Courtesy Photo
Young Will is recovering from injuries he received on March 20, when a hit-and-run driver struck him as he walked along Highway 99 south of Emporia. Rescuers now want to find him a “forever home” and also are accepting donations to help pay for his surgery.
March 20 wasn’t a good day for Will. Already suffering from an invasion of parasites, Will’s health quickly took another battering when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver on Kansas Highway 99 south of Emporia.
A driver following behind saw the incident and had a choice: speed to catch up with the offender to get a license plate number or stop to help the injured animal.
She stopped, picked up the dog and took him directly to Danita Schimmelpfenig, animal control officer in Madison.
Schimmelpfenig then took him to Emporia Veterinary Hospital, where Dr. Richard Mendoza put the dog’s broken lower jaw back together and tended to other injuries and health problems.
Will spent the weekend in the clinic and was released on Monday to go home with Schimmelpfenig, who is caring for him until he can be adopted.
“He’s got wires stickin’ out under his jaw and on his side,” she said. “Bless his heart, he wants to eat hard food and he just can’t.”
He will have to eat soft foods for six to eight weeks, until the wires are removed from his jaw.
He is, however, now healthy enough to be eligible for adoption.
“We’re looking to find him a forever home,” Schimmelpfenig said.
From Will’s appearance and condition at the time of the accident, she has surmised that he did not have a home of his own.
“He had no tags and he was covered with fleas and ticks, full of worms. He had not been taken care of well at all,” she said.
Schimmelpfenig also is accepting help from the public in paying Will’s veterinary bill, which on Friday had a $108 outstanding balance.
“They gave me quite a bit of a break on surgery because he is a foster dog,” she said.
During Will’s surgery, Schimmelpfenig began making telephone calls to find donors willing to help out with the young dog’s expenses. Donations have come from Flint Hills Humane Society, Colorado Animal Rescue Express, Rocking Paws Animal Rescue and Adoption and Samantha Talkington and Shauna and Tony Livers of Madison.
She said that donations may be sent to Emporia Veterinary Hospital, 710 Anderson St., Emporia KS 66801. Checks need to be made payable to the veterinary hospital, account number 11822 Pointer Pup.
Will is a liver and white 7- to 9-month-old English pointer who is house- and crate-trained and current on all of his vaccinations.
“He is the sweetest little pup,” Schimmelpfenig said. “I just couldn’t believe that somebody left this poor puppy on the side of the road.
“It just makes me angry. No dog deserves what he went through.”
Comments
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
Posted by justthinkin (anonymous) on March 28, 2009 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you for this story Bobbi - It is heartwarming & I pray that Will's vet bills are paid (maybe with some "extra" for either the generosity shown to Will, or for "future" Will's). God Bless all that help defenseless animals.
Posted by madpoet (anonymous) on March 28, 2009 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It breaks my heart when people dump animals. We had a black Lab for years that we found eating roadkill on Americus Road. She was a bag of bones and took lots of TLC but was the best dog. I hope they find a good home for this little guy. We're not ready for a dog right now or I'd take him. God bless everyone who helped the poor pup.
Posted by create (anonymous) on March 29, 2009 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder why no help from the Buck Fund? They are always soliciting funds around here.
Posted by dogsrus (anonymous) on March 29, 2009 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great question Create!! I heard they went to being a cat sancutary???
Posted by Steve_Corbin (anonymous) on March 30, 2009 at 8:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I really hope someone will go out and see this puppy and agree to adopt him. A good home where he will be loved and accepted. His bills have been paid, is there someone out their who needs a good companion?
Check him Out!
Post a comment
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. Our goal with this feature is to encourage thoughtful discussions about the news stories. Using the comment feature to make random attacks on people is not acceptable. Emporiagazette.com neither endorses nor guarantees the accuracy of any user contribution. Responsibility for what is posted or contributed to this site is the sole responsibility of each user. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
(Requires free registration.)