From Tragedy to Triumph: The Tale of TJ by Erin Selby and JJ Jacobson

On Monday August 5^th, TJ the German Shepherd Dog was rushed through the front door of our lobby to receive urgent care for a ghastly leg injury. The origins of TJ’s injury and what his life was like before that day are shrouded in mystery, but from the moment a Good Samaritan found him on a front porch in Livermore, TJ’s story took a dramatic turn for the better.  

Early that Monday morning, Laura Long spotted a German Shepherd dog on a neighborhood porch and suspected he was injured. She and her daughter Candice approached TJ and discovered the horrible condition of his leg. Candice called the Livermore Police Animal Control, who arrived on the scene around 9:30am.  The Livermore Police Animal Control officer described the dog’s leg as “horrific and probably the worst untreated injury I have ever seen. The suffering that the dog must have endured is unthinkable.”  

Livermore Animal Control took TJ (TJ’s collar was inscribed with the name Roky but he has since been renamed Tre-joe, or “TJ”) to Adobe Animal Hospital in Livermore, where they provided pain management.  Animal Control called Cindy Churchill at Tri-Valley Animal Rescue (TVAR) who then contacted JJ Jacobson of Bay Area German Shepherd Rescue to see if they could take TJ on. 

Images of TJ and his collar from the Livermore Police Department

“I knew I'd have to help Tre-joe,” said JJ. “I started putting feelers out for donations and decided to snatch TJ up and take him to Dr. Larry Gilman at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center.” TVAR donated money for the amputation surgery; their generous donation allowed Bay Area German Shepherd Rescue to make an easy decision to help TJ get the help he deserved.

That afternoon TJ was transferred to Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center. His arrival was greeted by shock, horror and concern by the entire staff.  Dr. Gilman examined the sweet but nervous dog. 

Based on the type of injuries sustained and the condition of the wound it is likely that TJ was hit by a car 5 to 7 days before he was found by Laura. He had suffered a severe degloving, leaving exposed bones and severe tissue damage; he also had multiple fractures on the same leg. A degloving often occurs when a pet is hit by a car.  The injury is so deep and severe that the recuperation time is often 9 months, or amputation is necessary.  Someone, presumably the owners, had bandaged his leg but did not provide any medical treatment.  On the day he was found, the bandaging was tattered and dripping with blood.  One could easily see the bloody raw tissue as well as black tissue; the black tissue was skin that had already died.  Various bones from his foot and leg were completely exposed. In addition to his leg wound, TJ's tongue and trachea were damaged. His tongue was raw, bloody, and blistered and seemed to be in line with possible poison ingestion. 

Dr. Gilman determined that TJ’s leg would need to be amputated and he was scheduled for surgery the following day. Dr. Gilman, Dr. Trevor Miller, and Dr. Stefanie Wong performed the surgery, which  went smoothly, and was without complications. TJ ended up staying a total of three nights before going home with JJ. Since then he has been recuperating and rehabilitating.  According to JJ, “He is up and around, and he will be ready for his new home within weeks.”

While most animals who lose a limb adapt very well to having three legs, there is a small concern regarding TJ’s remaining front leg.  His pastern (the part of a dog’s foot that corresponds to the area between the wrist and the fingers on a human hand) is not well formed, most likely due to poor nutrition.  The severe angle of the pastern compromises the strength of his remaining leg, which will need to be in great condition for the rest of TJ's life.

Laura continues to care deeply about TJ’s future and has visited him since that fateful Monday morning. In response to the concerns regarding TJ’s weakened remaining front leg, Laura is planning a fund raiser so a front-end cart for TJ may be purchased.  The cart, a front end wheel chair, would be used for walks and excursions.  He would not need it when he is hopping around the house.  The cart is expected to be approximately $3000, but that is a generic ball-park figure. For more information about the fund raiser and donating money towards a cart please visit
http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/help-tre-joe-walk-without-pain/82697.

