DONATIONS DESPERATELY NEEDED
FOR 5 MONTH OLD PUPPY!!!

Sasha is a brave 5 month old German Shepherd puppy that has nearly had all of her legs and her ear torn apart by 5 other dogs she was housed with. She needs someone with her round the clock and is on many types of medication to prevent infections and reduce her pain. Despite the mess she is in her vet, Dr. Bajwa at Pyne Hills Veterinary Hospital expects her to be able to make a full recovery. We are desperately asking for donations to help cover the extensive medical bills that are adding up for Sasha's care. Sasha is now in a foster home with 4 Legged Love.

Please read the following info below for Sasha's story, her medical treatment that she has received and will need in the coming weeks and how you can make a donation towards Sasha's care. We are graciously accepting monetary donations as well as puppy food donations for Sasha while she is in foster care.

Sasha's story: Sasha is a timid little pup that has been kept as a "guard dog" at a car garage for her entire yet short life. Sasha had never been to a vet for a check-up or vaccinations and her owner's had no intentions of having her spayed. She has been housed out doors with 5 other dogs and being the runt of the litter Sasha has always been picked on. This is not the first time she has been to the vet with open wounds; she was previously attacked by the other larger dogs. Her previous owner made no attempts to keep Sasha safe from the other dogs and in the mean time Sasha has tried to fend for herself. She is the smallest and has never been able to fight for her share of food so she is also very underweight right now. As of late Sasha was attacked again, she was brought to Pyne Hills Veterinary Hospital in Tottenham, ON where she was to be euthanized when her owner declined treatment for her wounds which would likely cost upwards of $2200. Dr. Bajwa the vet on call could not let that happen to such a sweet young dog and asked Sasha's owner's if they would surrender her to his care rather then euthanize her, they agreed and Sasha's recovery has been in the caring hands of Dr. Bajwa and his staff at the clinic.

Sasha's arrival at the clinic after she was attacked by 5 dogs: (Dec.29th)
After a brief assessment of Sasha Dr. Bajwa decides he can not bring himself to euthanize a beautiful, young and sweet dog like Sasha and convinces her owner's to surrender her to his care. When she arrived at the clinic just before New Years poor Sasha was so caked in mud and blood that staff had to bathe her before they could begin assessing her injuries. She has just recovered from her last attack and has hair growing in on her nose and face where she was previously tended to by the vet. This poor girl has lacerations on all of her legs, inside and out, some are so deep that her muscle tissue is visible. There are also lacerations on her ears, thighs and other minor ones all over her body. Most of the wounds that may require stitches can not be closed because they are on her lower legs where there is not enough skin to close them all properly, they also need to be left open so that they can drain and do not cause further trauma by becoming abscessed (swollen, full of bacteria and infected). Dr. Bajwa and his team are doing everything they can to keep Sasha comfortable while she recovers, she is on a number of antibiotics, anti inflammatory medications and pain medications, her wounds are cleaned 2-3times daily and she is monitored nearly around the clock with lots of love and TLC. The best news is that Sasha, in time, is expected to make a full recovery and be able to live a fully normal life.

Talk to Sasha's vet for more info and/or to make a donation directly to Sasha's account at Pyne Hills Veterinary Clinic!!

We need donations for Sasha's on going medical care!: We need to try and raise as much money as possible to help care for Sasha; she has already received hundreds of dollars of emergency care. Sasha is able to make a full recovery from this terrible incident and 4 Legged Love is ready to team up with Dr. Bajwa at Pyne Hills Veterinary Hospital to help her get her new leash on life! In the mean time Sasha's foster mom will need to take her back to the clinic on a regular (almost) daily basis to make sure her wounds are healing and make sure that she is receiving the right kinds of antibiotics, anti inflammatory and pain management. She may require further courses of medications after her initial dose is done in two weeks; it will all depend on how well little Sasha's body heals. Sasha also has a swollen hock (joint on her hind leg) that will require X-rays when she is a little stronger. Now that Sasha is in foster care with 4 Legged Love she has received a booster and her Rabies vaccine, she will also need to be spayed before she is placed in her Forever Home.

WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH DONATIONS FOR SASHA'S ON GOING AND MUCH NEEDED CARE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS !!!

4 Legged Love has a goal to raise $1500-$2200 to help with the costs of Sasha's on going treatment. Over the next 4-6 weeks Sasha will need regular vet visits/care, likely another course of antibiotics, anti inflammatory, pain management, X-rays, grooming, spay... we would like to be prepared for any other costs that may arise from any complications like infection of her wounds.

Ways to donation for Sasha:

(Please keep in mind we are a small volunteer operated organization and as such we do not have Charitable Status so we are unable to provide tax receipts at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience.)

Directly to Pyne Hills Veterinary Clinic - if you would like to make a donation to 4 Legged Love directly to our vet clinic please call them directly at (905) 936-6573 or toll free at 1-877-936-6573 . Staff are happy to accept donations from your credit care and apply the donation directly to Sasha's account. Make sure you let them know your donation is for Sasha!!


Donate Online:

To donate online or if you would like to use a credit card, please click on the Paypal link above. (you do not require an account or need to sign up to use Paypal)
 

Money Order or Cheque
Please make Money Orders/Cheques payable to our Treasurer: ANDREW PAKULA

Please mail to:
4 LEGGED LOVE
PO BOX 200
PALGRAVE, ONTARIO
L7E 3S9

Please keep in mind that Dr. Bajwa is more then happy to talk with you about Sasha if you would like to know a little more about her situation before you make a donation. Please do not hesitate to contact him if you would like more information about Sasha.

Not able to donate financially right now but would like to help Sasha? No problem! We are happy to accept monetary donations for Sasha's medical care and are also gratefully accepting donations of premium puppy food (Nutro, Wellness, Iams, Preventative or Development formula from your vet clinic or any other premium foods) for Sasha, a large size crate (we would like to send with her when she is adopted), clean towels, blankets and bedding for her as we need to do laundry daily for her at this point due to her wounds seeping on her bedding.

Sasha Updates and Progress

Interested in Sasha's progress? Book mark us! www.4leggedlove.com for Sasha's info, photos and updates. We hope to provide updates as they are available, likely once a week or when anything new develops.

For more photos of Sasha's progress, please click here.
(Please be warned that some of the photos are quite graphic)

UPDATE (Feb 18/09): New photos and a new video of Sasha are on the photos page, click here to view them.

UPDATE (Feb 10/09): Sasha has now been in a 4 Legged Love foster home for a month and a half now. She is recovery well and we have nothing but hope for her. We haven’t updated in a while because we are just working on the daily Honey Bandages and letting them do their work on the wound on Sasha’s inside leg. We have also switched her antibiotics to something a little less harsh/strong, she had an upset tummy and Dr. Bajwa suspected it may be from the medications. She seems to be fine now.

We are excited that it looks like Sasha will probably be healthy enough to be spayed in the next 2-3 weeks. Dr Bajwa does however have some concerns about her hind end. She doesn’t seem to stand perfectly upright in the hind end; it looks sort of like she is always ready to sit to give you an idea. Sasha runs, walks, goes up and down stairs fine and plays well and without pain but she has a funny gait and poor stance. It is not unusual for her breed, German Shepherds are prone to hip/hind end problems and Dr. Bajwa has decide that Sasha should have X-rays done on her hind end to make sure there are no serious problems and so that we are aware of any hip problems that may be there. She will be X-rayed at the same time she is spayed, this way she will not need to be sedated a separate time for X-rays. Sasha has also had a bit of a hard time putting weight on, she is gaining weight but very slowly despite having a good appetite, this pup LOVES her food, she enjoys peanut butter (we hide her antibiotics in there) and she enjoys a good raw bone to chew on every once in a while. She has been dewormed multiple times so parasites have been ruled out as a possible cause for the lack of weight gain. It is suspected that the stress of the whole situation is the reason however Dr. Bajwa will be drawing blood and running blood tested to make sure that everything is well on the inside (major organ functions) and to rule out any other causes that may be preventing her from gaining weight a little better. Another thing we have to be patient for!

