RIDGELAND, SC.......We always do our best to help the other Rescues and Shelters in our area when they have a major Medical Abuse case.   We were contacted by JARM ( Jasper Animal Rescue Mission) to help with a beautiful one-year-old Carolina Dog that had been picked up as a stray with a Prolapsed Rectum.   They did not have the funds to help him, and they did not have any place where he could stay in the condition he was in.  

I immediately said we would get him the medical care he needed as long as they would find him a foster once he was well.   Prolapsed Rectums are generally caused when an animal has an overload of parasites that have gone untreated.    We felt that was what Crust (as they were calling him) was dealing with plus the fact he was an intact male dog.   We had him taken to one of the local Vets where they did a Purse-String procedure to see if that would keep the prolapse in.   The rectum prolapsed the next day.   The Vet then proceeded to say, "The prognosis is not good, but there is nothing else he can do there.  If anything he would need to go to a specialist but his opinion is that a positive outcome is still not likely because of the severity and swelling."

The Shelter took him back, and he now had an upper respiratory infection along with the rectal prolapse.   The Shelter contacted me to see if it was okay to EUTHANIZE him.   As I am sure you already know, I had a fit.   This is a young dog, and one Vet has completely given up on him without even resolving the problems that caused the prolapse in the first place.   I immediately had him taken to another Vet where he was thoroughly evaluated for the cause of the prolapse which is EXACTLY what the first vet should have done before doing the procedure.

Crush still had parasites, and he also was an intact make with a very large prostate.   Crush should have been treated for the cause before any procedures were done.    We have since had him transferred to another Vet that was on top of his care.   Crush was treated for the parasites and was neutered.  Another tacking procedure was done, but it also did not hold.  We decided it was best to keep him at the Clinic to be monitored and then he could have major surgery done to keep his rectum tacked into place.   His last procedure caused him to strain and develop several hernias that also had to be repaired.  He had one more procedure to repair the hernias, and we decided he needed to stay with us to closely monitor his every move.

We are making Crush's soft food daily to make sure he does not strain when going to the bathroom.   So far his bloody diarrhea has resolved, and he is not showing any signs of discomfort.  He will not be out of the woods for several more weeks.  He is on kennel rest and is allowed to get out for leash walks only.     Crush is a young puppy that wants to play and give kisses all day long.   He will make a wonderful companion or a great Family Pet since he loves every animal he meets.

I am sure I upset a lot of people when I refuse to give up on an animal I am doing my best to save.  I think so many people are too quick to EUTHANIZE an animal instead of fighting to save them.   We are all they have.  Don't take a Vets word for something if your GUT is telling you something different.    Crush is here because we knew more could be done.   Exhaust all possibilities before you put an innocent animal down.    EUTHANIZATION is not an Answer or a Cure.   We only euthanize when an animal is suffering, and his or her Quality of Life is gone.    Only then do we use it to ease their suffering.  The animal is always showered with unconditional LOVE until the final second.

We started out offering to do one surgery for dear Crush and ended up paying for five major procedures.    Please, Help us with his Medical Bills so we can help more animals like Crush get the Medical Care they need to survive and thrive.