Spencer, a stray Doberman, had his spine sliced, but he’s now back on his feet and ready for adoption thanks to surgery and physical therapy.
Although everyone loves a cute dog video, Jackie O’Sullivan’s initial images of Spencer the Doberman were anything but cute– they were a cry for help.
“He looked like he’d been snapped in half,” recounts the co-founder of Rescue Dogs Rock New York City (RDRNYC).
Spencer was brought into a South Carolina animal shelter on Jan. 4, and camera footage captured him looking unusually twisted and sad. When sanctuary staff realized that this puppy required resources that they lacked, Jackie’s phone began to ring with messages from all over the world.
She found two videos of the underweight, reportedly purebred fawn Doberman when she checked her messages.
She recalls, “They asked if we might have him, and I claimed yes.”
Spencer had been eating road dead on the expressway when he was hit by a car, according to Jackie. Spencer was then taken to the sanctuary, where employees soon deduced that this was not the first time he had actually had a hard day.
Spencer’s rescuers were concerned that he might flee a life of abuse only to be hit on the highway due to his improperly clipped ears and damaged physique.
“They took him to our neighborhood veterinarian, Paws and Claws in Columbia, South Carolina, and they told us right immediately that his back was broken,” Jackie recalls. “His only hope was to go to a specialized hospital, so they sent the X-rays out the same day to an expert.”
Jackie received some useful information from the vets at VCA Animal Specialty Facility in South Carolina. Spencer was an ideal candidate for medical repair of his severed spine because he was still young and could feel his legs. However, there was some bad news: he had a tummy full of bird bones that threatened to perforate his gut, as well as open wounds on his head and legs that needed stitching.
Before the secondary concerns could be addressed, Spencer’s spine had to be stabilized. The treatment had to be completed as soon as possible, and it would cost thousands of dollars. Jackie realized Spencer deserved it.
” He appeared half-broken, but he had an incredible will to live.
She adds, “He was kissing her and eating.” The narrator says, “He had every reason to live.”
Spencer’s images were shared on the RDRNYC Facebook page while he was in surgery in South Carolina, and dog admirers were as astonished as Jackie. Spencer had his own Facebook profile by the time he went to physical therapy, thanks to the outpouring of well wishes and donations.
Because so many people wanted to know about him, he damaged our website,” Jackie explains.
In the days following his successful treatment, Spencer was ready to get back on his feet. His veterinarians were overjoyed to discover that the dog was eager to begin physical therapy, and they were even happier when X-rays revealed that his body had successfully passed the road kill bones. He wouldn’t need a tummy operation.
Spencer was transferred 2 weeks into his hospitalization to West Hills Animal Hospital & Emergency Center on Long Island, where RDRNYC can keep a better eye on him while he continues with daily physical therapy.
Spencer appears to love playing with toys more than his physical therapy sessions, according to Jackie. He’s been showered with them, and having his own toys has brought out the puppy in him.
Spencer has advanced from walking in a sling to walking on his own in the last month, and Jackie reports he is becoming stronger every day.
Spencer is now ready to go on with his life, and RDRNYC is accepting adoption applications, despite his need for extensive physical rehabilitation. Jackie is excited to see him move into his new residence.
He’s a lovely dog who is young, cheerful, and in good health. He aspires to live an extraordinary life.”