This sweet abused pit was picked up by a good samaritan that brought him into the Summerville, SC SPCA. He had either been run over or had been beaten so badly that he couldn’t even stand up. Someone had dropped him off in a neighborhood and left him in a ditch to die. He was emaciated and couldn’t even raise his head up when he was brought in. He also has sarcoptic mange which is highly contagious. The SPCA did not have any funds to get him medical care but did not want him put down. They contacted us after having him for several weeks. From the minute we got him we realized we had a very special dog. He loves everyone and everything. We have been treating him for his mange and have had several surgeons do tests on him to see if we can correct his crushed pelvic area. Unfortunately, nothing can be done because it had been so long since he had been injured and the area is now filled in with scar tissue. Doing surgery now could cost him the use of his back legs according to Upstate Veterinary Specialist where thorough test and scans were done on him. They feel it is too risky. He is not in any pain but has difficulty moving around. Please, look at his video below to see how devastating his injuries are. This sweet boy can’t even squat down to go to the bathroom because he is that crippled. He is such a fighter and just keeps on going ready to give kisses to anyone he sees. We love this dog and will be looking for that very special person to take him into their home. He is a special needs dog that doesn’t think he is special at all. We are also still talking to different surgeons to see if there is anything we can do to give him more flexibility in his back legs. He is in Darlington, SC.
Joshua has an appointment at Carolina Veterinary Specialists on Thursday to see if there is anything they can do for this sweet dog. They think they might be able to help him. Let’s keep out fingers crossed.
October 1, 2009
I have wonderful news. We just got back from taking Joshua to Carolina Veterinary Specialist in Charlotte and they have decided that Joshua is a good candidate for having an FHO (Femoral Head Ostectomy) on both legs. This sweet dog never complains and is always happy to have someone love on him. We discovered today that he is in a lot of pain which is why he is not putting his leg down. We never had any indication that he was in any pain at all. After they worked on him is when they discovered it. He is having his surgery tomorrow. We have raised the chip-in amount to get all the funds he will need for the surgery and the water re-hab that will be required afterwards. We are really excited for this incredible dog. Even the surgeon said that he has never seen a kinder more gentle dog than Joshua. They are amazed that he is so calm with all the injuries he has had.
October 3, 2009
Joshua is doing wonderful since his surgery. He had no flexibility on his back legs prior to surgery and now he has some. He is going to be uncomfortable for a while but you would never know it from the way he is acting. I know I go on and on about how sweet and gentle this sweet dog is but he is. He never complains which is why we have such a hard time figuring out his pain level. We just LOVE this gentle soul and we so want to see him run around a little and be pain free.
October 11, 2009
This sweet boy is doing wonderful. He is going to re-hab every week to help him with his flexibility and to build up his muscles. As you can see from the picture below, he is a new dog with the same loving personality.
October 18,2009
Joshua is stealing the hearts of everyone he meets. He is going to rehab once a week and his wonderful foster is doing lots of rehab on him every day. he has made lots of improvement and will continue to improve every week. Here he is doing his water rehab on a treadmill. Isn’t he cute?
Joshua
Sad brown eyes and fur black as coal
a broken body barely one year old
too weak to stand and shattered hips
never a whimper heard from my lips
beaten and starved left there to die
found all alone late in the night
brought to a shelter to be put to sleep
I could not even stand on my feet
the kind people there looked in my eyes
and thus began the fight for my life.
They begged for mercy, help was found
I took a journey to a far away town
I was greeted by a kind lady there
who gently saw to it my life became fair
she gave me the best of love and of food
and showed me that some people are good.
She held my head the time I'd awake
new pins and plates held my hips in place.
I swam in the water at least once a week
making me stronger to use my feet.
I now run across the yard with a limp
the cost of my care money well spent
so thank you to Jennifer at Noah's Arks
for giving me strength, her love, and a bark.
November 23, 2009
Joshua is doing great. He is one remarkable dog. I am enclosing a poem that was written in honor of Joshua from the person Ellie Bishop that originally saved him from being euthanized at Francis Willis SPCA. It will make you cry, so get the kleenex ready. It is so beautiful and so true.
