KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A dog, apparently thrown from a Kansas City overpass last week, is receiving generous donations to help pay for the expensive surgeries she needs to save her life.
Currently, $5,000 has been raised for her recovery. However another $1,000 was donated by a retired nurse and cat owner who hopes her contribution will help launch a reward fund that will help find the person or persons responsible for injuring the dog.
“Money talks,” said Terre Tweedie, donor. “Somebody knows what happened to that dog. Somebody saw something. Somebody bragged, and I would like to see that person brought to justice.”
The dog, now named ‘Lindey’ after the woman who rescued her, was taken to Kansas City Animal Rescue. She was spotted by a couple who had been at a horse show at Hale Arena at the American Royal. They saw Lindey lying nearby, severely injured. Someone told them the dog had come flying over the 23rd Street viaduct overpass a few minutes before.
“My first thought was, ‘Oh my gosh! Is she still even alive?’ I don’t know how she could even be alive,” said Nancy Campbell an animal rescue advocate.
The veterinarian examined the dog and said she must have tried to break her fall as a human would, by putting her paw out first. Then, her face and her front feet took the brunt of the impact.
“She’s lucky to be alive, really, from the injuries she had in the fall,” said Dr. Richard Smith with Piper Heritage Vet Clinic. “When dogs fall that far they assume an orientation in space where front legs are coming down first, followed by their head. We call that a 3-point landing and it’s not very pleasant, when front legs give out and then their chin hits the ground and causes damage to their mouth as well.”
Her rescuers at the Missouri German Shepherd Rescue Group believe Lindey landed in a snow bank, which may have helped save her life. They are making arrangements for Lindey to go to the University of Missouri Veterinary Hospital for surgery.
“She had some blood in her stomach, some compression in her lungs,” Dr. Smith said. “Obviously, there was a great deal of trauma. She was in shock. Fortunately, she was at the vet’s within 30 to 35 minutes of this happening. So that made a huge difference. They took excellent care of her and splinted both of her front legs. One paw was literally dangling.”
The surgery she needs is complicated, and in the meantime, she wears splints on her legs. The doctor said there are signs she suffered from mistreatment.
“She seems to be very shy of men, leery of men. She is underweight, so we just don’t know what her background is,” he said. “The classic signs are there that there was a lack of love, but we don’t know her background for sure.”
The veterinarian estimates the surgery and follow-up care could reach at least $10,000. Each foot and leg will cost about $4,000 to repair. He says another $1,000 will be needed to remove teeth.
“We are so appreciative and grateful of those who share whatever they have to help this girl because she is a sweetheart,” Dr. Smith said.
Rescuers named the dog “Lindey” after the woman who rushed her to the vet.
To donate toward Lindey’s recovery costs, visit mogsrescue.rescuegroups.org or send/deliver your donations to the addresses below:
By Mail:
Love 4 Paws
P.O. Box 13305
Overland Park, Kan. 66282
In person:
Dearborn Animal Clinic
6100 Johnson Drive
Mission, Kan.