Meet Maggie
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Maggie is a spayed beagle mix with an unknown past, but it is believed that she is between 2 and 4 years old. She is being fostered
and is currently living with three dogs, a cat, and two children. |
At some time in her young life, Maggie suffered a trauma to her right front leg, an injury that went untreated by a previous owner.
The broken bone was not corrected and has since healed facing in the wrong direction. Her non-broken leg has also suffered damage from overcompensating
for her hurt leg. In order to correct these problems, Maggie would need extensive surgery.
TREATS, through it's vet medical assistance program, has helped pay for some of the cost of Maggie's care. In addition, we have received
contributions from several people to help Maggie, after her story ran in the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper.
If you would like to make a donation to help pay for some of the costs of treating Maggie, please send a check, payable to TREATS, to
P.O. Box 14806, Tallahassee, FL 32317-4806. Please also put "Maggie" in the memo line of the check. You may also use the Paypal link on our site to donate to Maggie,
or the many other animals like her that TREATS helps everyday. We will continue to post updates on Maggie below.
Update - October 30
Steps to correct Maggie’s damaged front legs are currently underway. The University of Florida veterinary school in Gainesville has
outlined plans for fixing her legs. The first surgery took place in early October 2007. This surgery was on her left front leg, the non-broken leg that
has been left weak and misshapen from the extra load it has had to bear since her initial injury to the right leg. The left leg now contains a large metal brace with pins that
were inserted to straighten and strengthen her leg ahead of the major surgery on her badly damaged right leg. Healing of the left leg has gone
very well, and she will have the brace and pins removed at the end of November. To Maggie’s credit, the pain of the operation and burden of the pins and
brace have not diminished her playfulness or enthusiasm; she lives to run and play with the dogs in her foster family.
She apparently is getting to be quite the star at the vet school. The chief orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Lewis, specializes in angular deformities (crooked
limbs!) and he said that Maggie's other leg is so bad that he will see a case like her's only once every ten years. She has been a great learning case
for the students at the school, so both sides seem to be benefitting from her going there.
Yesterday, Maggie's owner saw the model that they had made of her right leg - they've actually made several models so that they can practice the operating
procedure that will take place sometime in December. Dr. Lewis is trying to convince a manufacturer of some of the surgery equipment to pay for some of
that operation.
Update - November 14
Maggie’s second and more complicated surgery will take place in late November or early December.
This operation will require her damaged right paw to be turned back to the forward position. The difficulty of this surgery is evident in the fact that the chief surgeon had to take a detailed series of x-rays in order to
create rubber models on which to perform “practice” surgeries prior to the real thing. Recovery from this surgery will likely be longer and more
difficult for Maggie. However, given her reaction to the first surgery, we are confident that her personality will allow her to pull through this latest
challenge in her life.
Update - November 28
Maggie visited Gainesville today. We learned she will have the pins from the first surgery (left leg) on for 3 more
weeks. Tomorrow she will have the second surgery.
Update - November 29
Maggie underwent her second surgery today, this one on the badly developed right leg.
After seven hours on the operating table, the doctor declared the operation a success and Maggie was placed in the Intensive care unit to begin her long,
but hopefully successful recovery. Apparently her blood pressure had dropped pretty low at some point during the surgery, but she got through it and her
vitals returned to normal after she came out of the anesthesia ....she's a tough little dog! Maggie now has a second brace to match her first one. The new brace is expected to be on for about 12 weeks, after
which her leg will be re-evaluated before the brace can be removed. Maggie should be able to return to Tallahassee sometime next week.
Update - December 10
Maggie arrived home in Tallahassee early this evening. Her foster parents said she
was starting to go stir crazy in Gainesville and was very happy to be home. They treated her very well at the vet school.
Maggie was located in a ward that was under 24-hour care....a student intern had to spend the night there every night. Apparently they let her out of her
cage to sleep in the bed with them at night....she got the extra care that we were hoping for.
Her right leg is no longer turned backwards. It's not perfectly straight, but the new brace is lengthening her leg (it is a little shorter than the left
one) and will turn it a little more forward over time. The new device will be on for about 12 weeks and will require Maggie's foster parents to tighten the
screws about every 8 hours.
