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We went back to the park today. There was more people because of the holiday weekend. More pets too including a pig. Yes, a pig! Did I mention Hoshi loves ham? Hoshi made a new friend. He’s a golden retriever named Ranger. He’s about 3 years old. He has such a beautiful coat. I could tell he had just been groomed and trimmed. I didn’t know goldens get trimmed. This is the second time they’ve met.
Jarod Netchey is desperately searching for Murphy, his seventeen-year-old black cocker spaniel, who went missing last Friday. He is not microchipped and has no collar. He was reportedly seen on Wixom and Charms Road in Milford, Michigan. Murphy is frail and old with poor vision and poor sight. Murphy is also on medication. Netchey has been standing at the Wixom and Charms intersection passing out fliers about Murphy almost every day. “That’s why I am here. He would look for me until he couldn’t walk anymore, and I feel like I should do the same for him.” Please call Jarod Netchey if you have any information: (248) 255-5132
Me and Hoshi were looking for a park along Lake St. Clair that allowed dogs. We past up two park that weren’t dog friendly until we found one for Hoshi. I forgot the name but have the location on Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.677861,-82.735677,16z
This is my second trip getting Cathy a burger. Hoshi ate hers. He jumped up on the counter and took it. I had just warned her to be careful. This makes the third burger he’s snatched from her. She was hopping mad. I just washed out Hoshi’s kennel so we can put him in there the next time we eat. Well, Hoshi got his treat for the day.
On May 22, 2011, a devastating tornado hit Joplin, Missouri killing 155 and leaving over 900 homeless pets. On that day, the Leathermans returned home after attending the Joplin High School graduation ceremonies. Sirens went off as the tornado approached and Leathermans took cover in their basement along with their 10-year-old chocolate cocker spaniel named Sugar. As the tornado approached, Sugar panicked and ran upstairs hiding in her “safe area” under a bed. Mrs. Leatherman tried to run after her but her husband held her back. A minute later, the Leatherman home was blown apart.
After the tornado passed, the Leathermans searched through the debris that was once their home looking for Sugar. She was no where to be found. Luckily, a good Samaritan found Sugar in a drainage ditch blocks away where she had almost drowned. She was injured and unable to walk. Sugar was taken to the Joplin Humane Society. When the Leathermans arrived for Sugar they were informed of her injuries. The humane society recommended Sugar be treated elsewhere due to the severity of her injuries and because much of Joplin was in ruins.
The Leathermans transported Sugar four hours away to University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in Columbia. After thorough testing, veterinarians discovered Sugar had traumatic ruptured discs (T12-13) in her spine. Internal bleeding had compressed the spine causing her paralysis. If surgery wasn’t done immediately the damage would be permanent. Sugar was rushed to surgery where small pieces of vertebral bone were removed relieving pressure on her spinal cord.
Two days after surgery, Sugar began intensive physical therapy including electrical stimulation to lessen muscle wasting. She also received hydrotherapy every day for a week to regain mobility. “With the water, the buoyancy it provides, it makes it a lot easier for them to move their legs so it’s a lot easier for us to see if she had any movement and it took her about a week to regain movement in her hind legs,” said veterinary technologist Stephanie Gilliam.
On June 14, three weeks following the tornado, Sugar was finally discharged to her family. She’ll continue her therapy and is expected to make a full recovery. The cost of Sugar’s surgery and treatment was graciously covered by the university.
MU Veterinary Team Helps Dog Paralyzed in Tornado Walk Again from MU News Bureau on Vimeo.