Karen519
10-06-2006, 12:39 PM
Just GOT this from Best Friends network
RE: Dog with Jaw Locked in OHIO needs help!!
Here is the latest update on Sugar, sounds like the surgery went well. This update is from 9/30/06. For more info see www.fairhumane.org/
Sugar's story raised more than $20,000
By ALAINA FAHY
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
afahy@nncogannett.com
FAIRFIELD COUNTY - Dog owners filled the Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital as they waited for check-ups and medications for their pets. No pet owner was waiting for Sugar as she went into surgery Friday afternoon.
Sugar is a Rottweiler found by Breanne Lambert, director of the Fairfield Area Humane Society. Sugar was abandoned outside of the humane society and seriously injured. She needed the surgery to survive, Lambert said.
As word got out about Sugar, residents from Fairfield County, Florida, California, Texas, Ireland, England, Mexico and Canada donated to help pay for the surgery.
The Fairfield Area Humane Society received more than $20,000, said Humane Officer Bill Huffman.
"She's got a lot of people rooting for her," he said.
Since the surgery usually costs about $2,500, the rest of the money, called Sugar's Fund, will go to help abused animals in Sugar's situation, Huffman said.
The humane society plans to work with other small, under-funded humane societies around Ohio in case animals are abused and need emergency surgeries.
The shelters will be asked to reimburse the fund so it can last, Huffman said.
"We're going to retire her number when she's adopted out," Huffman said. "Just like she were in the football or basketball hall of fame. She's one of a kind. No other dog will be named Sugar."
The dog's jaw was broken, most likely by abuse. It's not possible the dog could have been hit by a car because of the angle the jaw was hit, Lambert said. The teeth on the right side of Sugar's mouth were knocked out of alignment, so her tongue will permanently protrude out of her mouth.
Her chart at the veterinary hospital described her as malnourished - her ribs can be easily counted, even from feet away, because she can't open her mouth to eat.
Lambert said the surgery was so difficult and extensive that several area veterinarians opted out when asked to help.
OSU veterinary hospital's Mary Bergh, a doctor of veterinary medicine, did the surgery.
Bergh and other doctors crowded around a computer as Sugar had a CT Scan. The photos of Sugar's jawline helped Bergh see the problems closer so she knew what to expect when operating.
The surgery went very well, Bergh said afterward. A part of bone on the right side of Sugar's jaw was removed because it was fused together and couldn't open. There was not much damage on the left side of the jaw except some tightening.
Sugar could only eat liquid food leading up to her surgery because her jaw wouldn't open.
It was one of the only ways to feed Sugar that worked, said Huffman. Employees tried a turkey baster and a feeding tube, but more food got on them than in Sugar's mouth.
Bergh hopes Sugar will eat solid foods again and be able to open her jaw all the way.
Several people asked about adopting Sugar after she is healthy again, Huffman said. There's no way of knowing how long Sugar will need to recover after surgery, but she probably will be adoptable.
Bergh doesn't expect there will be any anger or temperament problems with Sugar after the surgery. There was no neurological damage caused by the abuse.
RE: Dog with Jaw Locked in OHIO needs help!!
Here is the latest update on Sugar, sounds like the surgery went well. This update is from 9/30/06. For more info see www.fairhumane.org/
Sugar's story raised more than $20,000
By ALAINA FAHY
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
afahy@nncogannett.com
FAIRFIELD COUNTY - Dog owners filled the Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital as they waited for check-ups and medications for their pets. No pet owner was waiting for Sugar as she went into surgery Friday afternoon.
Sugar is a Rottweiler found by Breanne Lambert, director of the Fairfield Area Humane Society. Sugar was abandoned outside of the humane society and seriously injured. She needed the surgery to survive, Lambert said.
As word got out about Sugar, residents from Fairfield County, Florida, California, Texas, Ireland, England, Mexico and Canada donated to help pay for the surgery.
The Fairfield Area Humane Society received more than $20,000, said Humane Officer Bill Huffman.
"She's got a lot of people rooting for her," he said.
Since the surgery usually costs about $2,500, the rest of the money, called Sugar's Fund, will go to help abused animals in Sugar's situation, Huffman said.
The humane society plans to work with other small, under-funded humane societies around Ohio in case animals are abused and need emergency surgeries.
The shelters will be asked to reimburse the fund so it can last, Huffman said.
"We're going to retire her number when she's adopted out," Huffman said. "Just like she were in the football or basketball hall of fame. She's one of a kind. No other dog will be named Sugar."
The dog's jaw was broken, most likely by abuse. It's not possible the dog could have been hit by a car because of the angle the jaw was hit, Lambert said. The teeth on the right side of Sugar's mouth were knocked out of alignment, so her tongue will permanently protrude out of her mouth.
Her chart at the veterinary hospital described her as malnourished - her ribs can be easily counted, even from feet away, because she can't open her mouth to eat.
Lambert said the surgery was so difficult and extensive that several area veterinarians opted out when asked to help.
OSU veterinary hospital's Mary Bergh, a doctor of veterinary medicine, did the surgery.
Bergh and other doctors crowded around a computer as Sugar had a CT Scan. The photos of Sugar's jawline helped Bergh see the problems closer so she knew what to expect when operating.
The surgery went very well, Bergh said afterward. A part of bone on the right side of Sugar's jaw was removed because it was fused together and couldn't open. There was not much damage on the left side of the jaw except some tightening.
Sugar could only eat liquid food leading up to her surgery because her jaw wouldn't open.
It was one of the only ways to feed Sugar that worked, said Huffman. Employees tried a turkey baster and a feeding tube, but more food got on them than in Sugar's mouth.
Bergh hopes Sugar will eat solid foods again and be able to open her jaw all the way.
Several people asked about adopting Sugar after she is healthy again, Huffman said. There's no way of knowing how long Sugar will need to recover after surgery, but she probably will be adoptable.
Bergh doesn't expect there will be any anger or temperament problems with Sugar after the surgery. There was no neurological damage caused by the abuse.