Update - January 9
Maggie returned briefly to Gainesville over Christmas to have her original brace removed and her new one
refitted. The new brace successfully stretched her problem leg 4 centimeters to match her other front leg, as well as gradually turning the paw to get it
lined up straight. Maggie will return to Gainesville again tomorrow to have her leg evaluated to see if it is to the point where it is as straight as the doctor
wants. If that is the case, it will be set and remain in the brace for at least another few months while it strengthens and sets in a straight position.
Maggie's foster parents said they think they are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!
Update - January 21
Maggie returned to Gainesville about a week and a half ago and things are looking good. Her leg
has straightened to the point that the doctor was satisfied so he set it in place for the remaining 6 weeks or so. Maggie's foster parents will take her back
to Gainesville for a follow-up visit in mid-February. After that, she should only have one more visit to go before the brace is removed for good.
TREATS Continues Kitty Quilt Program
TREATS has provided 225 kitty quilts to the TLC Animal Service Center, and is offering cat lovers a chance to help make
some kitty quilts, too!
"Quilts are like friends, a great source of warmth and comfort." That "comfort" is just what we were after for Tallahassee's homeless cats!
On May 30th, TREATS presented 225 custom made quilts to the animal shelter to cover the bottom of their cold stainless steel cat kennels.
The quilts were a warm and colorful addition to the kennels that many cats call home each year. A more comfortable and relaxed cat will
do much better in what can be a stressful environment. Less stress means healthier and more adoptable cats!
Of course, in addition to the quilts TREATS has provided, we are inviting cat lovers in the community to help as well. If you
are a quilter who would like to make a real difference for a homeless cat, we would love to have you join us; learn how now.
Not a quilter? No problem! A $25 donation to TREATS will cover the cost of a new quilt. Just note
"kitty quilt" on your donation. TREATS would like to thank the following generous people for making quilt donations:
Edith Adams, Irene Dearden, Toni Edwards, Chris Falkey, Donna Fisher, June Hajos, Fern Heess, Peggy Hunter, Donna Joyner, Megan Milla, Julia Price and her
5-yr-old granddaughter, and Pat Todd.
We have also had several anonymous donors. Thank you all for the gift of your talents and generosity. We appreciate you so much.
TREATS would also like to thank Filomena Jack of Quilts and Such in New Jersey for working with us on this important project. Filomena and her staff have worked
enthusiastically to make these custom quilts to our exact specifications. We appreciate your hard work and talent!
TREATS contributes dog beds
TREATS purchased 10 Kuranda dog beds for the
Animal Service Center. These durable, raised, and chew-proof beds provide
relief from the concrete floor for dogs.
TREATS donates to veterinary surgical room
TREATS gave $10,000 to the Tallahassee-Leon
Community Animal Service Center's new surgical suite. The
new surgical room is used to spay
and neuter animals adopted from the facility. The pledge money
was used to purchase equipment for the room.
Have your pet prepared for hurricanes!
With Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, there are destined to be
many more homeless animals in our area soon that need care and homes.
This is the only reminder any of us pet owners should need to convince
us of the dangers of these storms.
Don't neglect to make emergency plans that include your pets, as well
as other members of your family.
Always take your pet with you if you have to evacuate your home. Never
leave it behind to fend for itself.
Make sure you know which hotels will accept pets or
know which friends or relatives you can rely on outside the danger
area to take care of you and your pets.
Have a pet carrier ready to transport your pet outside the danger area
and to provide a safe place for it to sleep. You'll need to pack a
supply or pet food, water, bowls, a manual can opener, toys, litter
box and litter for cats, bedding and any medicines that your pet is
currently taking.
Be sure your pet is wearing a collar with its current rabies tag and
ID tag, and have copies of its medical records. Label the pet's carrier
with your name, address, and phone number and any important information
people need to know about your pet's behavior and health.
Always keep current color photos of your pet in your billfold in case
it gets lost during this time away from home, so a lost-pet flyer with
a photo can be created quickly. We have months to go on hurricane season
– be prepared.
