HI !! My name is SASHA !!! That is pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable and in a two note lilt, with the higher note being on the first syllable.(SA-sha) I am also known as Sachi, Shachacha, and Sparkle Farkle. Here is my story.
Sasha: I was about 6 months old, hanging out in the yard with my male buddy. We were bored and decided to see what we could do to occupy ourselves. We managed to get out of the yard and set off on a journey of exploration. We were crossing a street and BAM !! I was hit by something big and it HURT !! My buddy ran home, but I was stunned. A nice man in a big white truck came and got me, took me to a vet who sedated and x-rayed me. I had a broken femur (thigh). The break was in a place that was difficult if not impossible to splint, so the vet gave the man pills for pain and to keep me sedated so I would do no more damage to my leg. I was then taken to a shelter. (?) I had no collar or tags so they did not know to whom I belonged. I heard them talking saying they notified rescue that I was there, but until an owner showed up or my wait time was up, I could not go anywhere. My owner called the next day, and when he was told that I needed surgery said he could not afford to do it. The shelter suggested he come in and sign me over because rescue was willing to take me and have my injury fixed. He agreed to come in and release me.
I was feeling kind of woozy, but the sharp pain in my leg had dulled to an ache and the people here at the shelter were very nice to me. I even got to stay in an office part of the time. One of the workers brought me to a different area were two people, a man and a woman, were waiting. So this is "rescue". I did my best to let them know I was glad to meet them, but some movement caused me more pain. The lady scooped me up and gently put me in a well padded crate bottom and sat with me as we left the shelter. The car ride seemed long and once or twice we bounced which hurt my leg. I tried not to cry too much, but sometimes I could not help it. I was gently taken out of the car and taken into a room where they put a needle in my leg and blessed relief !!! I could not feel my leg at all. The two people hugged me, said good bye and that they would be back to get me as soon as I could be released.
The next day they DID NOT feed me !!! What's up with that ? But before I knew, I was out in a deep dark sleep. When I woke up, I was aware of my leg, but the pain level was way down. I was walked and taken care of. Then the rescue lady and man came to get me and took me to a home.
Jodi: We had been notified about Sasha and were awaiting the call from the shelter to go pick her up. It came and we took off. We did the necessary paperwork and Ms. Sasha was brought out. Sedated and on pain meds, with her broken leg dangling like a branch in the wind, she was still happy to meet new people. We got her into the van and with one of us driving, the other sitting with Sasha, we took off for the vet in Springfield. I prayed that we would encounter no traffic in the almost one hour drive and someone was listening because we had very smooth trip, although there were one or two whimpers from her when we hit a rough patch. They took Ms. Sasha in to evaluate her and get her on some IV pain meds. Her leg was broken high up near the hip end of the thigh bone. She would definitely need surgery and because of the location of the break, a plate and screws as well. She was scheduled for the next day. I waited anxiously to hear back how surgery went and was beginning to worry when the call came. Because of the length of time between injury and surgery, her muscles had contracted very tightly and even under anesthesia they had a difficult time getting them to extend so the bone could be set. They also put a pin in her leg for additional support. She was doing well.
Sasha: So the same people came and got me again and took me to a house. There were several dogs like me, Akitas, but they left me alone in my crate. I was a little stressed, but two of the other dogs, Annie and Bertie, came and laid down in front of me and next to me. I could feel their calming vibes and settled in. They hung out with me for the next few days whenever they could until I felt comfortable and got into the routine. The man and woman took me out for walks, fed me, made sure I had water and a bone in my crate, but would not let me run in the house with the others or even walk fast. They're MEAN !!! They kept telling me I had to heal, but I felt pretty damn good !!! A few weeks later, they took me back to the vet where my staples were removed, and the physical therapist was very pleased with progress. However, about 10 days later, I wasn't feeling so good. I went out with the man in the morning and was okay. The lady took me out a little later and I had some pain in my leg and was limping. She was very concerned...I had not limped at all since my surgery. I had to do #2, and since my activity level is so minimal, my intestines are sluggish too. I had to really push and was feeling even worse. I took a few steps and felt this searing pain from my hip on down. I screamed and tried to bite at the pain while my foster mom tried to help. We went a few more steps and that pain came back and I screamed again, biting at myself to make it stop. It did, but there was a residual and I did not feel good. My foster mom did not have to make me walk slow since I really did not want to move at all. She put me back in my crate and made phone calls.
