A HOLIDAY RESCUE STORY - MAX THE LABRADOODLE IS FINALLY HOME!

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Many of you have seen DRC's posts about Max--the handsome 5 year old  Labradoodle in Georgia with the horrific wound on his hip. DRC was asked to take Max into our rescue program back in June of his year and literally within the 11th hour.

This gentle, old soul with otherworldly eyes literally melted our hearts the moment we saw him and heard his story. He has been through so much over the last 6 months. But thanks to Dr. Watts and the wonderful and dedicated staff at Peach Tree Veterinary in Atlanta,  Max is almost completely healed and was finally given the ok to go home with his new mom Debi Hinerfeld just in time for the Holidays!

MAX'S STORY

Max's original family who had him from the time he was an 8 week old pup, passed him off to a family with NINE CHILDREN when they moved overseas! Max spent the next year of his life in a busy and chaotic environment and spent most of his days outdoors left to his own devices.

When this family "accidentally" ran him over with their car, they saw that Max got up and ran off and assumed he was "uninjured" and they never took him to the vet to be examined. A few weeks later, one of the family's children remarked that Max "smelled really bad." It was then that they realized that Max had a deep gash and an abrasion across his hind quarter from being hit and dragged by the car. The wound had festered and become so infected that the surrounding flesh began to die and decay creating the bad odor the children were describing.

When finally taken to the vet and the area shaved and cleaned, it was discovered that the wound was in fact far more serious. It was 8 1/2 inches in diameter (the size of a large dinner plate) and the skin was not healing nor was the muscle reattaching to the bone. When told that Max would need surgery, months of hydro therapy, medication, treatments, and rehab the family asked the vet to put Max to sleep!

Thankfully the vet suggested that the family contact DRC.

Max had been in the DRC program for over 6 months in total at the time he was officially adopted. Thanks to Peach Veterinary we were able to allow Max the time he needed to heal while he remained in the care of Dr Watts and his staff. Dr. Watts gave Max nearly 6 months of daily hydro therapy and antibiotics and was prepared to operate if needed. Luckily the gash and abrasion began to heal without the need of surgery.

In that time, Dr Watts and his entire staff have all fallen madly in love with this incredible boy and like those of us here at DRC were eagerly awaiting the day Max could finally go home to his new family and new life.

Well that day arrived last week! Max is FINALLY home!

We are eternally grateful to Dr Watts who donated nearly $2200 of Max's care to DRC. Without his generosity and dedication and that of his incredible staff we would not have been able to help Max recover from his ordeal and find his way to his wonderful new home.

THANK YOU DR. WATTS!!!

Debi and her husband have been awaiting Max's arrival home since September when they officially adopted Max. During the time that Max remained at the clinic, Debi made the hour long trip every week to visit with Max as he continued to recuperate at Peach Tree. Our own Deb Vaughn would meet Debi at the clinic and thankfully oversaw the entire process. THANK YOU DEB!!!

What is most amazing besides the Hinerfeld's dedication to Max and their patience as he continued to heal is that they actually adopted Max's canine friend from the vet hospital as well! Lexy, a female Great Pyrenees, had been surrendered to the clinic where like Max she was awaiting her forever home for several months. Max and Lexy had become inseparable friends while at the clinic and Debi and her husband couldn't bear the thought of separating the best friends. So now Max and Lexy are BOTH home for the Holidays and will remain together with the Hinerfeld's in Atlanta!

Congratulations to the Hinerfeld's and to Max and thank you to everyone who helped DRC save this wonderful  and very special boy!

[Leslie and Halas]

Food?  That was supposed to be dood!

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Max has been "re-born!"  What a lucky, lucky dog!!  I just love this story!

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I remember seeing this poor baby on DK and reading his sad story.  I am so happy that he was taken care of by a dedicated vet/staff and is going to a loving home that all dogs deserve - great happy ending !!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

This is truly a great story of wonderful people coming together to save Max.  There is so much good in this world...thanks for the reminder, Jacquie.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

This is such a lovely story! I'm so happy for the happy the ending. The world needs more Dr. Watts'!!!

Merry Christmas Max and Lexi!!!!

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

Wonderful!  Beautiful story, what a finally lucky boy Max is!

[Camilla and Darwin]

This is beyond wonderful! Such a heartwarming happy ending.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Wow this is so wonderful. Happy Holidays to all, especially Dr. Watts and the DRC and now the Hinerfelds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Geri]

A perfect ending.