Dog loses leg, but not heart

No one knows how Tres, a black Labrador retriever mix, ended up without a foot on his back right leg.

But today, thanks to the generosity of Jim Thompson at the Whitefish Animal Hospital, Tres (three in Spanish) gets along nicely on three legs.

Carmen O'Brien, his foster mother, said his saga began April 17 when he came to the county animal shelter as a stray.

Only Tres knew the details of his traumatic experience. One thing was certain - the dog was in pain, pounding the bone-on-skin stub left from the old, healed-over injury.

O'Brien, a shelter advisory committee member and volunteer, became acquainted with Tres on her weekly duty.

"I just go in on Wednesday and let the dogs go out to the bathroom," she said.

She and another volunteer noticed he became protective of the stump leg after walking on the concrete of his enclosure all day. The two received permission to have Thompson, a specialist in dog orthopedics, evaluate the problem.

The vet agreed that Tres was aggravating the partial leg left from his unknown injury.

"Jim thought he might have caught it in a trap," O'Brien said.

Thompson recommended amputating the leg for the health and comfort of the dog. Although an anonymous "angel" at the shelter offered to pay, Thompson wouldn't accept any money after the operation.

"It's just wonderful how many generous people in the valley give time and professional services to the animals in need," O'Brien said.

She picked the dog up from the hospital on June 6 and took him home to heal.

Before the operation, Tres didn't stand much chance of finding a home since he got "growly" when his leg got sore. But since his operation, he only shows his teeth when he smiles and rolls on his back, fishing for a belly rub.

O'Brien fell for her handsome boarder but couldn't offer a permanent home.

"I have three cats and no fenced-in area at home," she said. "I don't want to lock him up for an extended period so I bring him to work with me."

She works with her husband at their powder coating business in south Kalispell and was able to bring a dog to the office. Tres took to office work quickly, picking out a comfortable corner in which to sleep between saunters outdoors.

"He's extremely smart," O'Brien said. "He's fallen right into my routine."

She ran some ads, touting the finer qualities of Tres, hoping to find a permanent home. O'Brien said he was housebroken, didn't chew, listened well and responded to commands.

At the O'Brien home, Tres showed good dog sense, exhibiting no hostility to the feline majority. One cat, the most dog-averse, has even crept within three or four inches of Tres' inviting nose and lived.

After several blind dates with prospective owners, Tres found love with a family who had to have their elderly dog put to sleep. Mike and Anise Jaffe and their 2-year-old daughter Stella met up with O'Brien and Tres at the Whitefish Animal Hospital.

Things went well.

"Tres loved the little girl," O'Brien said.

She hopes for a similar happy ending for another three-legged dog at the county shelter. Mr. Bojangles, also a Labrador mix, was turned in by his former owner.

Apparently, the dog lost his leg after being shot. But, like Tres, he adapted to three legs and remains active and friendly.

O'Brien didn't know why the owner brought Mr. Bojangles to the shelter. However, she said the county facility has seen an uptick in dogs turned in by their long-time owners.

"We're getting some because of foreclosures," she said. "They come in and they're just crying."

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.