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Rex was born October 25, 2006, and was sold to a couple without much time to train or give him exercise. They sent him off to "boarding school" when he was about 11 months old. No one knows exactly what happened, but he had an accident that broke the bones and ripped all the tendons in his left ankle. The owners' vet performed surgery, and Rex was pretty much housebound for the next three months. One rainy morning, when Rex was very bored and had had no exercise, he chewed a big hole in the arm of "his" couch (they kept him confined to the family room and allowed him on a couch in that room). The husband was very upset and told the wife to get him out of the house. That is when Rex came in to rescue.
Rex was still limping very badly when I got him and seemed to be in a lot of pain, so I took him to the orthopedic specialist who has done surgery on a couple of my rescued Airedales. Dr. Boulay said that while the two outer bones of the ankle had healed, the fragmented bones and damaged ligaments in the interior of the ankle would never heal and it would require fusion and a bone plate to stabalize the ankle and give him a fully functioning and pain-free leg.
That surgery was performed on January 9, 2008, and the splint removed on February 27, 2008. After the bone had healed, the bone plate was removed on April 30. We now have to make sure that the holes where the plate was attached to the bone are fully filled with bone as the leg could fracture at those points if he stressed the leg before the bone was fully mature.
He is currently (as of 5/16/08) wearing a soft bandage and needs to be limited to leashed walks for another week to 10 days. After that, Dr. Boulay will remove the bandage and does not believe Rex will have any limitations at all. Of course, Rex has been on restricted exercise for a long time, so he will need to build up the muscles in his leg. He's very healthy and very active, so it shouldn't take long. Because his ankle is fused and doesn't bend, he will have a slight gait change, but won't be very noticeable, especially when he is running. 5/28/08 Update: For the first time, I am feeling very optimistic about Rex. He is using the leg a lot now; running around and finally able to execute a three-point pee. Ever since he joined me, he has had to squat like a puppy because he couldn't balance on two legs. This afternoon he tried it, it worked and he had to keep trying to make sure it was true. We were practically high-fiving (dog people!)
It's kind of amazing, but Rex hasn't been traumatized at all by what he has been through. Rex's best trait is his sunny disposition. He loves to see all people and wiggles with delight when he sees someone. Hardly anyone can resist coming to pet him because he exudes friendliness and good cheer. As far as he is concerned everyone is his best friend. Every time he goes to the vet, he is just thrilled to see everyone and trots happily off with the techs. He is equally delighted to see me (and everyone else in the waiting room) when he returns.
I believed that this happy young boy deserved to have a happy, pain-free life. I hope that you agree and might be willing to help me with the expenses. Your tax-qualified Firstgiving donations will be sent to National Airedale Rescue, Inc., and designated for the Arizona Airedale Rescue Medical Fund.
Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.
Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!
There is a list below of the people who have donated through this Firstgiving site. I want to thank the other wonderful people who have donated through other means: Christie Williams, Rita Ferrer, Andrea Denninger, Jeri Langman, Roy and Rita Brown, Maureen and Jim Scott, John and Catherine Dittmar, Bryan Lee, Rusty LaFrance, Marguerite Hardie, Stephanie Callahan, Marj Jorden, Janet Williams
Thank you!
Sidney Hardie
Tucson, Arizona
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