To save a puppy

A dog found abandoned in a dumpster by a Good Samaritan was brought to Madison Veterinary Hospital in Michigan. Photo courtesy of Dr. Rollo.A person we'd never seen before ran in recently with a cold puppy. He said he just found her in his garbage and brought her right in. He asked if we could please save her, that he'd pay anything.

On first inspection the only sign of life was the breath she was taking every five seconds. She was ice-cold to the touch, reflecting the morning's below-freezing temperatures … so cold her temperature wouldn't even register. Each breath looked like it might be her last. I wondered about the kind of person who would throw a puppy in the garbage.

Parvovirus was my first suspicion, so after we set up oxygen and fluids, we ran the test and got confirmation. I went to speak to the person who brought her in. I explained the situation and how dire the next few days would be. My technician put together a treatment plan and presented it to the Good Samaritan-$1,600 was way more he was expecting or capable of paying. I expected this, but there was no option B for this puppy.

We were either going all in on treatment or ending this puppy's suffering. In my mind, there was no debate and I was going to do what I could for this puppy and we would eat the costs. If you can't give your all for a puppy dumped in a trash can to die, then you shouldn't be in this profession. In some ways, I was channeling my 8-year-old self and why I became a vet in the first place. So the 8-year-old in me decided, “I'm saving this puppy regardless of anything else.”

The man who brought in the puppy had no means to pay anything towards the bill and wasn't prepared to own a dog even if she pulled through. He offered to volunteer at the clinic to save the puppy or to give me his only possession worth money: his car.

I told him he'd done the right thing-he saw a life in the balance and sought immediate help for the sick animal. I told him not to worry about money or responsibility for the pet and that I would keep him up-to-date on the puppy as the days went by.

After nine days of treatment, the puppy that was brought in near death was acting like a puppy. Photo courtesy of Dr. Rollo.The first few days were touch-and-go, but the puppy fought hard. After four days, she could eat and then the next day she would occasionally stand on her own. It was a long haul, but nine days later she was finally acting like a puppy.

With a harrowing and heartfelt story to share, it was easy for us to find a responsible pet owner to adopt her. The total bill was more than double the original quote, and as a hospital we ate the whole thing. Not a good business practice and something I'm not sure I'd want to publicize to the local community. But if there's a reason for pro bono, this puppy was it.

The morale boost to the staff was also priceless. Saving this puppy did more to fill the staff's cup than any staff party or day out ever could. The effort the staff put in to help this puppy through is why they show up to work every day, Many of the staff even offered to chip in for the puppy's bill, which I really appreciated but wasn't necessary.

The most rewarding part of being a veterinarian is focusing on saving a life, doing it collectively with a team and sometimes letting go of all the hassle that comes with working in a business.

Dr. Andy Rollo is an associate at Madison Veterinary Hospital outside of Detroit, Michigan. He is a Veterinary Economics Editorial Advisory Board member.