The major vet care remaining for Sasha as of now is the bandages for her front leg, spay, X-rays and blood work. Blood work will likely be done in the next two weeks, before Sasha is spayed just to make double sure she is healthy and strong enough to be spayed. Estimated cost is $1500-$2000. This is an estimate and general idea of what is still needed, this can easily change and increase should any infections occur, it will also depend on the results of the blood work and X-rays.

This week we will be doing less Honey Bandages, new bandages will be placed on her leg every other day rather then every day. This will be monitored for the next week or so (7-10days) to see how things go and if all goes well hopefully after that Sasha will be able to enjoy time without having her leg bandaged.

Sasha’s drainage tube has been out for a while and her back leg did not become infected or need the drainage tube replaced – that’s really good news!! For a short time after the tube was removed Sasha had a huge lump on the inside of the leg, it didn’t cause pain and wasn’t of huge concern, it was likely scar tissue forming where the original injuries had formed and where the tube had been placed. Dr. Bajwa wasn’t worried about it but he wasn’t sure if the large bump would go away, it would be more of a “cosmetic thing” though not really noticeable unless you looked under her leg for it. A week or so went by and the body seemed to work itself out and the lump is now completely gone, there is no trace of the bite wounds or where the tube was, every thing looks great!

Hair! Erm, fur! Sasha is still looking a little patchy but her fur is actually starting to grow back nicely on her head and legs, the only spot that remains clean and furless is the inside of the leg that has the bandages on it. It has started as little fuzzy fur but actual hair is starting to grown in most spots. Sasha’s fur will likely be nearly all grown in when she is ready for her new home. She has also had a bath and her fur has a nice thick feel to it, not from having grown a long outdoor coat but a clean, healthy appearance and feel like a healthy HOUSE DOG should have!

Sasha’s new favorite game is to run around and take as many stuffy toys out of the toy box as possible and then taunt the other dogs to try and take them away or chase her for them. She loves going out in the yard and running about with the other dogs. She has more confidence now and isn’t hanging around the door so much when she goes outside, she isn’t always the first one in the second the door opens, she is really enjoying her freedom and playing outdoors – she still races back the second her foster mom calls for her, where ever she is. Sasha has been able to have more supervised time without her head collar on but she still tries to chew on her bandaged leg so she can not be left without the head cone for any long period of time. Sasha is still afraid of other dogs she meets and will bark at them but it seems that after a calm introduction she is perfectly happy to make new friends.

We have had a lot of really great people helping to make Sasha better! Thank you to everyone who has made a donation to for Sasha’s vet care either to the clinic, via cheque and PayPal. We appreciate all the effort from those who have posted Sasha on their web pages and blog sites asking readers/friends/family to contribute. We greatly appreciate the good quality puppy food donations (Sasha loves her food!) and thank you to those who donated bedding and a crate. Sasha is now one pampered pooch thanks to everyone’s contributions.

UPDATE (Jan 20/09): Wow, who knew Honey Bandages could make such a difference?! Sasha's leg front leg is healing slowly but nicely, new tissue has grown in to cover over the exposed muscles. It still doesn't look pretty to the eye but as far as a bad wound like this goes, medically it's looking great Dr. Bajwa says. It really is amazing how it has changed and the deep hole appears to be filling in with the new cells. Sasha has been back nearly every day for a honey bandage change on this leg and she is getting stronger every day which means she is disliking bandage changing every day but that's okay, she is still a really good girl when she is on the exam table and everyone is watching her and snipping bandages off and cleaning up her leg.

When her foster mom takes her in to visit Dr. Bajwa and the wonderful ladies that assist him Sasha says a Hello to them (and anyone else in the waiting area) and drags her foster mom back to the kennel area they have set up for her, she knows the routine and is comfortable with it.

