Popeye

About the Campaign

Tied up in an unfenced front yard.

Attacked by a large dog.

Dumped at a local vet, the owner drove away!

On Wednesday Oct 17th a young man named Brian came into Katella Animal Clinic in Anaheim, CA with this dog, a 15lb Terrier mix now determined to only be about one year-old.

Brian stated that it was his mother’s dog, and that it had been attacked by another, larger dog. The office manager got the feeling that Brian was going to bail, just leaving the dog behind so she got him in a room to wait for the vet, but did not separate him from the dog (take the dog in the back). The vet was in surgery.

Video of exam under sedation:

The dog was covered in dirt, matted and appeared neglected. It was in pain, and fearful even with Brian. Not neutered. But the vet tech determined the dog was stable and could wait.

Manager discussed with Brian. Brian stated the dog is left tied up in the front yard, which is exposed with out fencing. Another dog entered the yard, and attacked. Manager said they would need a deposit. Brian stated he had only about $100 on him, in cash. Brian filled out a form, then got a phone call on his cell and went outside to take the call. He jumped in his car and left the vet office.

The manager got his car information, and it turned out he had filled out the vet form with his actual phone number etc… The manager called, Brian answered. The manager said they would report him to the police etc…. Brian said he would return to get the dog, and then hung up.

Fortunately, help did arrive.

Brian, of course, never returned, and he stopped answering the phone. We paid for Katella Animal Clinic to do an initial exam, under sedation because he was in so much pain. They determined his jaw was severely broken, shattered in spaces. Then we reached out for an Orange County rescue to help us. Leashes of Love, Inc came in and transported him to Southern California Veterinary Specialist Hospital in Irvine (SCVSH).

On Friday afternoon, October 19th, he had a procedure called a “Partial Mandibulectomy”. In short, part of his jaw was removed. His prognosis is good, and he will hopefully recover in a such a way that he will appear normal and be able to eat normally. He will be missing part of his jaw, and had to lose some teeth, but it should not impact his life, and he is only one year-old! Hopefully he will have a long, normal life.

Right now he is a bit aggressive and will let no one near his mouth. He has numerous soft tissue injures all over, non-serious, but all painful.

Leashes of Love, Inc. has named him Popeye. They will be putting him with a good medical foster as he recovers and then finding him a home. Your donation will only go to Popeye’s bill which is expected to be over $3000.00, after a 25% discount. This type of surgery is very specific and specialized and can only be done at a small number of hospitals. Can you please help Popeye today? Thank you and WOOOOOF!!!

He is healing now, part of the tissue inside his jaw was torn from the bone. He does have risk on infection and he needs this tissue to grow back properly. Please keep Popeye in your thoughts and SHARE his story with your friends and family on social media like Facebook!