TJ visited Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center on August 22^nd for a recheck and to get his stitches removed. Dr. Gilman was thrilled with his surgery site, TJ's temperament, and how well he is doing. He is a very popular with all of the staff and receives lots of love and attention wherever he goes.   

 

TJ goes for his recheck

Currently TJ is being fostered by JJ but he will soon be in need of a forever home. He has one more month of recuperation and getting stronger, at which time he will be available for adoption.  TJ's new owners will need to have German Shepherd experience, have a lifestyle that will allow for easy mobility, and take great care of this very special boy.  TJ likes to play with toys, enjoys chew toys and can easily jump up to explore counters.  He is a very happy guy with a gentle disposition.

Please visit Bay Area German Shepherd Rescue’s webpage at www.bayareagsr.org to learn more about this wonderful organization. As a rescue group, every dollar counts so donations are greatly appreciated. If you are interested in learning more about TJ and feel that your family and home has the proper qualifications for caring for this special boy please visit www.bayareagsr.org/available-dogs/27-tre-joe. You can learn more about TVAR and their Cinderella Fund that helps animals with special needs like TJ at www.tvar.org. The Livermore Police Department is looking for any information about TJ’s former owners. He was found in the Springtown area of Livermore at the corner of Red Fir Way and Monterey Drive. Animal Control is urging anyone with information regarding the owner of the dog to contact them at (925) 371-4848.

Welcome Dr. Trevor Miller by Erin Selby

We are proud to announce a new addition to our BRVC family - Dr. Trevor Miller has joined our team of highly skilled veterinarians! Dr. Miller embodies our core values, what we refer to as the 4 "C"s: Communication, Client Education, Compassion, and Customer Service. Read our interview to get to know more about Dr. Miller, where he is from, what motivated him to be a veterinarian, and why he is excited to work at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care.

Tell us about your educational background.
I did my undergraduate at UC Berkeley and majored in Environmental science. I also studied abroad in Australia for a semester. I went to Vet School at UC Davis.

Were you involved in other animal related work outside of school?
During vet school I worked extensively with Fix Our Ferals (a feral cat spay/neuter organization in Oakland) and volunteered at a shelter in Modesto. I also was the editor of the vet school newspaper.

After graduating vet school, where did you complete your internship?
I did a 1 year rotating internship at East Bay Veterinary Specialists and Emergency. I rotated primarily through internal medicine and emergency medicine, but also gained a lot of ultrasound and surgical experience.

Where did you grow up?

Placerville, CA. A small town in the foothills between Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe. I lived out the country and grew up surrounded by a lot of animals.

Do you have any pets?

I have a cat and a dog. Gonzo is an orange tabby. Quigley is a Lab mix.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Skiing! (I've been a skier my whole life). I love to travel, I read a lot, and I play racquetball. I'm also a big Cal fan.

Describe how and why you became interested in becoming a veterinarian. Did you have any kind of “a-ha” moment?
I became a vet for lots of reasons. I don't think I had one definitive moment though. It was something I was always interested in and at one point in college I just decided to fully pursue becoming a veterinarian. I grew up with lots of pets and biology was always my favorite subject in school. I also love how much you get to work with your hands in vet med and how much variety there is in day to day practice.

What motivates you to be a veterinarian?
I think my biggest motivator now is the people behind the pets. I love helping support the bond between people and their pets and the relationships that develop between veterinarians and pet owners.   I also love how vast the veterinary profession is and how there is always so much more to learn. I think a lot of areas of veterinary medicine also have a kind of craftsmanship, like surgery and ultrasound for example, and I really enjoy that.

What do you look forward to about working at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care?
I really look forward to working with all the great doctors and staff here. In such a big established practice I think it opens up the doctors to do a lot more for their patients. BRVC has people with expertise in so many different fields; there is always someone to bounce ideas off of. I also look forward to getting to know the BRVC clients and pets.