Help Leah and Ryan save Darla

Our best friends, Leah Block and Ryan Smith, were the victims of a violent off-leash dog attack. They need our financial support as they battle to save the life of their beloved dog Darla.

On the evening of Friday, June 18th, both Darla and Leah were attacked as they were barbecuing at their neighbor's home in Wash Park.

Saturday afternoon (June 19th), Lo and I received the following text message from Ryan detailing the incident:

Hey guys, sending out kind of a heavy text. Last night, we went through some severe trauma and I'm sending this just to let all of you know at once. We were hanging out at our neighbors house having some drinks, when suddenly a big dog who broke off its leash while being walked down our alley came charging into the garage and viciously attacked Darla.

It clamped it's jaws around Darla's head and neck, and started thrashing her back and forth. On instinct, Leah dove into the alley and wrapped her arms around Darla, trying to save her life. I was about 20 feet away at that moment, and Leah's screams made me take off running right then and there. Leah and I were able to wrestle Darla away from the jaws of the attacking dog. In the process, Leah was also bit in the face. Her lower jaw was punctured in multiple places, and her lip was split completely in half down to the gums. Completely in f****** half.

Darla has such severe lacerations that she's been fighting for her life in emergency surgery all night and day. I spent the entire night racing back and forth between the emergency room and the animal hospital. Leah had her lip sown up, and her body is bruised and torn up from the asphalt in the alley. She's been doing OK physically, but is utterly traumatized about Darla.

Darla's wounds were the most gruesome and horrific thing I have ever seen. The biggest was a 7 inch tear across the back of her neck, all the way to the muscle tissue. The doctors didn't know if she was going to make it. By the Grace of God, her status shifted this morning and they were able to stabilize her and save her life.

We just got Darla home about 30 minutes ago. She is not doing well, but we're praying hard that she'll recover.

Sorry to send this to you all at once. I needed to, because I'm too mentally, physically, and emotionally drained to speak on the phone for a couple days. I imagined some of you would start finding out and try to call me.

If any of you wanted to send a brief text to Leah, I know it would mean a lot. It may take awhile for her to recover from this mentally.

Love all of you guys, and I'll keep you updated. For now, we are praying and hopeful. ❤️

After visiting with Ryan later that day, Lo and I found out that they were forced to drive to the Animal Hospital - Leah desperately trying to keep Darla from bleeding out by applying a towel around her neck, and Ryan driving with one hand while keeping Leah's lip in place with the other. Those of us who love our partners, and who love our pets as family know - it was a seriously traumatic incident.

Leah and the doctors at VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital are heroes in this case. Without Leah's quick reaction (throwing herself in harms way), and without the tireless all-night efforts of the doctor's at VCA, Darla would be gone.

After a year of hard work, Leah is now a licensed aesthetician and was supposed to begin her new job this past Monday. As she is recovering from her injuries, and providing round the clock care to Darla, her start date has been postponed indefinitely. Ryan recently completed a successful career pivot, but unfortunately, they just don't have emergency funds at this time. Leah is considering selling her car to pay for Darla's treatment.

Those of you that are lucky enough to be friends with Ryan and Leah know - they would do anything for the people in their lives. Let's show them the same support during their time of need.

Sincerely,

The Smiths (Bret + Lo)

UPDATE: 6/25/21 - Darla underwent another emergency surgery to remove infected tissue and clean out her wounds. She is back home with Ryan and Leah now. For the next couple of weeks, Darla will have to undergo wound cleaning every other day under anesthesia in an effort for her to beat the infection and fully recover.