Wounded pup to undergo surgery
Ottawa Humane Society
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
OTTAWA, ON – A small golden retriever pup will live to celebrate 2006, the Chinese “Year of the Dog,” thanks to the help of concerned bystanders and the care of the Ottawa Humane Society.
An OHS Emergency Animal Protection Services officer responded to a call the night of January 5, after store customers found the frightened stray dog running loose in the busy parking lot of Petsmart on Merivale Road. The dog was suffering from a large, gaping wound on his right leg, so the officer immediately rushed the injured animal to the OHS for treatment and care.
Back at the shelter, OHS veterinary staff examined the puppy and treated the wound on his leg. The pup, who the staff have named Brody, is scheduled to undergo surgery at the OHS this week to make sure that his leg heals properly.
“We have no idea how he could have sustained the injury—but it was obviously not a fresh wound,” says OHS inspector Miriam Smith. OHS staff also have no idea who originally owned the pup. Nobody has come looking for the small dog since he arrived at the OHS.
Smith says that while most people are stunned to hear that someone would not search for their lost puppy, the harsh reality is that only 55% of stray dogs—and much worse, only 5% of stray cats—are ever claimed by their owner.
“Sometimes, people get in over their head with a new pet. They may not know how to look after it, including not letting it run loose. So when the animal goes missing, they may not make much of an effort to find it, figuring someone else will take it in and give it a better home.”
Unfortunately, says Smith, stray animals are subject to many hazards while they are at large. Freezing temperatures, busy traffic, and lack of food are just some of the issues faced by stray animals this time of year. “Like Brody, by the time many animals make it into our care,” she says, “they’re in need of major medical attention—and often a lot of socialization to undo the damage of a long period of neglect.”
After his surgery, Brody will spend several weeks in an OHS foster home while he recovers and regains his strength.
While the reality of limited resources unfortunately means that the OHS isn’t always able to go the extra mile for every animal that comes into its care, staff were determined that the little pup who came to them at the beginning of the “Year of the Dog” should have a happy outcome.
For media enquiries, contact: Sharon Miko, Outreach Manager at 725-3166, Ext 261 or at 277-3125
A word about the Ottawa Humane Society: The Ottawa Humane Society is a registered charity founded in 1888. The Society works in and with the community to provide leadership in the humane treatment of all animals, to address the causes of animal suffering, to encourage people to take responsibility for their animal companions, and to provide care for animals who are neglected, abused, exploited, stray, or homeless.
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