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SAVING JOY FOR A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD

This is an official Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

February 17, 2014

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SAVING JOY FOR A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD

Find out what's happening in Bloomingdale-Riverviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lithia, Florida – The Veterinary Center at Fishhawk (VCF) and the Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation (HAHF) announced they are canvassing our local community for a family with a special needs child who could benefit from a life-long buddy they named Joy.  Veterinarians, technicians, and an animal loving community recently came together to save Joy.

Joy has a special story.  Last week a Good Samaritan found a young black Labrador-mix female dog roaming the streets.  She was covered in gasoline and in severe pain from a badly broken leg. Joy was rushed to the Veterinary Center at Fishhawk (VCF) in Lithia, Florida. The VCF staff suspected Joy may have been abused and/or possibly struck by a car. 

The VCF team was able to initially stabilize the broken leg but quickly realized the break was so severe that amputation was considered.  Any hope of saving the leg would require the services of a highly-talented and skilled orthopedic surgeon. The team also considered Joy’s young age (about a year old), her extremely joyful and remarkable disposition throughout the ordeal.  So, the team decided against amputation and instead decided to take a chance to help Joy and contacted Doctor Callum Hay, Veterinary Surgical Specialists, considered one of the best board-certified orthopedic specialists in the area.  After consulting with the VCF team, Doctor Hay agreed to take the case.   

On February 14, 2014, Joy was picked up from Doctor Hay’s veterinary surgical center and transported back to the VCF clinic to recover and receive additional medical care.  Doctors say she will be on cage rest for about four weeks but is doing well and getting better every day. 

VCF provided Joy’s medical services for free and Doctor Hay substantially reduced the costs of his services.  However the remaining costs for Joy's surgery and recovery were expected to exceed several thousand dollars.  Remarkably, VCF clients heard about Joy’s situation and came to her rescue.    They donated enough money to cover all of her expenses to ensure she could get well and hopefully bring joy to a special child!

To help with this endeavor, the Bark Busters Home Dog Training team has joined the effort.  They have agreed to provide quality training to Joy to make her the perfect dog for the child and family who adopt this special girl.

“Joy is simply a wonderful dog and she should be shared with a special child,” said Don Thompson, Executive Director, Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation.  Joy is an absolutely remarkable dog, and we believe our community efforts should go toward helping someone very special.

If you know of a physically or intellectually challenged child in the local area that would like Joy as a companion please contact the VCF by email at contactus@vcfishhawk.com or call the VCF clinic at 813/681-9080.  All submissions will be considered by the VCF staff.   

The Veterinary Center at Fishhawk, 5484 Lithia Pinecrest Road, Lithia, Florida is just one of over 40 local professional veterinary hospitals which support the mission of the Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation (HAHF). The Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation is celebrating 27 years of public service and advocacy for Responsible, Healthy, Happy, Pet Ownership.  The Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation was founded in 1987 by a community-minded group of Hillsborough County veterinarians to foster the human/animal bond and promote responsible pet ownership, improved pet health and pet care through an emphasis on pet owner education.  For more information, visit www.hahf.org or contact us at info@hahf.org.


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