Sammy needs your help!

Sammy needs your help! Sammy had a rough start to life and now is having continuing issues that are very expensive. He and his siblings were born in Schurz, Nevada outside on a piece of land where they and their mother had to fend for themselves. The mother at some point disappeared and the puppies were being fed little bits by someone that lived in that area. When the puppies were about 12 weeks old, they were finally brought to Churchill Animal Protection Society (CAPS) where they were immediately evaluated and treated. Sammy through CAPS was known as Sven. All the puppies in his litter were in very bad condition, but Sammy’s condition was the worst. He was infested with ticks, very malnourished, and so lethargic that at moments we didn’t know if he was alive. With treatment and giving plenty of food, in just a couple of weeks he went from a lifeless puppy to an energetic happy puppy. Eventually, he was healthy enough to go up for adoption.

Sammy finally found an amazing home through CAPS where he currently lives with Ruth and her son Roan. Roan has special needs and Sammy and him immediately bonded. Sammy is an emotional support dog to Roan and helps him immensely.

Sammy was doing so well with them until one day when he was about 10 months old, he was playing and injured himself. After visiting a vet hospital, Sammy’s owners were told that he had a torn ACL and a fractured floating kneecap in one back leg and that he would need surgery that would cost about $8,000. He also had a floating kneecap in the other back leg, but that one seemed to be fine for the moment. He underwent the surgery where they attempted to repair everything, but unfortunately, after a few weeks they discovered that the floating kneecap repair wasn’t successful and he would need another surgery that would cost about $2,500. The second surgery was performed, but after looking inside, the surgeon determined that the damage to Sammy’s knee wasn’t any longer repairable by him and that all he could do was amputate it. Sammy nor his owners wanted to have the leg amputated unless it was a complete last resort, so Sammy ended up getting a second opinion at UC Davis and a couple of other vets. UC Davis recommended amputation as well and assured the owners that his other back leg could handle the extra strain from the amputation. Around that time, Sammy’s other back leg started to fail him as well. He got to the point where he could hardly go out to go potty without needing to be carried. It was decided that Sammy wouldn’t have the amputation due to the concern that now his other back leg wouldn’t be able to support it. Sammy’s owner with the guidance of a vet decided it would be best if he focused on getting his “better” back leg strong before an amputation was potentially performed. A wheelchair and a special leg brace were purchased for Sammy which are currently being used by him to get around. The wheelchair was purchased through “Walking Wheels” and the cost was $400. The leg brace was purchased through “Bionic Pets” and was $600. He is also going to be starting hydrotherapy sessions to strengthen his legs which will cost about $1,250. Sammy’s owner is in the process of trying to get him to be a service dog, but before that can happen he really needs to strengthen his legs with therapy.

Between the two surgeries already done, the therapy sessions and the expensive equipment needed to keep him walking, over $13,000 has been spent and Sammy’s owners are out of money and trying to pay off that expense put on the credit card. They can’t afford to spend any more money on any further surgeries or treatments that Sammy may need. If continual treatment can’t be paid for, Sammy may have to leave his family and be returned to CAPS. Sammy and Roan are so inseparable so it would be heartbreaking to have that happen.

Any help for Ruth, Roan, and Sammy in these very difficult times is very much appreciated! All funds raised will go directly to them to help Sammy. Ruth did have pet insurance for Sammy at the time of his injury but because she had it less than six months, the insurance won't help pay for any of Sammy's medical care. 

A huge thank you to Walkin' Pets for Sammy's wheelchair and Bionic Pets for his leg brace! These have made a massive difference in Sammy's ability to get around which has made him a lot happier.

Make sure to follow Sammy's Instagram account for updates on his journey:

Sammy's Instagram Account