Lucky's incredible fight for life
On 21st of November 2012, Bulgarian Street Dog Lucky was battered and broken with multiple injuries after being run over by a car and left for dead. No one believed he would fully heal...
Fortunately for Lucky, there was a kind gentlemen 4 cars back who stopped and took him to the vet clinic.
Lucky sustained 3 serious broken legs, a broken pelvis, ruptured bladder and fractured spine, the $400 required that night was quickly raised via the social networks and the dog, optimistically named Lucky, was given the surgery needed to save his life. With an outpouring of support from animal lovers now all over the world who were quickly captivated by Lucky's story, the next $1300 was quickly raised and Lucky received the vital orthopaedic surgery for 3 broken legs, a broken pelvis and a fractured spine. Lucky started to recover well until 17th December when life threatening infection set in requiring further emergency surgery and care.
Since then, Lucky has gone from strength to strength, yet with continuing problems from implants not taking, he has had to have 2 further surgeries to remove implants, first from the front leg and then from the hip together with specialist therapies and physiotherapy.
The story of Lucky, the "speaking Dog" was beautifully compiled by Care2 member Laura Simpson (the pictures have been added by OfA) :
“Speaking Dog”
can’t stop talking to his rescuers
Native Bulgarian Antoni Banev was driving through traffic in the city of Sofia recently when he heard the sound, the familiar yelp of another street dog being mowed over by someone in too much of a hurry to slow down and too short on compassion to turn back. One car after another drove over or around the dog left lying in the road, but Antoni is wired differently. He dashed out of his still-running car and knelt on the ground to help the injured dog. Not knowing if he’d be bitten or if there was any hope for this poor creature, Antoni did the only thing his conscience would allow. He carefully laid the dog down in his car and hurried to the veterinary office for help.
Through the thick air in the small examination room, the veterinarian cautioned Antoni that he wasn’t sure there was a strong chance of recovery. And even if surgery could save the dog, who would pay the $400 up front? Antoni did not have $400, but he wasn’t about to let that stop him.
Back at home, Antoni sat in front of his computer and began reaching out to every social networking site he could find. He was sure that someone would help, if only he could make the right connection.
“When I first saw Antoni’s pleas, I knew I had to help,” said Jayne Jones of K9 Rescue Bulgaria. “I could see by the photos of Lucky’s broken little body that he was very seriously injured, yet the look in his eyes was pleading for help. I could not and would not ignore him.”
Jayne, together with online friends, raised the $400 that night and the dog, now named Lucky, gently closed his eyes on the surgery table.
There was a little flutter of excitement surrounding Lucky as he pulled through that first operation better than expected. Lucky’s story began to make its way to a larger and larger body of animal lovers, and before long, the next $1,000 was raised for the orthopedic repairs on Lucky’s three broken legs, broken pelvis and fractured spine.
And after a roller coaster of hopes and fears, including a life-threatening infection, rejection of his implants, something changed. Lucky came back to life, and he began to showcase a very special aspect of his individuality.
“We call him the ‘speaking dog,” said veterinarian Dr. Maria Savova of Nova Clinic in Sofia. “In the morning when we open the clinic, he is so happy to see us, that he just cries and whimpers with delight.”
As the day goes on, Lucky just keeps on talking. While he’s eating his wet food. While he’s eating his meat. While he’s palling around with his new best friend Millie. And sometimes in his sleep. Lucky simply likes to “talk.”
“We call him the ‘speaking dog,” said veterinarian Dr. Maria Savova of Nova Clinic in Sofia. “In the morning when we open the clinic, he is so happy to see us, that he just cries and whimpers with delight.”
As the day goes on, Lucky just keeps on talking. While he’s eating his wet food. While he’s eating his meat. While he’s palling around with his new best friend Millie. And sometimes in his sleep. Lucky simply likes to “talk.”
While some dogs are more prone to frequent vocalizations, there is speculation that Lucky’s stem from the relief that pours through his body these days. He no longer lives alone in the cold. He doesn’t suffer attacks by other street dogs. His bones are no longer broken. His back has healed. And, yes, he can now walk again. Though he had to literally get smashed on the ground to extinguish his old life, Lucky has pulled through and looks forward to the experience of becoming a family pet.
