Franklin County Humane Society: Emergency Medical Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

Emergency surgery for Pepper the puppy.

See below.

How many pets did this grant help?

1

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Pepper, a 12-week-old puppy, was brought to our shelter by a mother and daughter. The 6-year-old daughter had been playing near a creek when she surprised her mother by climbing up from the creek with a puppy in her arms. The pup was about half the size of the child and the little girl was struggling to keep her balance while cradling the baby. The mother helped the daughter put the puppy gently in the grass.

They both admired the puppy and snuggled it, but quickly realized the dog had something wrong with its back leg or both legs. The daughter wanted to keep and care for the puppy, but the mother knew the animal needed special help.

With great reluctance, the little girl agreed to entrust her sick new friend to the care of our shelter. We honored the little girl’s rescue effort by keeping the name “Pepper,” the same name the girl had given to the puppy.

Our vet partner evaluated the animal and determined that its left hind femur was broken, as was as its iliac crest (pelvis) on the right side. It was determined that in order for the iliac crest to heal, the pup would have to keep pressure off its right side for several weeks. Unfortunately, the left leg was injured and needed to be amputated, which would leave the puppy putting all its weight on — you guessed it — the right side.

We contacted another veterinarian, who reviewed Pepper’s x-rays and agreed to perform a surgery to repair the femur instead of amputating the leg. The surgery was estimated to be more expensive than an amputation. Pepper had already beat so many odds for her survival, including being found by a 6-year-old guardian angel, that we decided to proceed with the surgery.

Pepper underwent surgery on Thursday, June 24, 2021, and the bone was successfully repaired by placing a rod in her leg. Pepper is now resting and waiting for the natural healing process to take over.

This little pup has been sweet, patient, and wonderfully easy to work with through all of her medical treatment. On July 1, Pepper was transferred to a foster home. Her new foster family has fostered more than 200 of our homeless pets in the last eight years. Pepper was surrounded by love, laughter, and wisdom.

After our veterinary partner approved Pepper for adoption, she was adopted in August and is now loving life in her new home.