Spirit of a Champion

Do you believe in fate? Do you believe in things being meant to be? If not, this story could change your mind.

On a cool January Saturday night, Jennifer Bradley of Forte Animal Rescue of Pasadena was leaving a local LA County Animal shelter. The shelter workers were locking up for the night, and Jennifer and her husband were anxious to leave the industrial area and get home. Suddenly, down a dark alley alongside the shelter, a figure of a collie chained to a pole caught Jennifer’s eye. Amazed at the sight and unsure of the dog’s temperament, Jennifer approached the collie cautiously. She noticed the dog’s tail wag steadily as he watched her walk towards him. Jennifer also noticed a very dirty, bloody bandage on the boy’s rear foot. Although the dog looked in fair condition, it was obvious he was in pain, but he continued to lean into Jennifer’s leg for another minute of human touch.

Jennifer’s husband had to get a tool from the car to get the chain unhooked from the pole, but he finally wrenched it loose. Another person helping them told them that if the shelter had found the collie in the morning, they would have euthanized the collie immediately to put him out of his pain. Jennifer and her husband carefully loaded the collie into the car, and drove immediately to the emergency vet. On the way, Jennifer made a quick call on her cell phone to a friend. She asked her to find a “collie rescue,” as Forte Animal Rescue was a relatively newly formed group, and she had found a dog she was going to need help with.

The emergency vet unwrapped the leg to find rotting flesh and muscle eaten away from gangrene exposing bare bone. His initial question was “do you want me to put him down?” Jennifer quickly responded “NO” and requested antibiotics to get the collie through the weekend. Then Jennifer took the collie home with a fresh dressing and medicine. She named him Ricky.
Larger photo, warning -- more graphic!

By the time Jennifer arrived home, her friend had found Southland Collie Rescue on the Internet, and an Altadena address, only minutes away from Jennifer’s home. Jennifer called the number and talked to Stephen Colley. That call was all it took for Ricky to become SCR #1278. Stephen was also over to Jennifer’s house within an hour to visit the collie and reassure Jennifer that SCR would take care of Ricky. Jennifer spent the next hour or so brushing Ricky. Even though he must have been excruciating pain, he let her brush him, and followed Jennifer all over the house. He also leaned into her side and put his head in Jennifer’s hand. Just the sound of Jennifer’s voice talking to him made Ricky’s tail wag. Ricky even let Jennifer know when he had to go outside.

First thing Monday morning found our boy at Foothill Veterinary Hospital, (along with an SCR volunteer) only to hear the diagnosis we knew would come, but hated to hear--Ricky would need amputation mid way down the femur. Without a second thought, SCR approved the surgery, as it would be the collie’s only way to survive.

We will never know what caused Ricky’s injury, but we suspect it was an animal trap. Traps are illegal in LA County, which may explain why the person chained Ricky to the post rather than having to explain the injury if he had brought Ricky into the shelter.

Right now, Ricky is recovering from his amputation surgery. The vet must deem him strong enough to undergo surgery again before Ricky can be neutered. Ricky had to loose part of one of his back legs, but Jennifer and her husband literally saved his life. Now Ricky is under the protective umbrella of SCR, where he is receiving large doses of medical care, attention and love. Ricky is in a foster home and safe. We will update you on his progress, but once he recovers fully, we will carefully find for this incredibly special boy his new family, home and real happy ending!

P.S. Ricky’s total veterinary bills will be very expensive. If you would like to help with Ricky’s cost of care, please send a tax-deductible donation to the address below, and write “Ricky” in the memo line. In 2002, SCR's expenses exceeded $67,000, but we managed to save every collie in need, thanks to many supporters' donations. Thank you!

Jennifer Bradley's rescue group Forte Animal Rescue will have a web site soon at: http://www.FortesAngels.org

Read all of Ricky's story here:

Send questions or comments to info.collie@gmail.com