Bunny Adams
She’s a beauty named Bunny. Born with a spinal deformity missing two vertebrae in her back, she hopped like bunny. A breeder turned over a litter of seven week old pups to Adopt a Golden Atlanta (AGA). He said he was going to put the runt of the litter down though, because she couldn’t walk normally…she could only hop. AGA said, “We’ll take her,” and turned to GVS orthopedic surgeon Alan Cross, DVM, ACVS who preformed a pioneering surgery to stabilize her health and use of her hind legs. Bunny is now expected to live a relatively normal life with her new forever “mom” Carol Adams and her new “little sister.”
Annie Chizzolin
To look at Little Orphan Annie (yes, she was adopted) you’d never suspect that she has travelled a long road to heal a very difficult wound. At one point, mom Carol was considering putting her down because she was concerned that Annie’s trauma was too much for this good natured dog. “It didn’t seem to affect her, but it really got to me,” says Carol. Putting her faith in the surgeons and nurses at GVS, Carol agreed to let the team treat a large open wound (presumed snake bite). “Annie’s mom is very dedicated. To heal her wound required many procedures here, and daily care at home over several months” said surgeon Julie Duval, DVM, ACVS. Today Annie is doing very well. “I know we did the right thing; Annie says thank you for giving me a second chance,” says Carol.
Panda Ernst
A boat ride on a beautiful day on the lake nearly turned into tragedy for Panda Ernst. In an unimaginable freak accident, Panda slipped off the front of the boat and got caught in the propeller. Panda’s mom, Heather, recounts a series of “miracles” that helped saved Panda’s life. Miracle One – a friend quickly came to their rescue and was able to get Panda onto his boat, and help Panda and Heather get to Foothills Veterinary Clinic where Dr. Capeheart and staff began to stabilize him and treat his injuries, preparing him for the next step – a transfer to Dr. Sonnenfield and the Emergency Team at GVS. Panda’s injuries were so advanced that surgery was necessary. Panda’s mother also made a decision to have his mangled leg amputated to help improve his quality of life.”Dr. MacDougall, the surgeon at GVS, is my second miracle because she saved my dog’s life and she repaired my heart,” says Heather. “GVS is an incredible clinic filled with people who love animals with their entire being! I have never been treated nicer and with so much care, and concern.”
Uber Pina
Poisonous snakes are common in Georgia, as this handsome 18-month-old Pharoah Hound found out. In an instant, a large copperhead struck him several times while Uber (which means “Super” in German) was out in his backyard. His quick-thinking mom Bekki drew on her steady nerves as a trauma nurse to seek out emergency care. When he needed additional treatment that the emergency facility was unable to perform, the staff recommended a transfer to GVS. “It was so scary. The first night in the ICU, I was prepared to get the words that he wasn’t going to make it. He was so swollen and sick. He barely could lift his head. But no one gave up, not the staff, not me and certainly not Uber,” she said. After several days in the ICU, which included a blood transfusion, Uber was strong enough to go home. “This boy was determined to live up to his name. He recovered, with minimal scarring, in record time and will return to the show ring --no copperhead was going to get in his way!”