Hurt dog ‘dumped’ on Colorado highway gets ‘second chance’ — and cute doughnut collar
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A hurt dog is recovering from his injuries after he was found on the median of a Colorado highway, photos and video show.
Drivers stopped to rescue the abandoned dog and rushed him to the veterinary hospital at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Chris P’s Rescue and Rehabilitation said on Facebook.
The rescue group operates out of Pierce and typically rescues and rehabs pet mini pigs, but “sometimes other animals need our help,” the rescue said in the April 22 post. Pierce is about a 25-mile drive east from Fort Collins.
Once the dog was stable at the university’s veterinary hospital, he was transferred to the Northern Colorado Humane Society where he was put on a five-day stray hold to give any potential owners time to claim the dog — who the rescue had started calling Chance, the rescue group said.
That’s when the group started fighting for custody of the dog with help from the Pierce community.
“It was an entire village that rallied behind Chance to help get him released to a veterinarian and a rescue so that he could be given a chance to live,” the group said in an online fundraiser set up to pay for his care. “Without the pressure of everyone involved, Chance would have been euthanized.”
They were able to take custody of the dog and officially started calling him by his new name — “as we feel he deserves a second chance!” the group said.
The group nurtured him and controlled Chance’s pain until his appointment with a vet who provides more specialized care, the rescue said. There, they discovered Chance had a broken pelvis, as well as several old healed and still-healing injuries.
“We have figured out that his injuries were most likely NOT from a hit and run but from abuse,” the rescue said. “We are thinking he was dumped on the highway with this awful injury.”
His surgery was going to cost more than they originally thought, so the group set up the online fundraiser to pay for it.
Chance underwent a seven-hour surgery May 1 to repair his pelvis and, remarkably, was able to stand and walk for very short potty breaks, the rescue said.
Since then, Chance has been receiving acupuncture, laser treatment and shots to help with any potential arthritis symptoms, the rescue group said.
Photos show Chance getting a laser treatment and physical therapy — all while wearing an adorable pink doughnut collar.
And a video shows how Chance walks around with some support from his rescuers.
“We love all animals here. Big or small,” the group said in a May 4 Facebook post. “This boy has a long road to recovery. ... He’s doing amazing. Baby steps.”
In a May 5 update in the online fundraiser, his rescuers said “you can tell he has never known love.”
“This boy is gonna have the life he deserves because of his army!” they added.
