Abandoned dog gets a second chance at life through community support
DENVER (KDVR) — A dog in Larimer County was recently given a second chance at life, thanks to his community coming together to help out.
Chance, a lab mix who is assumed to be around two years old, was found wandering injured along a median on Interstate 25 near Wellington. Left for dead more than once, he is now healthy and thriving with the help of many different people.
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“He’s become part of our family,” said Krysta Steinmark, owner of Chris P’s Rescue and Rehabilitation.
A family that just a month ago Chance didn’t have. The lab mix was found walking freely in the middle of the highway, although he was injured.
“A good citizen had picked him up and took him to CSU because he was badly injured,” said Dr. Chad Zadina with Tabby Road Animal Hospital.
Doctors at Colorado State University discovered Chance had multiple fractures in his pelvis. Surgery would cost thousands of dollars, and with no one to pay it, he was scheduled to be euthanized.
That’s when Tabby Road and Chris P’s Rescue stepped in to raise money.
“He was failed by humans, but humans came together and saved him,” said Zadina.
A GoFundMe raised more than $8,000 to fund the surgery. Dr. Joey Zapora and Dr. Catriona MacPhail at CSU completed the surgery.
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“Basically, a plate to stabilize the loose fracture in his pelvis,” said Zadina.
Tabby Road and Chris P’s Rescue are continuing to help with Chance’s rehab. This comes despite strong winds that recently destroyed a building at the rescue.
“In the midst of all of that, and I saw this and I looked at my husband and I said ‘nope, we’re doing it anyway,'” said Steinmark.
She says it was the least she could do after what the dog had been through.
“How hurt he was and how somebody would just abandon him in the middle of the highway,” says Steinmark.
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A community effort to give Chance exactly what he was named for:
“A second chance at life,” said Zadina.
Chance’s rehab includes acupuncture and physical therapy, and his veterinarians say he’s recovered from the surgery better than expected. Although the Steinmarks originally planned to have Chance just for rehab, Krysta says the pup isn’t going anywhere: He has his forever home with them.
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