Today is the day a family’s 2.5 year-old dog is set to have a full leg amputation after thieves who stole the holiday gifts from the family’s yard, left the gate open for the dogs to escape. Both dogs ran out of the yard; one dog Blazer returned, but the other dog, Sparky did not.
Krystal Altamirano and her boyfriend David Lopez live in Fontana, California, and on December 3, unknown thieves trespassed onto their property and stole several Christmas gifts they had ordered on Black Friday. The robbers left the gate open, and Sparky, an Australian blue heeler, escaped.
Within minutes Sparky ran onto the busy street and was hit by a car and possibly dragged for a short distance. For days, his family searched for him; and later found him. The dog had spent two days alone in the cold starving, dehydrated and not able to move.
When Sparky spotted Lopez, the dog slowly crawled out from under a structure and rolled onto his side as if begging for help with the pain. Both David and Krystal were heartbroken.
He had a broken foot, a fractured leg and a severe infection. Even with emergency intervention and surgical attempts to save Sparky’s leg, the injuries continued to reopen. There was no other option left, and that was to amputate his leg.
Having lost most of their Christmas presents was difficult, but that loss was nothing compared to seeing Sparky suffer and not having the money to save him.
The couple launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to help with the $10,000 surgery, aftercare and rehabilitation Sparky will be needing.
The once very playful pooch will be on extended bedrest, but his family adores their good-natured pup and will do everything to make his recovery successful.
What’s heartbreaking about this – all this pain for a completely innocent dog because thieves somehow think they are justified breaking into yards and stealing Christmas presents.
Anyone with information, please contact the Fontana Police.
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