Dog Samaritans

Veterinary care is expensive for domestic pets. Veterinary surgery and prescription drugs are even more costly. If a human being is ill and indigent, cannot pay for medical services required to sustain life, most hospitals will forgive payment and pursue emergency treatment for humanitarian reasons. If a dog is discovered to be in perilous straits because of an accident, because of disease, because of general ill health, and medical intervention is needed, when there is no funding to pay for that care, the dog will be 'put down'.

Put down, of course is a genteel phrase which equates with being put to death. They are disposable. Readily replaced. And if there is no one to care enough, they will be disposed of.

Copper the dog with Cst. Cory Longhurst

Police in Regina cared enough. Donations from members of the police force, along with that of a few civilians had accumulated a fund that rose to $3,500. Quite a lot of money. But then, quite a lot of money is required for veterinarian surgery and after-care. And in the case of a stray dog who was rescued by Regina police officers who named him Copper, a lot of recovery will be required to attempt to restore him to health.

Copper the dog is adopted - photo via Regina police

 

On Thanksgiving weekend a woman had discovered a dog in a parlous state, in an alley She flagged down a passing police car. Constable Cory Longhurst was driving. The dog was bleeding from a deep wound on his back leg. He was driven in the police car to a 24-hour veterinary clinic. Where the option to put him down because there was no one available to pay for his treatment was set aside, when police pooled a fund for treatment.

Furthermore, one of those generous officers has decided he would take Copper home to become a member of his own family. Copper requires surgery for his leg. And post-surgery a cast has been put on. A cast that will require replacement every two days for the next few months in an attempt to save the dog's leg. Even with all of that in store, amputation may still be required.

Copper with Const. Cory Longhurst

But out of this dismal scene, Copper has acquired a home. And dogs are surprisingly adept at running about, once they adjust, on three legs.