Monday, November 19, 2012
When a homeless animal is rescued, it's great news. Adopted? Even better. But given a whole new life through reconstructive surgery? Extraordinary.
Patch readers will remember Cliff the dog from an earlier story as the pit bull mix who was rescued by LifeLine Animal Project, then placed into a loving home, but remained in danger from a birth defect that often kills dogs before they reach adulthood. Cliff had a cleft palate, a condition that usually causes puppies to slowly starve to death because they can't feed normally from their mothers. Even if they do manage to get some nutrition from their mothers, or are fed by humans from a tube, liquid will often leak into their sinuses or lungs and cause pneumonia. At over a year old, no one knew how Cliff managed to survive into adulthood. He was rescued by LifeLine after being tied to a tree and left on an abandoned property. Soon after …
Monday, October 8, 2012
Ever seen a dog with a cleft palate? Probably not, and there's good reason. Almost all die as puppies. Cliff has beaten huge odds and surgery will ensure his survival.
Cliff is a beautiful, beefy pit bull mix who loves to go on runs, has never met a stranger, adores cats and if your lap is empty he considers it a place he'd like to sit. He's very much like millions of other dogs in neighborhoods, homes and shelters the world over. Except he's not. Cliff is a very rare canine. He's an adult dog with a cleft palate. Far from being a simple cosmetic issue, when a dog is born with a cleft palate it's usually a death sentence. They are not able to feed normally from their mother because they are not able to latch on and create the suction needed to nurse. Imagine trying to drink through a straw without being able to close your mouth around it. Even if they do manage to feed or are fed by tube, liquid will …
Monday, September 3, 2012
Thanks to some nifty surgical care and community support, Peanut the puppy is learning to prance.
He has two splints on his front legs for a few weeks, making his walk resemble a fawn from a Disney film - stiff legged and bouncy at the same time - but puppy Peanut is definitely moving in the right direction. Abandoned last month with two severely broken legs, Peanut, a 2-pound Chihuahua/miniature pinscher mix, was rescued by LifeLine Animal Project, after he was found all alone in a parking lot. When his owner could not be located, the Avondale Estates animal advocacy/rescue non-profit accessed his situation and quickly realized that specialty care was needed to put Peanut back together. Make that expensive and extensive specialty care. Georgia Veterinary Specialists offered to help Peanut with his orthopedic surgery, and even gave …
Angelica Peach
2:33 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
That is amazing! Bravo ~ to Dr. Julie Duvall at Georgia Veterinary Specialists for being humane and empathetic to Cliff's plight. "A truly Happy Thanksgiving!" more ›