Goldie

Three Legs and All Heart

By Duane Monkres

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In late January, 1996, early morning sleet, freezing rain and snow had turned drive-time in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area to a feat that none should have dared. Cars moved slowly, if at all, as tires tried vainly to grip a surface as slick as polished glass.

It was in this dangerous world that the manager of a jewelry store inched along on his way to open for the day's business. Suddenly, a figure tried to cross the slick street a few cars ahead of him. It was impossible for the driver in front of him to stop, and a split second later, the jeweler saw a large yellow dog skid along the street, finally stopping motionless on the center median.

The jeweler managed to pull his car to the center median and stop. The dog appeared to be dead, with the left rear leg grossly misshapen with a bone protruding through a badly bleeding wound. Rather than abandon the dead or dying dog, the man took off his suit coat and wrapped it around the animal as gently as he could. He picked the animal up, placed it in the back seat of his car and started for the Midwest Veterinary Hospital about a mile and a half away.

Upon arrival, he carried the injured animal into the clinic/hospital, and was quickly seen by Anthony "Tony" Thomas, DVM., a seasoned, highly respected veterinarian. The prognosis was grim. The dog, a female golden Labrador mix about four or five years old, was almost unconscious, in serious shock, and her left rear leg, which appeared to have taken the brunt of the blow from the car bumper, was dangling from the hip with a compound fracture. These were the signs and symptoms the doctor could see upon quick examination; what other damage, both internal and otherwise, remained to be seen.

Immediate steps were taken to stabilize the dog and reverse the effects of shock. No identification was on the dog, but the jeweler was so moved by her plight, that he volunteered to pay for treating the fracture. The doctor told the man that if he was willing to do that, the clinic would share the cost on a 50/50 basis.

Dr. Thomas immediately called in his partner, veterinarian surgeon Dr. Stan Acree. Hours later, after the insertion of a plate, pins and wire, the mangled rear leg was set. Now, all they could do was wait and see what other symptoms might appear, what other injuries might be hiding internally.

After the first week, "Goldie," as they decided to call her, was able to stand. They noticed, however, that she was unable to put her left forepaw on the floor. Close examination revealed the worst: the impact to Goldie's left side had caused radial nerve paralysis, a condition which has no cure nor surgical correction.

Euthanasia seemed the only answer, and the jeweler who had rescued her agreed. The fluids were prepared, and a technician was sent to bring Goldie from her pen. Somehow, Goldie managed to get to the side of the hallway, and leaning against the wall, started moving her two right legs in unison–an unnatural gait for a dog, but the only gait possible for a dog with only three legs.

When Dr. Thomas saw what Goldie had accomplished, he immediately canceled the euthanasia. "Goldie's mind was sharp enough to adapt to an unnatural movement in order to survive. That feat showed intelligence and a great spirit. We couldn't put her down," he said. "Although we eventually had to remove her left foreleg at the shoulder because it became a useless appendage that bothered her, Goldie showed us that she was not going to give up. So we didn't either."

Now, Goldie is a happy, loving (and loved) member of the hospital staff. She lives at the hospital in her own pen, complete with mattress and a door that's never closed. A non-skid floor mat identifies her pen and enables her to take that first step after arising without having to contend with a slick floor.

Although Goldie has been adopted by the entire staff of several veterinarians, technicians, receptionists and clerical employees, she has formed a special bond with long time Surgical Technician Carol "Sis" Henninger. It's "Sis" Goldie goes to when she might be a little down or wants some special attention or a special treat. And, according to Dr. Thomas, it was Goldie's love of sweets that taught them just how inventive she could be. Because of her acceptance, whenever any member of the large staff had a birthday, Goldie would get her share, and sometimes more, of goodies. This started to cause a weight problem for the big Labrador, so the sweets were curtailed. Still, she didn't loose weight. Goldie was then put on a strict diet of water and a well known weight reduction dog food, but she still didn't loose. The staff carefully monitored Goldie's intake, and by all the known standards, she should have been loosing.

"Sis" soon found out what was happening. Goldie would ask to be let out the back door and then would "follow her nose" to the back of a nearby Chinese restaurant. There, the kindly cooks would bring food to the dog they obviously thought was so deserving, given her handicap, which enabled her to stay on the strict diet, as far as the hospital staff knew.

"What was so surprising about this," Dr. Thomas said, "was that Goldie had to negotiate a large embankment going and coming, and do it on only three legs. So far, she hasn't come up with a new plan, but she probably will."

Now a stately nine years old, Goldie performs some very important functions to pay for her care. She serves as a frequent blood donor to canines in need. She scampers through the back halls of the hospital, going by the kennels and greeting the patients who aren't feeling nearly as well as she. It doesn't seem too difficult to imagine that she somehow wants to communicate this message to them: "Hey, don't look so glum. Look what happened to me, and I made it."

Duane has been writing about dogs for several years, with over a dozen canine articles and short stories to his credit in both the US and UK. His professional background is insurance claims and underwriting administration, plus 14 years in law enforcement. He currently serves as chief underwriter and manager for a major insurance company. Duane has a fun Web site www.okpix.com with pictures of people and pets having fun in around Edmond and Oklahoma City.

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