Humane Society fund gives pup second chance
Dingo, the Puerto Rican rescue puppy, visits the Humane Society of Northwest Montana two weeks after his amputation. (courtesy photo)
A Puerto Rican puppy found on death’s doorstep was given a second chance and a new home in Northwest Montana thanks to a Libby man.
Dingo, a 9-month-old mixed-breed puppy, was on the brink of starvation, huddled together with his three siblings on a beach in Puerto Rico when a local member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stumbled upon him while assisting with hurricane relief efforts.
After Dingo’s siblings later died, the man took pity on the little family’s lone survivor and decided to bring him back to the U.S.
Before flight arrangements could be made, however, Dingo was attacked by two other dogs and suffered a badly broken leg.
Upon his arrival in the Flathead, Dingo’s new dad rushed him to local veterinarian, Dr. Amanda Oedekoven with Central Valley Animal Hospital.
Oedekoven’s examination revealed that Dingo would require emergency surgery to amputate his broken leg in order to give the pup a fighting chance at a healthy life.
When the Humane Society of Northwest Montana heard Dingo’s story and got word of his needs, the organization stepped up, depleting its Humanitarian Aid for Pets fund in order to help pay for the life-saving operation.
On March 8, about a month after his rescue, Dingo went in for his amputation, performed by Oedekoven.
Made possible by donations to the shelter’s fund — meant to help at-risk community pets receive emergency vet care — the surgery was a success, and after two weeks of recovery, Lori Heatherington, the executive director of the humane society, said Dingo looked like a different dog when he came back to visit.
The now three-legged puppy went home with his new family in Libby and is expected to live a long, healthy life as an American mutt.
According to Heatherington, the Humanitarian Aid for Pets now needs the help of local donors in order to continue providing emergency care to Flathead pets in need.
For more information, visit www.humanesocietypets.com.
Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.