In Baytown, Texas, someone posted about a dog in terrible need on Sunday afternoon. The dog had been lying in the middle of the road while cars swerved around her. The Good Samaritan had been in tears as she described the terrible injuries the dog had sustained.
Be advised the following cited story from the eyewitness is extremely graphic and may not be suitable for all readers. Sadly, it really happened. Some descriptions have been omitted.
“…I saw a dog (pit bull) in the middle of the road and everyone driving around him. As I passed I noticed he/she the dog’s front legs had been _____ at the knees and she was walking on the ____. There was blood everywhere. I turned around and followed the dog to the back of the church. Went back to truck to get phone and when I came back it was gone. I looked for the dog for over an hour, but…”
ThisIsHouston
Later in the day, it was discovered what had likely happened to the dog now named Athena, although the circumstances around the dog’s horrible injuries or why are not known. An initial witness, Jeremy had spotted the dog next to the train tracks. Searching further they found one of her paws in the train tracks. Dogs don’t intentionally allow themselves to be hit by trains, and so it is heart crushing to think what or who may have caused this horrible event.
After rescuers found Athena, ThisIsHouston offered to help, and her rescuers took her to Blue Pearl. She instantly received pain injections; her bloodwork had been surprisingly in the normal ranges.
What was to become of Athena had been a difficult decision. Veterinarians had suggested the dog be humanely euthanized due to the extent of her injuries and the possibility she would be in terrible pain. The animal rescue organization, instead decided to do a wait and see – there would be more testing, and they would wait for more surgical opinions about the dog’s front legs and her future.
Athena’s radiographs showed she still has both elbows which means she has a higher chance of adjusting to prosthetics. Surgeons will salvage what they can of the dog’s front legs. Her wounds have since been debrided, and her left leg is her longer limb and looks to be in fair condition. Dead tissue was removed, and some of the contaminated bone was removed.
The bone in her right leg had to be shortened because of possible infection and complications, but the surgeon feels Athena has a chance at a prosthesis on this leg as long as there isn’t any more tissue or bone loss.
For now, it is a wait and see situation, and more information will be available as soon as her condition improves. For now, Athena still doesn’t want to eat, and a feeding tube was inserted. Her red blood cell count remains low, and she will also be receiving a blood transfusion.
“They say she is very happy to see anyone who comes over to her and wags her tail and rolls over for belly scratches. Please continue to send her all the prayers and positive vibes.”
ThisIsHouston
To donate to Athena’s care:
Venmo @ThisIsHouston
Cash App $ThisIsHouston
this-is-houston.org/ways-to-help/donate/
Checks: PO Box 2821, Houston TX 77252
*Please note the ER she’s at does not accept donations over the phone*
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