Ava was first brought to our attention by a social worker trying to help a German Shepherd in a home that had too many dogs and the people didn’t have the money to take care of them.  On top of that Ava had two litters of pups back to back with no time to recuperate between litters.  She was scrawny, had no vaccinations but loved children and had a good disposition.  After a preliminary evaluation, gsk9r required the owners to at least do a fecal and heartworm test before we could take her into rescue.  She was HW negative but found to have a tapeworm.
 
We took Ava into rescue and set up an appointment to have her vaccinated, got meds for tapeworm and set up an appointment for her to be spayed.  This was all done and Ava was put into a foster home to be cared for and hopefully put on some weight.  She was put into a foster home with two small girls and another dog and was getting along well looking better each week. 
 
Then in late September somehow she the escaped from the family’s fenced yard (they think someone didn’t bolt the gate) and she was lost for three weeks.  Many, many people in Janesville went looking for her, flyers were put up everywhere, Rock County Humane Society was notified as well as the sheriff and police departments.  Her three week run ended on October 5th when she was struck by a vehicle on Highway 11.  She was taken to Whitewater Vet Hospital at 9:30 pm and it was determined that her left rear femur was shattered and she had a dislocated right hip.  The next morning Ava was taken to University Vet Hospital in Madison.  At that time (Friday) all the orthopedic surgeons were at a convention in Washington so she had to wait until Monday to be seen by an orthopedic surgeon.  She was kept comfortable and x-rays were taken.  On Monday, we were told they could put a plate in the left rear leg next to a bone graft so her bone could restore itself.  Her right hip could be put back in place and pinned.  We were given an estimate that would deemed reasonable and ok’d the surgery.  On Tuesday, October 10th Ava had surgery on her shattered leg (bone graft from shoulder area was used and plate inserted).  We were then advised that the cost was more than they figured and she still had her right hip to fix.  What were we going to say after she had undergone the major surgery?  She wouldn’t have a good leg to walk on if the right leg wasn’t fixed so we ok’d the surgery knowing we didn’t have the money and would have to fundraise and apply for grants to pay our bill.  On Thursday, October 11th the surgeons pulled her hip back in place, sutured it and put two screws in to hold it in place.  She had come through both surgeries well and could go home on Friday.
 
In order to get Ava out of University Vet Hospital we had to take out a care credit loan.  We then had three months to pay it back or we would be charged 25% interest in the total amount borrowed.
 
Ava was to be kept quiet, no exercise other than to go out potty and back again and while outside would have to use a sling so she didn’t fall.  She came to our home to be cared for as the foster home environment was way too busy for her situation. 
 
We applied for grants and were fortunate to hear about AAFMED from Arf's German Shepherd Rescue who generously helped us out financial toward Ava’s veterinary bill.  We couldn’t have done it without their caring and generosity. 
 
Ava had her last check-up April 23, 2007 and was given a clean bill of health.  Her bone has grown as it should have and is now completely healed, the plate is still in there and should cause no problems in the future.  The doctors at University Vet Hospital in Madison were delighted with her constant improvement and final outcome.  They did a marvelous job but in life nothing is free and this certainly wasn’t.  But if you look at Ava today, you would never know except for a long scar on her left leg that she had ever been hit by a vehicle.  Our sincere thanks go to Arf's German Shepherd Rescue for their caring and financial support.
 
Karen Frank
Good Shepherd K-9 Rescue