Jodi: : Sasha had been doing so well. She had an almost imperceptible limp after surgery but was not supposed to put full weight on her leg, so that was okay. It faded to the point of not being able to see it within days. She sat still (with the help of some yummy treats)when her staples were removed and everyone was pleased with her with how well she was doing. The physical therapist said she did not need therapy because her range of motion was so good and to keep on doing what we were already doing: confinement, controlled walks. Her fan club had to come out say hi when they heard she was back for her checkup. About 10 days later, when I took her out in the morning, she was obviously limping. Uh Oh, not good. She walked up her allotted area, did her business with some difficulty and as we started our return trip, she screamed and started biting at her leg. She stopped, walked a little further and the same thing happened. Again she stopped and dragged herself back home. I was very concerned because not only because of the limp and pain incidents, but because she was so subdued. One thing Sasha is NOT is subdued. I called the vet and they told me to bring her in. I then called Charlie to come home from work and help me with her. I let her out again about 15 minutes before Charlie got home . She walked to the next door neighbor's yard and sat...this is the dog who keeps trying to extend her walks beyond her allotted limit. Once Charlie arrived, we took her out of the crate again and could see an obvious deformity in the area of her hip and upper leg. Had the plate somehow shifted? How could it? Worried sick, we went back to the vet. When we got there, the deformity looked like a little pole sticking up. Because her pain was intermittent, we were assured it was probably the pin coming out and that could be removed with a small incision
Sasha: Dad came home and off we went, back to the vet. The pain was mostly gone, but did come back when I moved certain ways. My friends at the vet all greeted me and I was taken into the exam area to be checked out. I had to stay again for more but minor surgery. My mom and dad left and soon I was out like a light. I was really groggy and drooling excessively when mom came back to get me, really not at all with it. I wasn't sure who she was, where I was and just wanted to get back into my nice cage and sleep. But they made me get up and she put me in the crate and I just laid down, occasionally murmuring when we hit a patchy area. I was happy to get back into my crate and just rest. Bertie and Annie came and laid in front of my crate again and I knew all would be okay.
Jodi: Sasha was really drooling when we picked her up, literally soaked in spit. It was an unusual reaction, but had stopped by later in the day. She was a bit woozy, ate the little we gave her and slept. The next day she was back to her normal, sweet, spunky self and has not looked back.
Her final checkup the beginning of July with the surgeon was very good and the physical therapist was thrilled with her progress. Because the area where her pin came out was not totally closed yet she still had to be leash walked for another month, but was allowed time out and about in the house. She uses her "out " time to play (at baby gates) with Bertie and some of the other dogs. She cannot have play interactions with them until September to make sure she fully heals and does not suffer a relapse. We talked to our vet about spaying her...I was a little concerned about so much anesthesia in such a short period of time, but wanted her done before she came in heat or went to her new home.
Sasha: YEAH...here I am, feeling on top of the world AND another surgery !!! How unfair is that !!?? I was not even given a chance to demur...they just took me into the vet without asking for my feelings on the matter. How rude is that??!!! I felt ooky for about 24 hours, but then I was fine.
Jodi: Yup, she was back to normal the next day and really not happy that her walks had to be cut short while she healed. It worked out fairly well because that was the week we had such high temperatures and she did not need to be out walking in that weather.
Sasha is a great car dog, good with other dogs, cats and after initial inspection, likes people she meets. She has learned to wait at the door and gate instead of charging out and knows the hand signal for "sit". She is learning "down", and mostly walks well on leash, but definitely needs some obedience training, which we have started.
Many Thanks to all who contributed to funding Sasha's surgery, which was about $4,000.00, including the second visit to remove the pin. Thanks again to the doctors and staff at the Regional Veterinary Referral Center in Springfield for their excellent care of Sasha and other rescue dogs they have treated!!!
Sasha: I get the last word !!! Here is a big puppy kiss to all who helped me!! LICK,LICK,LICK, LICK,LICK !!!
