Buddy, our poster dog, was diagnosed with canine osteosarcoma on Tuesday, April 28. On April 29, his right front leg was amputated and he must now receive chemotherapy to prevent the cancer from traveling throughout his body.
Buddy is special (aren’t they all?) and loved by many. He was the dog that launched our efforts to make a difference in Ohio’s county pounds. Rescued just 20 minutes before being shoved into a gas chamber, 18 other dogs that day were not. We had to fight just to get this one dog released to us.
Since that day, the Ohio SPCA has been investigating county dog shelters. We have been successful in halting the use of engine exhaust, gas boxes, gas chambers, and bullets to end the lives of homeless dogs. Our work must continue as we have many rural county pounds that continue to function as nothing more than catch and kill facilities. We are currently working to end the use of gas chambers in numerous counties.
Do to the current economy, our funds are dangerously low and Buddy’s treatment is beyond our current ability to pay. Additionally, we are now being forced to turn animals away until we are back on our feet again. The Ohio SPCA operates a 40-acre farm animal sanctuary. The farm is home to over a hundred formerly abused and abandoned animals. Medical care, feed, and shelter must be provided for Buddy and the other animals in our care.
Buddy has been released from OSU Vet Hospital. He will return on May 11 to start chemotherapy. We saved his life once. We would like to do it again.
Update:
Thanks to the generous support of a caring public, Buddy received his first chemotherapy treatment on May 11. He has totally recovered from surgery and is the fastest dog we’ve ever seen on three legs. He is full of life. Buddy’s chemotherapy treatment ended on July 13, 2009. Those who love Buddy pray that the cancer did not spread to his lungs prior to surgery. We would like to say “thank you” to each person who donated so Buddy could be helped.
Funding for the Farm Sanctuary is still at an emergency level.
