A 7-week-old German Shepherd puppy has a second shot at life after having the good fortune of hobbling into a network of support last week after being left behind with a broken leg at the North Central Veterinary Emergency Center in Westville.
Kouts resident Carrie Chamness, who works as a veterinary technician at the 24-hour clinic, said co-workers called her for help after the puppy was left behind because his owner could not afford the costly surgery to repair the leg.
The puppy had reportedly been injured when he was trampled by other dogs, she said. Faced with the potential that the puppy would be euthanized, Chamness expanded the cry for help by reaching out to Kris Shultz, who works as a surgical technician at McAfee Animal Hospital in Valparaiso.
Shultz said she in turn contacted a rescue friend in Iowa, who put them in touch with the German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Iowa, which agreed to pay for the dog’s surgery and care for him until he finds a forever home.
Veterinarian Brooke McAfee said she helped to keep the dog comfortable by prescribing pain medications, while legally clearing the way for it to leave the state by providing a health certificate.
Shultz said the medications helped.
“(He was) very playful, very happy and very loving,” she said. “He’s a cuddle-bug and tried to play the best he could.”
Shultz said her rescue friend in Iowa helped to arrange a flight for the dog with the group Pilots N Paws. The dog was picked up early Saturday from the Porter County Regional Airport and flown to Des Moines, Iowa, where he underwent surgery earlier this week.
“They said he’s done great,” she said.
The dog, which has since been named Murphy, will be fostered by the German Shepherd rescue for the next 10 to 12 weeks until he heals and is placed in a permanent home.
“This was the fastest, most amazing rescue we put together,” Shultz said. “It’s just knowing a large network of knowledgeable people and where to go with what dog.”