Chip recovering after leg surgery

Chip, the injured dog that the Stafford SPCA suspects was abused, is already recovering after having surgery on Monday.

Here’s what the SPCA posted on its Facebook page, where you can also find more photos of Chip:

 We picked Chip up yesterday afternoon from Dr. Bradley’s office and I guess no one told him he’d had surgery! He rushed into the room where Bill and I were sitting on the floor and he was SOOOO happy that we’d come back for him. He was throwing himself all over us and rolling on the floor. Meanwhile, we’re cringing at the acrobatics imagining how it must hurt but he’s oblivious. He was JUST….. HAPPY!

The ride home was uneventful. Bill went into Petsmart to get treats and supplies and was touched at everyone asking about Chip and offering support.We’d assembled a large pen inside our air-conditioned, walk-out garage before leaving for Manassas and got him settled for the evening. He only ate about half his dinner (we later figured out why…) and he had normal potties for his night time walk. As we walked out into the garage (on the side of the pen that’s curtained) we finally heard his first bark because he could hear us and not see us. He barks once.. a very deep meaningful bark — and then bays like a hound!

He slept well and was still sleeping when Bill went out around 730am to take him potty. Bill offered him food and water in a plastic bowl, rather than the stainless steel we normally use, and he had no issues taking from the plastic bowl. Usually, we see this in dogs that have been abused by someone that has hit them with a stainless food bowl. We posted new pictures of the pre and post surgical xrays on our Facebook (www.facebook.com/staffordspca) and we’re also using a Flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/83785756@N07/

As of right now, the community has given $3105 to Chip’s care and we can’t put into words how much this means to us. We’re humbled by your support and your generosity.

As for the investigation, Dr. Bradley’s office tells us that someone from Animal Control called them for a statement. We talked to Petsmart and Banfield about getting surveillance video from their stores to get more information about the original caller — who has now either shut off his phone or changed the number. He never returned any of our calls. The caller refused to get out of the vehicle and instead, required Banfield staff to come to the car to get Chip. We will be reaching out to the community later tonight in an attempt to locate this individual and we’re offering a reward for information that leads to the arrest and prosecutution of the abuser. Please follow our Facebook page for updates on our investigation.

Permalink: http://news.fredericksburg.com/staffordnews/2012/08/01/chip-recovering-after-leg-surgery/