In June of 2002, FBR, Inc. was contacted by a north Florida animal shelter about a Boxer who was dropped off by a man who refused to give his name or any details other than a brief explanation that the dog was used in a dog fighting situation. She was in such poor condition that the shelter felt her best chance at survival would be to go to rescue folks who have the knowledge and means to help a dog like this.

Hope underwent surgery at the UF vet clinic to pin her leg together. The veterinarians that worked on Hope, estimated that her leg had been broken for over three weeks; a fact that would later be the reason surgery was unsuccessful. 

Combined with the surgery was physical therapy, which Hope was not too fond of. It was a necessary effort in order to get her hip muscles back in shape after they contracted around her compound fracture. In addition to the leg surgery, Hope was on anti-biotics for a month to treat a skin infection.

When doctors weren't seeing adequate improvement, we tried hydrotherapy.

The veterinarians working with Hope, recommended hydrotherapy in order to improve the range of motion in her injured leg. At that point, FBR, Inc. was given two courses of action. #1 - if three weeks of intense hydrotherapy helped, a second surgery to her leg could ultimately help save it.

#2 - if the hydrotherapy did not aid in significant improvement, Hope's leg would have to be amputated.

Lilianne of Tangram Kennels donated her time and kennel space to care for Hope while she was being rehabilitated.

In the end, Hope's bones just weren't mending properly and the lack of healing of the muscles around her knee prevented her from even being able to move it. It was decided that her leg be amputated, giving Hope a real chance at a new, happy, pain free life.

Hope stayed with Ann Stone and family for a spell and was quickly adopted by a magnificent Boxer lover who reports the following:

Friday, January 26, 2007

"Hope is doing awesome!  If you ask her what it's like missing a leg, she'd tell you "what missing
leg?"  She doesn't think she's any different than the others and even keeps up with the Greyhounds at her Grammy's house!  She gives back to FBR regularly by being a "big foster sister" on a fairly regular
basis, as long as they are boys!  She just loves the beach and we've renamed a particular spoil island
 "duck island" as Hope chased a duck so far out in the water, I thought I was going to have to chase
 her by boat to get her back!  To everyone that helped her survive, we all send so many thanks.  She
 recently had a small tumor removed.  It oddly was very close to her scar, but lab results were good
 news: benign! Hope is  wonderful and so very loved! What missing leg?"

Here are some recent photos of Hope, almost five years after her ordeal...