Rescued Pup Doing Well After Amputation

By Leslie Brown

Maybe we can't all rescue a dog in need, but for those who can help, it's comforting to know that this story has a happy ending.

In May, an eight-month-old pup was hit by a car on Piedmont Avenue, behind the library in Highland Park. A teenager (my son) who witnessed the accident, convinced his mom (me) and his godfather to rescue him. 

With the help of Highland Park-Mount Washington Patch in promoting the story, which resulted in generous donations by more than 30 community members, the little dog's life was saved. The dog’s right leg needed to be amputated, and the family was able to successfully raise more than $2,200 of the $2,500-plus spent on veterinary fees and surgery costs. The surgery was a success, and Buster, as the dog was named, came home a little over a week ago.   He's recovered quickly, and is in good spirits.

Although the pup lost a leg, he gained a family. The encouragement and support from the community helped the family decide to keep him. The teen is looking for a summer job to cover ongoing costs of Buster’s food and such.  

Below are links to two videos about Buster. 

Buster—with Keenan—and doing GREAT on three legs

Buster barking cheerfully and running up the stairs

After all of this, boy and dog have formed a strong bond. And if there’s a moral to this story, it’s got to be this:

"Saving just one dog won't change the world … but it will surely change the world for that one dog." (Quote courtesy of www.rescuepup.org.)