Mississippi State University veterinary team saves puppy’s legs

Weston Beamon, DVM (right), comforts goldendoodle Maple after a successful surgery to repair 2 broken femurs in her hind legs. Third-year DVM student William Greer, third year veterinary student, and Ashlee Reed, CVT, assist in stabilizing Maple post-surgery. (Photo by Tom Thompson)

When Dylan McCay and fiancé Emily Roberts saw a post online about a 10-month-old puppy who was hit by a car and then left stranded in Conway Arkansas, they needed to help. The puppy had suffered from fractures in both her hind leg femurs and they were exposed, one completely covered in mud The engaged couple quickly got in their car and drove to help the abandoned puppy, deciding on the way that they would use the money they saved for their wedding fund, and their personal savings, to help the injured dog, who they began calling Acklin because she was found on Acklin Road.

Originally worried the pain would make the puppy aggressive, McCay shortly discovered it was in fact the opposite.

“Her temperament was wonderful. I had my hazard lights on, got out and she was trying to scoot over toward me,” McCay said, in an organizational release.¹ “She put her head on my lap as I’m trying to call emergency hospitals. The whole time, she’s just wanted to be loved on.”

McCay loaded the goldendoodle puppy into the car and rushed her to the Greenbrier Animal Hospital in Conway where the severity of the injuries were quickly noticed by Eric Schrand, DVM, a 2022 Mississippi State University (MSU) College of Veterinary Medicine graduate. The team at the hospital was unsuccessful in getting the puppy admitted to surgeons in Little Rock, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee, leading them to urge the couple to bring her 330 miles to MSU.

Schrand had called Michael Jaffe, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS, MSU College of Veterinary Medicine chief of small animal surgery, and second year surgical resident Weston Beamon, DVM, who at first suggested amputation due to the open wounds and possibility of infection. However, the duo would go on to perform a 5-hour surgery to save both legs, and were successful after piecing the legs back together with 5 screws, 2 pins, and one bone plate in each leg.¹

“She was walking on both legs two days after surgery,” Jaffe said. “She’s a tough little girl. She’s getting stronger now and building that muscle back. She’s got a long way to go, but she’s going to do it.”

Maple reunited with her new owners. From left Michael Jaffe, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS, MSU College of Veterinary Medicine chief of small animal surgery, Dylan McCay, Maple, Emily Roberts, Greer, and Alex Chu, DVM (Image courtesy of Amelia Andersson)

During her time at MSU, at least 30 veterinary professionals managed her care, including students, emergency room staff, radiologists, anesthesia team, physical therapists, technicians, and of course surgeons. Throughout her stay, the couple who rescued her received updates from the team at MSU for updates, making the process easier for them as well. The couple was shocked to find out that after all that the puppy they rescued went through, she will go on to live a normal healthy life.

McCay and Roberts had to put their wedding planning on hold after funding for the puppy’s, now known as Maple, care. Their plan is to get married in 2026 and set up a GoFundMe to help offset the costs of Maple’s procedure.

“It’s been unbelievable, and we feel really blessed,” Roberts said. “We’re in a constant state of shock and very thankful. It’s beautiful to see that people care about our story and love Maple just as much as we do.”

After 3 weeks of rehabilitation, McCay and Roberts reunited with Maple to bring her to her forever home.¹

Reference

1. MSU veterinarians save puppy’s legs after Arkansas couple spends wedding funds for surgery. News release. Mississippi State University. November 25, 2024. Accessed December 3, 2024. https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2024/11/msu-veterinarians-save-puppys-legs-after-arkansas-couple-spends-wedding