Puppy found in ditch with broken legs prompts rescue group's plea for donations

The extensive veterinary care that was recently needed to save a badly injured puppy highlights how much an Alberta animal rescue group is struggling to keep up with demand during the economic downturn.

Late last month, members of the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS) were called out to a rural area near Rocky Mountain Houseto help a four-month-old mixed breed dog that was found in a ditch with two broken front legs.

"We were able to locatethe family and unfortunately, they couldn't pay for the medical bills so he was surrendered over to us where we rushed him back to Calgary for emergency medical care,"saidDeannaThompson, executive director ofAARCS.

Veterinarians suspect the puppy, named Panzer, had been attacked by a wild animal. His right elbow was broken and left ulna was shattered and he wasalso septic and severely anemic.

Panzer has now had surgery to fix his legs and is recovering in a foster home, but he's just one of over 500 animals that AARCS is currently looking after.

'The calls don't ever seem to stop'

"The calls don't seem to ever stop. We are currently dealing with 144 animals in need of medical care, and this is over and above basic spay/neuter and vaccines," Thompson said in a release.

"We don't want to turn these animals away, but at some point we are going to have to unless we can raise more funds to pay the mounting veterinary bills."

AARCS has spent $785,000 on veterinary bills in 2016 and the tally is expected to reach a million dollars before the new year.

Paying for basic medical costs such as spay/neuter surgeries and vaccines are often covered by adoption fees, buthaving to deal with so many major medical cases has put the organization in the tough position of potentially having to turn away animals in need.

But, like many non-profit groups, AARCS is feeling the effects of the recession as donations drop off, the society says.

"As the cold weather approaches, the number of animals in need will continue to increase. We need to raise additional funds to get us through the winter months," says Thompson.

Panzer on the mend

The rescue group says Panzer is doingwell and will be up for adoption once he's fully healed.

"He may need more surgery on one of his legs, so we're trying to encourage him to walk as much as possible," said Ariana Lenz, medical manager for AARCS.

"He is crated most of the day because all he wants to do his play, so he's running around with the cats and dogs and I'm hopeful he'll make a full recovery in the next few months."

Neglect on the rise

The Calgary Humane Society says animal neglect cases were already on the rise before the recession hit and nowthehard times are making matters even worse.

"Lastyear was especially bad and knowing this year was not bound to be much better economically, we certainly were preparing to see more of the medical neglect type-stuff," said Brad Nichols, the society's senior manager of animal cruelty investigations.

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