I am a Guardian, a Protector, a powerful working dog that can deter predators….. but what happens when the Guardian needs help? What happens when the Protector cannot hold himself up on his own leg. What happens when the Powerful is weakened and cannot protect himself, let alone his charges. The answer to these questions is “SCARS.” SCARS Happens! Every day in our communities, SCARS is there for the injured and abandoned. My story is only one of the hundreds of acts of kindness the SCARS network achieves every day.
My name is Dusty and I am a big boy. A gentle giant (69 kgs), who true to my Great Pyrenees breed, was a working dog looking after livestock. During the course of my duties, I suddenly went lame and could no longer do my job or even walk properly. A veterinary examination showed that I had injured my cruciate ligament in one hind leg. The only fix for me was a major surgery.
We won’t go into the whys and we won’t be judgemental of people, but the bottomline was that I needed help and my owner was unable to provide it for me. The attending vet contacted SCARS and asked if they would give me a second chance. SCARS is such a great place, they recognize that with my life ahead of me and a readily available solution to my problem, like so many other animals, I was worth saving.
The other options were not acceptable – a life of pain on a leg that didn’t function or, sadly, euthanasia. Thankfully, with open hearts and loving arms I was welcomed into the SCARS family. My first stop was the Westlock Veterinary Center where I underwent a TTA surgery. Now that is short for Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA). Big long words, but what I think it means in dog language is they fixed my leg so I can walk on it and it doesn’t hurt anymore. Thank you Dr. Sven Pohl and Dr. Trevor Jackson and all the Animal Health techs who completed my surgery.
Recovery has been slow. At first I was a bit pouty and sad. I hated the cone I had to wear and although the clinic staff were amazing to me, I wasn’t comfortable in the indoor hospital setting. Thanks to Dr. Marcella St. Louis who oversaw my recovery care and hand fed me all sorts of specialties to keep my strength and spirits up. Once I had recovered enough I moved to my foster home. This is a great place. I get to be outdoors and indoors – my choice. I love my foster Mom, Sylvia, and I don’t have to wear that stupid cone anymore.
I am truly a Gentle Giant, who owes his future to people like you, who support SCARS through donations, who volunteer, who foster. I am well on the road to recovery and am searching for my forever home. I am not for everyone, but I am perfect for someone. I am a soft and gentle soul. I am a Guardian breed, I would like a job, some Sheep to shelter, some Goats to guard. An outdoor home who understands me and my nature.
