Unlucky Dog Gets a Lucky Break

May 11, 2001 Louisburg, Missouri, USA

Remember those "fortunately, unfortunately" stories they made you do in grammar school?

Well, personally, I think I was stuck in a locker at the time, so I missed the assignment.  But I figure now's as good a time as any to turn mine in.  Here we go:

Unfortunately, Duke the Chocolate Lab got hit by a car on Highway 30 in Mechanicsville, MO.

Fortunately, he lived.

Unfortunately, he had broken his back.

Fortunately, he could still walk.

Unfortunately, he could walk only on his front two paws.

Fortunately, he made it off the road and crawled across a field, back home.

Unfortunately, it wasn't his home.

Fortunately, the nice people who lived there contacted the Cedar County Animal Rescue, who put up posters and managed to locate Duke's real home.

Unfortunately, the not-so-nice people there didn't want to take care of a crippled dog.

Fortunately, Rainbow Farms did.

...and the rest is all fortunately.

The Rainbow Farms Project, Inc. has been involved in the rescue biz for over 20 years, dedicating their efforts to the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of  animals who may be harder to place because of their special needs.  Also operating an animal sanctuary on 20 acres of wooded land, they often end up providing forever homes for the ones who just don't want to leave—a sort of Doggie Valhalla for those tired souls injured in battle.

Kathy Coy, President and co-founder of Rainbow Farms describes how Duke has become a welcome addition to the Rainbow menagerie (which includes, among others: a blind turkey, a "Rubber Puppy", a 19-year-old cat and a three-legged goat, click here); she says, "[Duke] is a very special guy.  He is a very happy and friendly Lab and has gotten along well with all that have met him so far."

The paraplegic pup is due to be fitted with a special two-wheeled cart that will allow him to terrorize the town at rapid velocities, just like in the old days.  Rainbow has already made necessary alterations to accommodate him at the sanctuary.

"We had to make some modifications to allow Duke to have maximum freedom," Ms. Coy told The Scoop.  "The most extensive change was to extend the front deck so there is more room to maneuver his cart and put in a 18' ramp for him to get up and down from the house to the yard. Fortunately, we are very handy and we can do all of the labor ourselves (which helps stretch the dollars)."

The cart was donated by a pooch assistance organization, Labrador Life Line, and similarly, Rainbow Farms has received assistance from on-line patrons who have helped lessen the expense of Duke's rehabilitation (veterinary, equipment and ongoing care totaling well over $1000 USD).  And of course, the gang encourages Duke-lovers to pitch in with equipment, donations, or simply by mentioning Rainbow at participating pet-supply stores who have agreed to share their proceeds with the rescuers (click here).

Dr. Boyd Castro of the West Branch Animal Clinic was the veterinarian who treated Duke, taking special care of the pooch the way he has with many other dogs in Rainbow Farms' care.

He has indicated that Duke's rehabilitation will require several exercise sessions a day, and about four bladder/bowel expressions as well, since Duke no longer has control of these functions.

"It takes a special person to take care of a dog like this," Dr. Castro said.

Fortunately, Duke may have just found them.

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