A Microchip ID Saves A Dog’s Life

 

        During the early morning rush hour of May 5, 2008, Frederick County Animal Control Center (ACC) brought a female, mixed shepherd that had been hit by a car on Route 15 to our hospital for emergency care.  Dr. Schaden’s preliminary exam found a dog that was malnourished, covered in ticks (over 40 of them), with a compound fracture of the left hind leg, a fractured pelvis and multiple abrasions.  Her injuries were so severe that if her owner could not be located, she would most likely be euthanized.  As she was not wearing any identification, we scanned her in the hope she may have been microchipped.  To our relief, the scanner displayed a chip number. That is when things began to look a little brighter for this severely injured dog:  she had an owner – she had a home. 

          The dog was entered into the hospital for stabilization and supportive care.  Later that evening, contact with the owner was finally made.  Imagine our surprise when we learned that the owner lived in Louisiana.  What was a dog from Louisiana doing so far away from home?

“She had survived Katrina. I couldn’t let her die now.”

        August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed into Louisiana.  One of the worst hurricane disasters in U.S. history befell the city of New Orleans when the levees were breached and extreme flooding occurred.  Countless humans and animals lost their lives or were left homeless.  Frances Reed, a nurse anesthetist, would spend the next seven days stranded at New Orleans University Hospital along with fellow nurses, doctors, patients, and refugees.  Once rescued and evacuated, it would be November before Ms. Reed returned to New Orleans.  While New Orleans University Hospital was undergoing restoration due to damage, Ms. Reed would temporarily work at Charity Hospital.

         During her breaks, Ms. Reed often went outside where she could see the devastation left by Katrina.  One day, she noticed that a dog had taken up residence in a hole created by flood waters that had undermined parts of the hospital.  “She was mangy looking and nothing but skin and bones…she looked like a little skeleton,” Ms. Reed recalled.  Fearing she would starve to death, the local SPCA was contacted.  Once captured and evaluated by the SPCA veterinarian, the dog was listed as a candidate for euthanasia due to her poor condition.  

         But Ms. Reed had developed a fondness for the dog.  “She had survived Katrina.  I couldn’t let her die now.”  So, Ms. Reed decided to adopt the dog and named her Charity, after the hospital where she was found.

         Charity was spayed at the SPCA; and before taking her home, Ms. Reed opted to have her microchipped.  This was a decision that would ultimately save Charity in the future.  Ms. Reed’s own veterinarian further diagnosed both mange and heartworm disease.  Charity was successfully treated for both conditions.

“After a year, I gave up hope of ever finding her.”

        A year later, in August 2006, Ms. Reed took a leave of absence from work to care for her ailing father who lived in Hanover, PA.  She brought Charity with her.

        Not long after arriving in Hanover, Charity became lost when she chased after a stray cat.  “We went looking for her, calling her name, but she never came.”  Ms. Reed put ads in the local Hanover papers and on the local radio stations, searched the local animal shelters and notified police.  All to no avail, Charity had disappeared.

        All during that fall and winter as she cared for her father, Ms. Reed continued her search for Charity.  In May, 2007, after her father’s death, she returned to Louisiana without Charity.  “After a year, I gave up hope of ever finding her.”  Back in Louisiana, Ms. Reed returned to work, never expecting to ever learn what had become of Charity.

“You can imagine my shock when I got the call saying Charity had been found.”

      The day had been a hectic one for Ms. Reed.  “I had been in surgery all day and did not see the message on my cell phone until late that afternoon. . . You can imagine my shock when I got the call saying Charity had been found.”  Charity had been missing for almost two years.

      Dr. Schaden advised Ms. Reed about Charity’s condition.  Ms. Reed immediately gave permission for x-rays, bloodwork, and “whatever Charity needs.”  X-rays confirmed there were multiple fractures: the right ankle had an open fracture and dislocation; the femur was shattered into several fragments; the left hip joint was dislocated and the pelvis socket was broken.  Bloodwork revealed she was positive for Lyme disease (remember those 40 ticks?) and a fecal test revealed whipworms and roundworms.  On the plus side, x-rays of the chest and abdomen were normal, and she did not have a recurrence of heartworm disease.

      The doctors wanted to make sure Charity’s condition was stable before performing the multiple surgeries she would need.  Therefore, her surgeries were scheduled to take place two days later.  In the meantime, her wounds were cleaned and dressed.  Both legs were splinted, and she was given pain management medications, antibiotics and fluids.  As severe and painful as her injuries were, Charity never growled, snapped or gave any indication of aggression.

      Each day, Charity’s condition improved.  She was bright, alert and gaining strength.   Although she had no use of her splinted rear legs, she was able to walk on her front legs with the aid of a “belly sling”; she was even trying to sit up on her own.  When meals were offered, she didn’t hesitate to eat.

Surgery

     By 9 a.m., Thursday, May 9, Charity was in surgery to repair her multiple injuries.  The right femur had been shattered into many fragments.  Using an IM pin and wire, Dr. Schaden aligned the fragments and applied an extension split.  Next, the head of the left femur was removed.  Finally, the compound fracture of the left ankle was repaired and a splint was applied.  By that evening, Charity was alert and sitting up.

   Every day Charity’s condition and progress were evaluated.  The splints and bandages were changed every 2 to 3 days.  Each splint change required anesthesia to avoid causing unnecessary pain for Charity.  By May 14, she was well enough that some of her less critical problems could be addressed.  Deworming medications were given and a flea and tick preventive was applied. 

     By May 21, Charity had begun to pull herself up and put weight on her splinted legs without assistance.

     On May 28, she began to walk on her own although she still had splints.  Our technicians had developed 15-20 minute physical therapy routines that allowed Charity to strengthen and increase the mobility of her injured limbs while playing.

     Over the Memorial Day weekend, Ms. Reed flew up from New Orleans to visit.  It was decided that Charity would continue her medical treatment at our clinic until late June when Ms. Reed would fly back up to Maryland, rent an SUV (determined to be the most comfortable option for moving Charity), and drive back down south with Charity.  So, much to the happiness of our staff, we would continue to have Charity for the next three weeks.

      On June 10, the splints were removed for good.  Her wounds had healed and now we could change from an antibiotic used to treat her wounds to one that would treat her Lyme disease.  As the days passed, the range of motion and strength in her legs improved.  Her physical therapy games continued and massage therapy was added to the regiment.

Saying Goodbye

     As the day she would leave us drew near, the staff talked about the joy and happiness Charity had brought to each of us.  It was unanimously agreed that if it had not been for that microchip, this dog with her incredible courage and determination would have been euthanized.

     On June 20, Ms. Reed, her sister, aunt and friends came to take Charity home.  We canceled appointments that afternoon so that a going-away party could be held in Charity’s honor.  Among many tears, hugs and kisses we made our farewells to the dog we had all put so much energy, effort and love into.  We would all miss her.

“Without that microchip, Charity would have been lost to us forever.”

      On follow-up conversations, Ms. Reed says that Charity has settled back into her southern lifestyle very well.  She goes to physical therapy (swimming) and her progress is encouraging.  When we asked Ms. Reed if we could use Charity’s story to demonstrate the importance of identification on a pet, in particular the microchip, she didn’t hesitate to say yes.  “Without that microchip, Charity would have been lost to us forever.”  

      We hope that Charity’s story will inspire all pet owners to seriously consider microchip identification for their pets.  If you would like to learn more about microchip identification click here.  To learn more about disaster preparedness click here.

2010 Update

     We continue to stay in touch with Ms. Reed and are happy to report that Charity is doing great.  Charity gets around without any problems and physical therapy is no longer necessary.  Way to go Charity!!