10/9/10: Pierre Update
WOW it’s been a whirlwind roller coaster ride the past several days with Pierre. First and foremost I want to thank everyone who has donated, who has prayed, who has passed Pierre’s story on, and who has helped or offered to help in any way. It truly is (as you will see more in a minute) a team effort that is going to save Pierre.
We had a few scares the first couple of days with some worry of bladder bleeding and neurological damage. Once we got past those we ran into some further difficulties trying to find an orthopedic surgeon that felt they could/would do the surgery. After a few initial inquiries were unsuccessful I decided to contact my sister at Ohio State University. Now she’s going to be mad at me and say she has played a very tiny role in this but for me it was her part that got me past the biggest stumbling block that I felt I couldn’t overcome. I knew in my heart this dog could be saved but I didn’t know what resources to tap into. My sister holds several titles at OSU and again she won’t be happy I’ve shared them but I’m proud of her and her work and rarely get the opportunity to tell her and it is because of her skills and dedication that she was able to reach out to her colleagues and ultimately “make that connection” that put us where we are today. My sister, Dr. Mary Jo Burkhard is DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVP (Clinical Pathology), Associate Professor, Co-Director Cytometry Core and OSU Culture Transformation Facilitator, certainly has the contacts I needed to find the surgeon I needed. I made a panicked call to her explaining my problem and my quest to find one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the Midwest and she offered to approach Dr. Jon Dyce and his Orthopedic Surgery team at OSU and ultimately he felt that his team was up to the challenge of fixing Pierre.
That’s the good news. The problematic news was two-fold. First when all is said and done we probably will need closer to $6000-7000 to completely put Pierre back together and fully recovered. This will cover his initial care, his surgery, and the follow up care he will need. Secondly as this all unfolded Thursday evening we had to have Pierre at Ohio State University on Friday before 2pm.
We had a wonderful volunteer offer to drive Pierre down on Friday morning leaving the vets office in Benton Harbor at 6:30 AM for his safe arrival at OSU. The financial aspect I am leaving to faith. I prayed long and hard about this situation and whether or not I should proceed with trying to save this dog with the increased cost and I believe that God has answered that by putting all the pieces together to make it possible. So I believe that God will use those who read this as the catalyst to raise the additional funds needed, which is about $2000-3000.
Pierre is currently at Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center in ICU/Critical Care where he is receiving 24/7 care and pain management. He is on IV’s in preparation of a Monday or Tuesday surgery. I am confident he is in the best of hands with a wonderful team on his side. Everyone from Dr. Dyce and his Orthopedic Team, the Dr.’s and staff in the ICU/Critical Care Unit, Radiology and Ultrasound team who helped facilitate his intake and preparation for surgery, the clinical Pathology Laboratory that is has and is monitoring his various pathology levels to make sure he is in good shape for surgery, the Client services staff helping in so many ways, and during surgery the Anesthesia Team that will play a crucial role in this expected to be long surgery.
I find it ironic that today when so many people are focused on Michigan State and the University of Michigan’s football contest, I’m rooting for Ohio State and a contest that on Monday or Tuesday will NOT be played on the football field but in a surgical ward, with a Fabulous team of donors, and volunteers, supporters, and doctors and their staffs…so many people from so many backgrounds pulling together to save Pierre!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and caring.
I've been doing emergency animal rescue for over 15 years now. Just when I think (and pray) I've seen "the worst" hard luck story another one comes along. With that said I am always amazed at the contradiction of people. When I think I really cannot stand the human race and their cruelty to one another and animals, with their "not my problem" attitude someone or a group of someones come along and prove to me that there are decent, caring and compassionate folks still out there. More so then the cruel and "could care less" ones. I'm hoping you all will prove to me one more time that it is so.
I received the call about a little dog run over by a car at 4:50 pm today (10/4/10). The caller had run this little 15 lb dog over in her driveway just before 8:00am but went on to work anyway calling no one for help. Wasn't her dog, wasn't her problem. But when she came home at 4:30 pm and the dog (that had lain in horrific pain) was still there then she figured someone else (Animal Aid of Southwestern Michigan) needed to come and deal with the dog.
I immediately responded and saw the little dog laying still in the drive. As I approached I couldn't even see the little guys eyes for all the hair and mats. Doing a quick assessment I noticed the toenails on this guy were so long they had grown over and were growing into his pads. Matts hung from his back end caked in poop. But even though I couldn't see his eyes he could see me because he started thumping his tail in a timid wag. After crouching down and talking to him for a bit, scritching him on the head I then made a stretcher out of a towel and moved him onto it. He screamed in pain, a horrific scream that stabbed right past your heart and into your soul. It took everything I had not to let the tears stream down my face as the "caller" was telling me "her side" of the story. All I could think was this poor dog laid there for hours in agony because she couldn't take a few minutes to call someone and speak to someone who could help. She figured the problem would just "go away".
As I transported Pierre to the vets office for emergency care I called to warn them he was on his way. Met by staff immediatley they began triage, stabalization and pain management. In the 15 years I have been doing emergency rescue I have taken many, many, many hit by car dogs to this vets office. After xrays the vet informed me this was hands down the worst broken pelvis he'd ever seen. Far beyond the skills at their office, this dog will need orthopedic surgery with plates and pins to regain quality of life and be able to walk.
So if your still with me, this is the part where the good people come in. Animal Aid of Southwestern Michigan has recently had several major injury animals come in. Nina with a badly broken back leg from being hit by car, pregnant, and heartworm positive, it required external pins to put her back together. Puppy # 1 with her front foot/ankle broken in 4 places after being dragged down the street and abused by a group of bored kids. Puppy #2 suffering from some type of head trauma which was badly infected and required draining and intensive hospital care to save his life, and Luna the 5 lb malnourished chihuahua mix that was living in an abandoned house eating anything it could and rat poisen to survive. Caught after a 4 day rescue marathon effort she was hospitalized and treated, and is now in a foster home recovering.
But al these rescues in a short period of time have drained our Emergency Medical fund. Without donations to save Pierre we will not be able to help him. The specialist who will do the surgery requires money up front. Money we do not have.
So my plea is simply this. I've said it before, I'll vow it again. As long as the good people of the world will donate funds to save these abused, neglected, and tragically injured waifs then I will continue to go out day and night to save the ones God puts in front of me.
Even if you can only give $1.00 those $1.00's add up. Please consider making a donation today to save Pierre so that we can continue to save the others like him.
My second request is that you send this story (you can copy and paste, you can post on your facebook, you can send out an email to your address book) to the caring, compassionate, animal loving friends you know. Ask them if they can spare a buck. Together we have and will continue to make a difference in the lives of these precious creatures.
Thank you
Sue Burkhard
Animal Aid of Southwestern Michigan
Cruelty/Neglect Investigator/Emergency Rescue Volunteer