Sasha was lightly sedated on Monday to give her wounds another good cleaning and a thorough exam of everything, she was given a bath as well so her coat is soft like a puppy coat should be and it's shiny, she also smells better! Her hind right leg that had the drainage tube in it is looking good as well, there is still a small opening where fluids are slowly leaking out so there is no build up and it seems to be clear of infection!! Yay!! Her other minor wounds on her other legs have healed well and are just little scabs where the hair is growing back in. She still wears her head collar, almost a month later, so that she doesn't like the remaining open wounds or pull her bandage off.

Sasha is doing well all things considered. It is still expected and suggested by Dr. Bajwa that Sasha stay in foster care for another number of weeks (possibly 3 or more?) so that she can continue with thorough wound cleaning once a week and the Honey Bandaging at the clinic as well as monitoring medication – antibiotics and anti inflammatory that she still needs twice a day.

General news: We've had so many great people make donations for Sasha's care. Thanks so much everyone! We have even had puppy food donated and we are hoping to have a crate donated shortly. Pet Valu in Tottenham has been kind enough to donate a bag of food and a bed for Sasha. Sasha's story is making its way around communities and we are so thankful for the wonderful feed back Sasha's story has received.

Some of you are curious about how all of this has left Sasha feeling. Sasha seems to be quite happy now that she is an indoor dog. In her spare time Sasha likes short walks (it's cold out!), she likes to carry stuffy toys around, lounge on a bean bag chair or the doggy couch. She has discovered the doggy couch in her foster home; she seems to think she should not be on it so her foster home has had a hard time snapping a pic of her snoozing on it. She is doing well with house breaking and is quite social. Sasha is happy for any attention from anyone, she likes to stand up on you for a hug and a kiss if you're willing - and who can resist such a sweetie?! She is good with the kitties that live in the home and there are other dogs that live in the home. Originally Sasha had been kept separate as she was nervous (who wouldn't be after being attacked like that?!). Curiosity got the best of her and the other 6 month old pup in the home and sniffing through the baby gate didn't cut it, Sasha knocked the gate over and ventured out in to the rec room to see the other pup. What a funny couple, Sasha tries to chase the little dog around as best she can with her head cone on, the little dog barks at Sasha and sneaks up behind her and Sasha darts after her again. It's really sweet to see Sasha acting like a puppy should – having fun! Sasha also gets along with the other dogs in the home small and large, the other dogs are mild mannered and have politely accepted Sasha as part of the household. With other dogs on the street she is sometimes nervous and other times curious and wanting to say Hi. This incident doesn't seem to have had any impact on how Sasha feels about people, she is friendly and cuddly, she has really taken to her foster family but enjoys a scratch or pat on the head from others.

Many have asked about the other dogs in the home and what can be done about Sasha being left the way she was? Sadly not much can be done as there is no proof (that would stand up in a court) that Sasha was neglected, it would simply be seen as an accident that could happen in any multi-dog home… The other dogs have been inspected and are all in good shape, appropriate care, food, water and shelter are provided.

Update (Jan10/09): Sasha still visits the clinic each day to have her bandages replaced and wounds cleaned, she is getting better and stronger now which is making it harder to re-bandage her leg in her foster home - she wants nothing to do with it and tries to scamper off, difficult for her foster mom but over all a good sign that she is starting to feel better. Today she has had her drainage tube removed now that all the swelling in the leg has gone away. We now have to wait and see, make sure her drainage area is kept clean and hope that no further infection or swelling occurs. Things are looking good. Hair is starting to grow back where Sasha was shaved and all of her minor wounds are being kept clean at home and healing nicely without cause for concern.

