Phoenix Rising
In early April, we received a text message from our contact at the American Human Society located in Newark, NJ. A sweet but sad-looking German Shepherd was brought into the shelter. The person bringing her to the shelter was "walking with her" while she dragged her back legs on the concrete pavement for about 200 yards. She clearly had limited mobility with her hips but a strong upper body. She was docile and stoic during the intake process when the shelter vet evaluated her and took X-rays of her hip and spine.
The X-rays showed signs of hip dysplasia and possible trauma in one hip. The prognosis was not encouraging. Once in a kennel, she was shut down and scared. She was reluctant to come out of the kennel; to do so, she had to drag her back legs. The chance of her leaving the shelter was bleak. Even we were skeptical if we could take on the challenge. However, it was obvious that she had both a calm gentleness about her and a persevering spirit. We knew we could not say no to rescuing her.
After tossing about a few different names, we decided on Phoenix. Yes, maybe a little cliché, but we were confident she would genuinely rise from the hand that life had dealt her. Like every rescue in 2023, we were packed and needed a week or so to make room for her. In the meantime, the volunteers and staff at AHS-Newark took care of Phoenix. Once a spot opened up, the first order of business was a bath.
Surprisingly, other than being a bit stinky, Phoenix has a beautiful coat. While not thrilled with the process, she tolerated the water and blow dryer. The next stop was to our vet for better resolution X-rays and a consultation. Based on her X-rays and visual examination, our vet and two other orthopedic specialists agreed that her lack of mobility in the back legs was a neurological issue and that orthopedic surgery would do little if nothing to allow her to properly use her back legs.
PHOENIX ROCKS - THANKS TERRI AND WDHA - THE ROCK OF NJ
As an adult and senior rescue, we have several dog carts available, and Phoenix took to her new cart as if she had always used one. The cart is a good fit, but our next mission is to get her sized and fitted for a new Eddie's Wheels cart. One of the best dog neurologists in the Northeast has recommended an MRI to determine the cause of the issues in her back legs.
We have no information on her past life. It is clear that wherever she previously lived, Phoenix's owners probably did the best that they could for her. It appears that she was reasonably well cared for in her prior home. She has settled into a foster home where respects her new dog playmates and is trustworthy in the house. She goes into her crate with minimal fuss. She will whine if she is in the crate and the other two dogs in the house go for a walk, so we always take her in her cart for a pack walk.
We believe Phoenix can live a full and long life. Phoenix is about 6 to 7 years old. She is energetic, going for 15 to 30 minute walks in her cart. If she sees a squirrel, she can take off faster than the dogs she is walking with. She is one of the easiest dogs in our foster program (just don't leave shoes lying around).
An MRI for a dog is no less expensive than for a human. We are thankful to the staff and specialists at Guardian Veterinary Specialists who performed the MRI and took great care of Phoenix. The results showed 3 compressed discs. After consultation with the neurological specialist, we believe that surgery will greatly improve her quality of life and give her the possibility of walking without the cart. You can understand why we couldn't say no to saving Phoenix when watching her videos and viewing her in pictures.
A special thanks to Fanwood Animal Hospital, 105.5 WDHA, Terri Carr and the Rock N' Ruff crew, Friends of AHS-Newark, Sherri and the staff at AHS-Newark, Guardian Veterinary Specialists, and all who have supported and helped in the journey of Phoenix Rising.
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