Dave the lurcher arrived at Cardiff Dog’s Home a few months ago. Heartbreakingly, Dave was unable to walk, so The Rescue Hotel quickly stepped in to get him the help he needed.
Following Dave’s examination at The Rescue Hotel Health Centre, it was clear he would need major surgery to repair a torn ligament in his leg. Amputation was not the best option, as it would have placed too much pressure on his remaining joints. Heartbreakingly, we believe Dave may have been living with this injury for four to five weeks before arriving with us as a stray.
Dave required a joint fusion, a specialist orthopaedic procedure that is not carried out by many veterinary practices. To give him the best chance of recovery, we took him to a specialist referral centre in Carmarthen for the surgery.
Thanks to your donations, Dave’s surgery was able to go ahead, and he is already much better for it. After a few weeks of strict crate rest, his exercise has been gradually increased in line with veterinary advice.
A few months on, Dave now gets to enjoy longer adventures with our fantastic volunteers, but he is still looking for a family of his own to share all these exciting new moments with.
Despite everything Dave has been through, he is such a loving boy who is growing in confidence every day. If you think you could offer Dave a home, please see his rehoming requirements on the Cardiff Dog’s Home rehoming page here.
We want to say a huge thank you to our supporters because without you, Dave and many of his friends at the Hotel would not be able to access this kind of specialist treatment. Cases like Dave’s are exactly why your donations matter so much.
Specialist surgeries, referrals, medication, rehabilitation and follow-up appointments can place a significant financial cost on The Rescue Hotel, but they can also completely transform a dog’s future. For Dave, it meant keeping his leg and giving him the chance to enjoy walks again and all the other simple joys that every dog deserves.