowed a greater degree of "freedom.' and some rehab therapy.

In spite of her misfortune she has been a wonderful patient with nary a complaint She has enjoyed the benefits of air conditioning, something denied her previously. I think that aspect of relief made her recuperation more bearable, as in spite of injury; she saw increased attention and improvement in lifestyle.

Daisy Mae with her splint removed

Daisy Mae Update
October 20th 2008

Daisy has recovered from her ordeal and is ready to enjoy the love and security of a forever home.

Daisy is looking for a forever home that is the perfect fit for her needs. She will have some special needs: Her foster person reports that she is very close to being completely deaf. Her leg must be protected from injury and the cold due to the plates and screws in her leg. She wants a fenced, protected, ample exercise and play area. Daisy loves people and demands a lot of personal attention - she got used to it during her convalescence. She would do best in a home with no children or children old enough to understand her limitations as far as rough-housing. It is probably best that she be either an only dog or live with a compatible dog with a low energy level since she should not rough-house due to her leg-repair. She does like to chase small animals so when she is out of her yard, she must be walked on leash at all times and for that same reason would probably do best in a home with no cats.

If you would like more information about Daisy Mae please , and please put "special needs spotlight" in the subject header.

Daisy Mae

A message from Daisy Mae's foster family:

"Daisy is another story of what rescue is all about: for the rescuers, the dog itself and the adoptive parents.

At an age of about 2 years, excitable, loving, curious, and active, Daisy was kept outside, which no way to treat a Boston. Somewhere along the way she lost some of her hearing and was allowed to contract heartworm disease. That’s not the worst of it; she was left at a vet’s office with a splintered front leg, which luckily did not protrude through skin.
The worst is behind us now, recovered from the heartworm, mended the leg with plates and screws, and she considered herself fortunate to have been provided with air conditioning during her confinement.

Know this; we didn’t save her nor do we save any to "collect a fee"; we save them because they need us... period. But folks her bills are approaching $4,000, our fee will never be enough, she’s not the first, and won’t be the last. We need help; without it the few of us in rescue have to personally make up the difference, and it makes it all the harder to continue and fewer we can yank from the hubs of hell.

Please donate to her cause, and while she will have a fee, which won’t be a tenth of her debts, please think of helping us help her and more like her."

If you would like to contribute to the special needs spotlight, please be sure to send your donation clearly marked for the "special needs spotlight Fund" to Boston Terrier Rescue Net, via PayPal to BTRN2000@insight.rr.com or by mail to:

BTRN
P.O. Box 734
New Albany, Ohio
43054

Donors names will initially be posted to the special needs spotlight
page and subsequently to the Wall Of Thanks.

Your donation will be tax deductible to the full amount allowed by the law.