This is my dog Dan. He's only about a month and a half old and, as you can see, he's one of five little pups that Danielle gave birth to.Dan is a very special dog for many reasons (especially now). But before this point, he was important to me because I love animals and because he looks exactly like his mom.
Recently, Dan has had a few accidents that has landed him at the vet. And by accidents, I mean, he got hit by a car....twice...on different days.
(Now, let's put this out there for those who don't understand. I moved out of my mom's house about a year and a half ago because of a stupid argument. We're over the argument stuff now but we still don't live together. I live with my aunt in the next city while my mom, my two brothers, my sister, and my dad live together back at home.)
My parents told me about it when it happened, but since I live thirty minutes away from them, have no car, and had to go to work on those days, I couldn't reach him until my next day off.
My little puppy, dragging himself along by his two front legs, exhausting himself out to the point where he just lays in the rain instead of moving into shelter. When I saw him...I cried. When they feed the puppies, they generally leave food out for all of them to share. But this method isn't good enough for Dan because he doesn't waste energy dragging himself to the food. Of course, my family is nice enough to pick him up and place him right in front of it...but the other puppies (as cute as they are) tend to be vicious about their meal and drag food away from him.
My first day with him after this happened, I lifted him carefully into my lap and fed him from the palm of my hand. Needless to say, I was crying harder than a baby with a dirty diaper.
Later, I set an appointment up at the vet and decided to take him in despite how terribly broke I am. My girlfriend, Carly, paid for his doctor visit and his xrays and my best friend Carlos drove me there and back.
I didn't need the xrays to tell me Dan had two broken hind legs. I already knew that. I just wanted to know if they could do anything about it. All that mattered to me at that point was making sure he could walk again and that he wasnt' going to be put down.
After talking to the vet a while, I decided that I was going to get him the surgery early the next week...but in order for them to do that, I'd have to put $300 down out of the entire bill. Although that may not seem like a lot...let's remember how broke I am. Distraught but not willing to cancel Dan's surgery, I talked to Carly and our boyfriend, Taylor, about the situation hoping they could give me advice about the situation.
I just didn't want to put my dog down. He meant too much to me. Anything was better than killing him.
Later on, Taylor's mom was able to tell my story to a few people she knew and was able to contribute $150 to his bill. I was so very greatful. I thought things like this only happened to "other" people, and now it was happening to me.
Dan is still at the Vet's today and his surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. I can't thank those who helped me enough for all they've done for me.
Dan is very special.
