SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonio Pets Alive! is trying to save the life of a three-month Labrador/Sharpei mix with two broken hind legs.
Officials with SAPA! say “Havana” was found by a park ranger sitting in the woods. The ranger brought her to Animal Care Services for humane euthanasia because he had too many dogs at home and could not find help for her. SAPA! says despite her intense pain, she happily greeting people and tried to walk around by balancing all of her weight on her two front legs, causing her to walk like a circus dog.
SAPA! volunteers hoped her injury was not life-threatening and say they frantically searched for a foster home that could transport her to get some x-rays of her legs. But X-rays at Animal Emergency Room revealed she had two broken knees and will need surgery to correct them. Her bones are already healing but to get good use out of her back legs in the future, surgery is the best option.
The surgery is expected to cost over $1,000 per leg.
"We are not exactly sure what caused the damage," said Director of San Antonio Pets Alive! and veterinarian Dr. Ellen Jefferson. "It could have been a car or a baseball bat. She doesn't have the typical wounds associated with being hit by a car, which made us initially think she might have a congenital problem as opposed to fractures. But now that we know she is broken, we think it may have been the malicious."
SAPA! is now asking the community to step forward and contribute to Havana’s surgery, so that her life can be spared.
“We hope that if we can at least raise the money needed to fix one leg now, she will be able to walk with three legs until money for the second surgery can be raised,” Dr. Jefferson said.
Dr. Jefferson said SAPA! is alternately seeking a veterinarian who can do the surgery pro bono.
"We believe that even if we only fix one leg due to lack of funding, her life is worth saving and she can live a good life with three functional legs," Dr. Jefferson added.
Contributions and adoption inquiries can be made at
SanAntonioPetsAlive.org.
