Pup left for dead in M’gatal hit-and-run
Published on: Saturday, July 31, 2021
By: Dr Roslee bin Haji Abbas
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TIMING is absolutely crucial in the event a dog survives getting hit or run over by a car. Injured dogs are left completely vulnerable to further injury, totally exposed in the street.
On June 23, 2021 at 12.41pm Heart attended to a call from a good Samaritan informing us to save an injured dog from a worse fate who was a victim of a hit-and-run by a vehicle. The homeless 6 months old dog got run over by a car in the middle of the road in Menggatal. The good Samaritan sprung into action instantly when she saw a puppy dragging its hind legs in the middle of the road.
She was worried about more oncoming cars and put the injured dog on a safe ground while waiting for us to rescue.
When we arrived at the incident site the puppy was whimpering and his broken legs were causing him immense pain. We could see he was in worse shape than we initially imagined. He was shaking like a leaf and clearly in distress. He survived but he was a sorry sight.
His eyes were bloody, he couldn’t stand up, and when he moved, he dragged his back legs. Looking at his extensive injuries, notably to his hind legs we didn’t get our hopes up, but we tried to be positive. We named him Charlie.
We gently scooped him up as he yelped out in pain and terror. The dog Charlie was loaded into the car and rushed to our panel veterinary clinic. Radiographs (X-rays) revealed his right rear femur was detached from its socket and needed bone plate.
It’s plating the bone in position with a plate screwed to the outside of the bone. The poor pup needed two emergency surgeries. It was definitely recommended by our veterinarian to give Charlie the dog, a new leash on life.
Meanwhile, his right and left tibia-fibula were also fractured from injuries that were triggered by impact and crushing force. The vet said it would be the best solution using an external fixator, which involves placing several short stainless steel pins vertically into the bone fragments, and connecting these pins on the outside of the leg using metal bars and clamps, so the puppy wouldn’t face further complications down the line. That’s the best case for him. X-rays also showed Charlie had hernias the result of the accident. There was a tear in the wall of Charlie’s muscles in the abdomen to push through and life-threatening if it was not fixed.
Charlie had an operation on his femur on July 28 which we are pleased to say was a success, and he is now recovering. He may need his second surgery scheduled on August 1 if his condition improves or stabilises.
Heart will go the extra mile to safe a life but it would have been easier for a kill animal shelter in Kota Kinabalu to put him to sleep but Heart took on the effort to give him life.
If a kill animal shelter decides to end an animal life like Charlie, Heart takes on this task every life deserves a second chance at life. They deserve to be helped and like humans be helped from a dark bad place. Having mercy and showing kindness is what restores human kind it’s the least we could do because it’s human fault these animals are suffering. We should always show animals that there are also good people. This world would be a better place if we all acted as grateful, compassionate, and loving as dogs!
We already suffered some financial setbacks this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so we were devastated to learn how expensive Charlie’s treatment would be. The treatment cost is RM1,850-RM2,000. We simply couldn’t afford it.
We receive no government funding and rely on the support and kindness from our community, private donations and charity bazaar to complete our mission. Heart does not euthanise animals to make space to house others. We are a no-kill animal welfare group and work to preserve life whenever possible.
We rely on donations from people like you who are willing to spend their hard-earned money to help animals in dire needs.
If you would like to help to pay for Charlie’s medical and other expenses please send your money to:
CIMB BANK BERHAD
Account no.
70 3762569 4
ROSLI @ ROSLEE BIN ABBAS
DONATE - CHARLIE
And every ringgit helps! Thank you in advance for your generous, big and small (and no donation is too small).
Have a heart. Donate.
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