“We love him!” Dr. Savova continues. “He can walk without a leash outside. He does not try to run away. He’s quite happy to go back into the clinic after a walk. Lucky loves kids and is extremely clever. He wants to play with everyone and has the most amazing eyes – he looks at us like a human…more than a human.”
“We love him!” Dr. Savova continues. “He can walk without a leash outside. He does not try to run away. He’s quite happy to go back into the clinic after a walk. Lucky loves kids and is extremely clever. He wants to play with everyone and has the most amazing eyes – he looks at us like a human…more than a human.”
K9 Bulgaria is funding the purchase equipment to help disadvantaged animal shelters and to also fund veterinary training here. In the city of Sofia alone, there are an estimated 70,000 street dogs and the veterinary services available to rescue groups need vast improvement. Spay/neuter is often done poorly, resulting in some terrible deaths, and heartstick euthanasia is still taught in veterinary school. It comes down to a lack of veterinary training and zeroing in on that deficiency will make a monstrous mark on the well-being of generations of animals like Lucky.
This month, the Harmony Fund international animal rescue charity is raising funds to deliver a grant to K9 Bulgaria and to three other rescue teams here. So many Care2 readers have been reaching out to the animals of Bulgaria through this campaign and there’s a palpable feeling of excitement and anticipation from rescuers here who simply can’t get past the fact that so many people, some of them oceans away, care enough to help. To visit this empowering and joyful campaign to help the homeless dogs and cats in Bulgaria, click here.
This month, the Harmony Fund international animal rescue charity is raising funds to deliver a grant to K9 Bulgaria and to three other rescue teams here. So many Care2 readers have been reaching out to the animals of Bulgaria through this campaign and there’s a palpable feeling of excitement and anticipation from rescuers here who simply can’t get past the fact that so many people, some of them oceans away, care enough to help. To visit this empowering and joyful campaign to help the homeless dogs and cats in Bulgaria, click here.
How to help Lucky
After 3 months in the clinic recovering from neurological damage and incredibly learning to walk again, Lucky is ready to embark on the next step in his journey to a love filled happy life.
But first, K9 Rescue Bulgaria needs to clear the balance of his outstanding surgery and therapy costs, a massive $2400 which the clinic has kindly discounted down to $1900 because they love Lucky just as much as everyone else does!
If you like to contribute to Lucky's medical care and surgery fees, you can donate to his cause by clicking here!
And if you are interested in offering Lucky a loving forever home, please contact K9 Rescue through the Facebook-page they have created for Lucky.
About Milli, Lucky's new found little friend
Bulgarian Street Dog Milli is a little girl who has suffered so much.
Only a 18 months old, she is very gentle and kind yet she already knows what it is like to be kicked and chased away, others had passed her by, turned with disgust and ignored her.
Millie’s story is one of sheer heartbreak, suffering beyond what we can imagine. First she was shot, with a bullet still lodged in her spine, then she was hit by a car with one rear leg severed, and the other broken. Millie dragged her legs for weeks without being noticed. People passed her by, turned with disgust and ignored her. She was extremely injured and has suffered beyond what we can imagine.
Yet she survived, despite the people’s indifference, and after weeks or months in this condition without medical intervention, until a kind person posted her photos on the social networks and K9 responded to their plea for help. Millie’s severed leg was amputated at their clinic, yet nothing could be done for the bullet lodged in her spine or her other rear leg which had already ankylosed completely straight.
(Please click on the first picture to enlarge)
Milli also tested positive for Canine Distemper but the little button fought this like everything else she has fought in her short little life and miraculously overcame this terrible disease.
And now this PRECIOUS little disabled girl has been offered a wonderful FOREVER home in Germany yet K9 needs to pay her vet's bills before she can leave - $620 remains outstanding.
Please help if you can by donating to Milli's ChipIn
For further information on little Milli, please visit her Facebook-page.
And now this PRECIOUS little disabled girl has been offered a wonderful FOREVER home in Germany yet K9 needs to pay her vet's bills before she can leave - $620 remains outstanding.
Please help if you can by donating to Milli's ChipIn
For further information on little Milli, please visit her Facebook-page.