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Special Story 2

Bud's Cause

11:42am Friday 8th September: email received from Ruth, a Heartland volunteer in VT;

Subject line: Help Please Golden Hit and Hurt!!!

I just got a call from one of the vets a few towns away about a Golden that was brought in early this morning. I haven't got the whole story straight but the gist of it is this. Male, neutered Golden Retriever, maybe 2 or 3 yr.. old, was brought in having been hit by a vehicle. Quick exam he most likely has a broken shoulder and jaw. He is stable and a real sweetheart (he is a Golden after all!!!). The hospital he is at will do the X-rays, but someone else will have to do the surgery. The estimate as of now is it might be as much as $2,000. The dog had a Georgia (the State) rabies tag but the presumed owners are claiming they don't have a dog or couldn't afford to fix it if they did have one. (I'm not sure of the story there) He is being considered a stray as the kid who brought him in and others have said they have seen him around loose for some time.

Can we get some help for this guy and Tom & I will take him to the vets and recovery and then maybe New England Heartland could place him or something? I told the gal at the vets I would call her back as soon as we could come up with something. Otherwise you know where this story goes!!!

Thanks for any help you can give me!!!

Heartland agreed to intake this boy as long as he was of sound Golden temperament; we were not stepping on another groups toes or breaking any local or state laws.

Friday p.m.: Ruth went over to the vet clinic and took the photos above; The temperament evaluation was that he was great despite the pain he must have been in.

10:09 PM Sunday, 10th September 2006

Message from Ruth:

Bud is here for the night now and we have an appointment for 8:15 am, tomorrow with an orthopedic vet. I saw the x-ray of the humeral fracture and it is a complete, displaced fracture and I'm sure it hurts. He's on a duragesic patch for pain. YES!!! a vet who believes in pain medication!!! He's hopping on three legs and we help him with a towel sling. His face is still swollen and he has a huge ball of swelling under his jaw where fluid/blood have collected. I've got him in the bed room and really need to get back to him so I'll post more tomorrow after we see the vet. I only hope he can do the surgery tomorrow too. He's gone long enough without it being fixed.

Our grateful thanks to the following supporters of Bud who generously donated to his cause:

Valerie Knowles, TN; Noreen Stewart, AZ; Pauline Stevens, TN; Rich & Coby Brady CT; Sheila Norton, TN; Gary & Leslie Russell, VT; Christin Carney, CA; William & Beth Anderson, WI; Stacy Pourciau, LA; Sue Edwards, PA; Stephen Schneider, NY; Charles & Cynthia Fox, VA; Diane Dimkoff, VA; Lynn DeVos, MI; Kim Monocchi, CT; Rob Briley, PA; Tim & Melissa Mercer, TX; Coby Hinkens, CT; Raymond Leary, NH; Deb Walsh, RI; Denise Schoen, LA; Lyss Seymour, CO: Charlie Freas, TN; Shore Hearts GRR, NJ; Casey Simon-Plumb, MA; Susie Stooksbury, TN; Joan Jambor, NJ; Cody Brady, NH in Memory of Cody Shine; Ruth and Tom Woodard, VT; Mike & Nancy Hasbrook, NH; Noah and Jeremy Blaze, NH in memory of Murphy Stansberry; Cynthia Fox, VA: Sara Sumner, TN; Mary Deitch, PA;

Further email from Ruth dated 8:32 PM Monday, 11th September, 2006

Bud" had surgery this afternoon. They put a plate with four screws in the top part and three screws in the lower part to hold the humerus together. It was a clean break and went back together just fine. They also put a splint on his lower left back leg at the hock. He has a very, very bad sprain there and the ligaments are all stretched out so the hock will sublux. Because he is going to be putting more demand on it while his front leg heals and he hobbles Kurt, the vet, opted for a splint to give it more support while it heals. "Bud" still has a huge softball size hematoma under his jaw but that will go down in time, a long time. He must have slid or been dragged on his chin for a little ways. He has various small areas of damage some with staples some open to air. All will heal in time. Poor "Bud" his leg just dangling and Kurt wanted to check and make sure the nerve was still intact. He took a hold of his paw and "Bud" just curled his lip quickly as if to say, "why does everyone have to pinch my paw to see if it hurts?!?!?!" His lip uncurled as quickly as it curled and that was the only sign of pain he exhibited with all the poking, prodding and manipulation. Everyone loves him as he is so sweet.

Last night when we picked him up from Lamoille Hospital the tech and I helped him up into the back of the Pacifica and tried to get him to lay down. "Bud" had other ideas!!! He hopped thru the split back seat and thru the front and fell into the passenger seat!!! He knew where he wanted to ride. I therefore had to ride in the back seat behind him and hold onto him to keep him in the seat and safe!!! LOL!!! We helped him into the bed room and he fell down and slept all night without a peep out of him. The vet will stop in and see "Bud" tomorrow morning on his way to another hospital (he's a traveling surgeon). We can pick him up tomorrow after he see's him.

Thanks also to those of you who have made donations to "Bud's" cause!!! Bless you for being there for this guy!!!

"Bud" was adopted thru the North Country Animal league they refused to take any responsibility for him or his injuries. The person they adopted "Bud" to denied owning him and said even if they did own him they wouldn't have the money to pay for his injuries.

I ask you??? How can you spend such a short amount of time with a dog and feel so close to him??? The heart is a funny thing! Thanks for being there for the "Bud Man!"

New photos taken 23rd September 2006, Bud improves daily and according to Ruth and Tom his foster parents is very loving and well behaved.

10th October, Bud is looking good and enjoying some beautiful Fall weather in VT.

Happy Ending!!!!

18th November 2006, Bud Goes Home. His new name is Skipper. His home is now in MA in the Summer and Fl during the Winter- his medical bill is almost paid but we could still do with a little help.

Bud with his new people.