A paralyzed dog named Britney surrendered to a shelter was facing an uncertain fate, until someone decided to take a chance.
Koko Garcia, the president of the animal rescue organization Handover Rover, which is based in Phoenix, Arizona, got a tip-off about Britney’s situation just in the nick of time.
“Britney was surrendered to the ER vet we use frequently,” Garcia told Newsweek. “One of our rescue colleagues, Caitlin from Sky Sanctuary, was down there with an emergency around the time Britney was surrendered.”
According to Garcia, Caitlin enquired as to what was going to happen to Britney. The ER vet had no room to hold her and there was no one willing to take her at that point. Britney was out of options.
Caitlin wasn’t going to give up on her though. Garcia can still recall the phone call she got that day and Caitlin pleading that there was “nothing wrong with this dog.” Just because she was paralyzed, it didn’t mean she didn’t deserve a chance.
Thankfully, that chance was one Garcia was happy to provide, even after learning the extent of Britney’s medical condition. “She had been in this condition for more than six months,” Garcia said. “Her X-rays showed suspected intervertebral disc disease (IVDD).”
IVDD occurs when the discs in the spine bulge or rupture, according to the Journal of American Veterinary Medicine the condition is more common among dog breeds with short legs and long backs like Miniature Dachshunds, standard Dachshunds and Doberman Pinschers.
Untreated IVDD can result in severe pain, weakness, a loss of coordination and, as in Britney’s case, paralysis. But while Britney’s paralysis had proven too much of a challenge for her previous family, Garcia knew it was something she could learn to live with.
She was already caring for another paralyzed dog, Jerry, so knew exactly what to expect. “Caring for a paralyzed dog is different, and you get to learn some new techniques, like how to fit a wheel chair, but it is by no means a damper on the quality of life for the dog,” she said.
Handover Rover was at maximum capacity when Caitlin called to ask for help with Britney, but Garcia was determined to find room for her. “Because of our experience with Jerry, we saw Britney as just a little fluffy dog that deserved a shot,” she said.
Garcia took Britney to a neurologist where she was told that while the neuro-receptors in Britney’s back were not working, her nerves could still feel touch, meaning she could potentially learn to “spinal walk.”
Spinal walking in dogs is an involuntary reflex gait where a dog with a spinal injury can walk without conscious thought or feeling in its hind legs. “The brain isn’t telling the legs to move, but the legs will move in the same walking pattern they did once before if you retrain them, and muscle memory kicks in,” Garcia said.
A physical therapist recommended an intensive course of treatment over the next six months, while Britney was also put on a course of acupuncture. But despite Britney’s muscles getting stronger, Garcia didn’t see much in the way of improvements over that period. Accepting that Britney would likely remain living with a wheelchair, Garcia eased up on the physiotherapy and stopped the acupuncture altogether. Then something unexpected happened.
“About a month after I slowed down, and cut back on her treatment plan, Britney started taking real steps,” Garcia said. Every day since then, Britney has been walking a little further. It’s a remarkable transformation and one Garcia documented in a video posted to her Instagram @handoverrover. The on-screen caption indicated Britney had likely been surrendered due to her paralysis.
“She will likely always need her wheel chair for longer distances, but in the last week, just here on the ranch, Britney has used her wheel only once,” Garcia said.
Britney is continuing to recuperate at Handover Rover, but Garcia believes she is ready to find a forever home of her own. “Britney’s ideal home would be a family that has another small dog or two for her to play with!” she said. “An active family that likes to go for walks, and get out and about.”
Anyone who might be willing to take a chance on Britney should contact Handover Rover to find out more.
