Willow was left broken, pregnant, and tied to a gate

Willow had to be hospitalized immediately after she arrived at our Admissions Center.

As soon as Willow stepped off the transport van, our staff knew right away that something wasn’t right. She was weak, walking with difficulty, and she was so thin that even the most experienced among us were shocked at her condition. Then, as we walked her around the property, she defecated what appeared to be pure blood.

It was clear that she needed diagnostics and treatment right away. The transport had arrived in the evening, and staff would be leaving after unloading everyone and getting them settled in, but we couldn't risk a decline in her condition. So, we immediately drove her to a 24-hour emergency vet clinic where she could be carefully watched through the night. At the clinic, she was started on fluids, injectable antibiotics and pain meds, and an injectable antiemetic to prevent vomiting since even the smallest amount of food she ate was coming right back up. X-rays revealed that her colon was dangerously inflamed, and there was no doubt that if she had not come to a shelter such as Wright-Way, she would have died. Without our incredible supporters, this level of lifesaving care would not be possible.

We contacted the shelter in Kemp, TX where Willow was originally from and learned that she had been found one morning tied to the shelter gate. She was just a day or two away from delivering puppies, and her right rear leg was broken. With no resources to treat her medical needs, the shelter could only offer her a safe place to have her babies while they searched for transport partners to help her.

Further radiographs showed that not only is her right leg broken in two places, but her right hip is fractured, her left hip is completely dislocated, her pubic bone is broken, and she was shot in her left knee some time ago. While we can’t know for certain what caused her broken bones, her injuries are consistent with having been run over by a car or another heavy vehicle, such as a tractor. There is no doubt that it was a massively traumatic and painful event that produced that much damage on both sides of her body.

The pain of delivering and nursing her puppies while suffering from so many broken bones must have been excruciating. Despite her injuries, she has been a loving and attentive momma to all seven of her puppies, and she was terribly sad to be separated from them. However, her condition is still too severe to allow her to nurse, and her puppies are thriving on their high calorie mush. Willow herself has barely begun to eat, and our dedicated staff fed her by hand for days, five meals a day, one tablespoon at a time until her digestive capacity returned enough that she can now eat small meals on her own.

She is still months away from full recovery, but her healing journey has begun. Her orthopedic and gastrointestinal care will be costly, but it is possible with your support. There is a long way yet to go, and she will need all the help we can give.

Please help Willow today.

All donations made to a specific animal will go toward that pet's medical expenses. Any remaining monies will go back into Wright-Way Rescue's Medical Fund to help other injured pets in need of rescue.