I’m a teacher and activist who recently moved in to a new home and met Jack, a Pyrenees/Border Collie mix I ended up rescuing. 

On the first day, a beautiful dog showed up to greet me. Molly brought three of her puppies, then three more...

Then when finally trusted me, she brought their daddy.

He was covered in fleas, had two ticks, a wound with maggots, and a mangled foot that was obviously infected. After his first bath, he was too weak to shake himself off and two darling to protest. 

When I took him into the house, he was a very good boy. Never had an accident, asked to go outside, and only wanted pets.

I’d never had a dog, and now I had EIGHT! With help from friends, we were able to rehome the mama and the puppies. But the dad was in just too bad a shape.

After many trips to multiple vets, a decision had to be made: amputate (cheaper and more certain solution) or try to save at least some of his leg. 

I had been taking him to Dr Riddick at Dogwood Animal Clinic, where Jack had already charmed everyone. They had Dr Allman perform the surgery. He said most likely Jack’s foot had been sliced by a lawnmower blade. That made sense. This dog clearly had belonged to a human. Said “human” ran over his paw with a lawnmower and instead of taking him to a vet or shelter, they kicked Jack out!

After his foot was amputated, it was clear all was left was scar tissue from the infection and the damage. (Have the photo of the amputated foot to prove it!) His foot couldn’t have been saved, but his leg is doing great. He just needs a prosthetic foot and he’ll be as good as new!

A fake dog foot? Why not? He puts weight on the leg already, so why not try? Enter Bill from Houston PALS. 

I thought I could afford to do this, but I can’t. Jack’s surgery was $3400, which I might have been able to scrape together, but I wasn’t prepared for the aftercare following: $210 in antibiotics, and $35 almost daily bandage changes that had to be done by the wonderful Dr Riddick to make sure Jack was kicking the infection and his foot was healing. 

Three days from now, Jack will be done with his antibiotics and ready to get fitted for a prosthetic, which will be around $1500. I put his surgery on a credit card, and I can’t pay it off right now, much less make the downpayment on his foot. 

I look at his sweet doggie face, and I know I made the right decision keeping his leg. It might have cost less in $, but he’d have lost out in happiness. Some human hurt him, and it’s our job to fix it. He’s already running around, prancing happily. I’d like to get his prosthetic as soon as possible so he can get used to it, but I can’t even teaching an extra night class.

Want to help the sweetest boy in the world get a new foot? He’ll let you rub his belly and give you all the licks you could ever want in return!*

*Austin, TX area offer only!