Cooper’s previous owner brought him into Broadway Veterinary Clinic to have
him euthanized about a month ago. The old guy said Cooper was still messing
in the house and was attacking his older dog and he wanted him put down.
They talked him into letting them find him a new home instead. They called
me for help and I, of course, said yes. Cooper is only about a year old,
very timid, and would not hurt a fly. He only weighs about 10 lbs. He was
obviously tormented by the old man. He would hide in the back of the cage
at the vet clinic and they would have to crawl in to get him out. He was
neutered and vetted at Broadway, and received a lot of TLC while he was
there. After vetting, our foster mom, Angela Plese, took him to her home
and started working with him. It was obvious it was going to be a long
process to just get him to the point of being adoptable. But, he was making
progress. She left his crate door open and he was venturing out, usually at
night when the house was quiet. He sometimes would lay next one of her dogs
for a nap. He slept on her bed a few nights when she closed him in her
room.
Sunday, May 10, Angela took him outside on a leash and harness. It was
quiet in her subdivision so it seemed a good time for an outing. Cooper
panicked, got out of his harness, and ran. Angela and her son pursued but
he ran in the worst direction possible – out the entrance of the subdivision
and onto a well-traveled road. He was hit by a car and thrown airborne into
a deep ravine. Angela and her son climbed down to get him, thinking he
could not have survived. He had. They got him out of the ravine, but,
Angela was bitten and injured in the process. They took him immediately to
the Kingston Pike Emergency Clinic. He had a broken leg, three fractures to
his pelvis, and air in his chest cavity from the impact. The scrapes and
bruising were minor in comparison. Monday morning we moved him to Broadway
Veterinary Clinic. They hospitalized him and took care of him until the air
was out of his chest and he was stable enough for surgery. We moved him to
the Pellissippi Veterinary Hospital yesterday for surgery, which they are
doing today. They are putting two plates in his pelvis and one in his leg.
His prognosis is good.
A case like Cooper’s is what rescue is all about. We are determined to get
him through this and into a forever, loving, home. He is so sweet you just
want to pick him up and make it all better. Everyone who has met him feels
this way, especially the vets and staff at Broadway Vet. Clinic. We have
covered the cost of the ER and the week at Broadway.
We need help with the $1,200 for his surgery today. If you can help, please
contact Stacy or Valerie at the Pellissippi Veterinary Hospital – (865)
691-8387. Or, go to our website
www.almosthometn.org and make a donation via Paypal. Please share this
plea.
Thank you,
Judy Paxton
Almost Home Animal Rescue
865-300-8146