Update (Jan 6/09): Great news!!! While Sasha was sedated Dr. Bajwa was able to take a good look at the wounds on Sasha's right hock, her leg was thoroughly cleaned and examined. Dr. Bajwa found that a very deep bite had been inflicted and other deep wounds from previous attacks seemed to have gone untreated, Sasha's whole leg had abscessed as a result. What this means is that the top layer of skin and tissue had healed closed which trapped fluids and infection from the bites inside the leg, as a result all the fluids building up had no way to escape and had simply ballooned. Sasha's leg had become full of fluids building from her knee right down to her toes. This is what made her hock look so swollen and injured. Sounds bad right? Turns out this was a better thing then we expected, this was easy for Dr. Bajwa to fix. He was easily able to make two small incisions on the inside of the leg and insert a drainage tube, this has allowed all the trapped fluids to be released and flow from the injury site. Within 24hours Sasha's leg had reduced to almost normal size!!!! Even Dr. Bajwa was a little surprised at the literally over night change in her leg. Sasha now has a normal looking leg (aside from it being shaved) and the pain the swelling had caused has been alleviated. We are all really excited, this means that things are not as bad as initially thought for Sasha's back leg, she will likely no longer need to have the leg X-rayed and providing no infection occurs inside the wounds her leg will recovery completely and not need surgery.

UPDATE (Jan 5/09): Sasha has been back to see her vet Dr. Bajwa twice already since coming in to his care (Dec.29/08) and being placed in a 4 Legged Love foster home(Dec.31/08). Her minor wounds are healing slowly but well, her foster mom has been gently soaking them with warm compresses and making sure they stay clean and so far no infections in them (yay!). Her inner left leg with the exposed muscle tissue and skin is still quite messing and sore looking. She has had warm compressions twice a day on her open wound to try and keep it clean and to sooth it. Today she is back at the vet and will be sedated to have some her wounds thoroughly cleaned and have her right hock examined to try and determine a course of treatment for it. We will find out if she may need X-rays, surgery or possible amputation. It's so swollen, red and sore right now Dr. Bajwa does not want to hurt Sasha by examining it too closely while she is awake and able to feel it. Our fingers are crossed and we are hoping it's not extremely bad.

Healing with Honey? We are now bandaging Sasha's front left leg using a special method of bandaging. Sasha's wound was not getting worse but it was also not getting any better and there was concern that the exposed tissue would die or become infected from being exposed. Dr. Bajwa decided to try "honey bandages". Sounds odd right? How could honey fix such a big open wound? Wasn't Sasha in a sticky enough situation already ;) ? Honey bandaging is an approved method of medical treatment that is also used on humans, horses and others for wounds like Sasha's. Because of its high sugar, low protein composition, honey acts as a natural "antimicrobial" that limits the growth of bacteria by cutting off the supply of water and nitrogen. When honey is applied to a wound, it is diluted with fluids from the damaged tissue and combines with an enzyme added by the bee to form hydrogen peroxide, the same disinfectant found in pharmacies. The naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide promotes healing and reduces scarring as it is slowly released into the wound. It also makes for easy bandage removal, the honey doesn't make the bandages stick like other creams or types of bandages usually do. For more info on "Healing with Honey" and honey bandaging visit here - http://www.motherearthnews.com/Natural-Health/1999-02-01/Healing-with-Honey.aspx , http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/05/051302_honey.jhtml.

Be sure to check back for more updates!

Sasha needs a home!!!

Sasha will need a Forever Home once she has recovered a little more; we are accepting 4 Legged Love Adoption Applications for Sasha at this time. Sasha will not be released to a home for a number of weeks (minimum 4 weeks) until Dr. Bajwa and 4 Legged Love are content and happy with her full recovery. Our goal is to have her as close to tip top shape as possible so that she has the best start with her new family. We are looking for a special home for Sasha. She will need an experienced owner, if you have German Shepherd experience all the better for this little pup; she needs a house with a fenced yard. Sasha is best suited to a home with no small children. If you would like to be considered for the adoption of Sasha please email us at dogs@4leggedlove.com for more info on the requirements for her adoption and a 4 Legged Love Adoption Application.

If you have any inquiries about Sasha please contact 4 Legged Love at via email - dogs@4leggedlove.com or phone – 416 503 3275 or you can contact Dr. Bajwa at Pyne Hills Veterinary Hospital at 905 936 6573 or toll free at 1 877 936 6573.

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