Dog News

PLEASE HELP: Dog Found by Police in Road After Being hit by Car

by Fred

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On March 30th of this year, Betty Matson was contacted by the police, and given information that no dog-parent wants to get.  He missing dog Jezebel was found by police officers, apparently having been hit by a car and left for dead in the middle of the road.  Now, Matson and Jezebel are facing quite a bit of medical debt, and need help so Jezebel can get the medical attention she needs.  A GoFundMe page has been started for them, and if you can, please consider helping Jezebel make it through this very difficult time.

4.6.16 - Jezebel

My name is Betty Matson. On the evening of March 30, 2016, I got a call that no dog owner wants to hear–a police officer had found my dog Jezebel in the middle of the road about a mile from where I live and had been hit by a car. She was alive and moving, but barely, and bleeding badly. I sped there as fast as I could, expecting the worst. I rushed her to the emergency vet, where it was found that Jezebel had many injuries. The most severe and concerning injury was her head wound, which was blunt force trauma to the front of her head. It appeared that she had been hit head on by a car, and this had literally caused a hole in her skull. The emergency veterinarian was worried about this injury more than any others since she seemed to be acting not right neurologically, and also in shock. She thought even taking x-rays would stress her out too much, so that would wait until she was more stable. There was nothing left to do but go home and wait. I told the doctor to call me with any change at all, no matter what hour. I got a call at 4am saying that Jezebel had woken up around 2am and had been looking around and been reacting to the action and hustle and bustle of the room, which was a very good sign neurologically. She had even eaten a meal and was walking when they took her out of her cage!

Since the emergency vet is closed during the day, I picked her up early in the morning and took her to my regular vet for continued pain meds, IV fluids and general monitoring. They were very good to her there. They were able to give her more specialized care since she was more stable than she was at the emergency clinic. A specialist was called in to figure out what to do with the hole in her head, and it was also discovered she has fluid around her heart and a hairline fracture in her right front leg. For now the doctors are taking a conservative approach. We have lots of pain meds and antibiotics to prevent infection. If that does not work, then surgery will be necessary on her head, and that will not only be painful for her but also be very costly. For now we have every reason to believe that her body will heal that on its own.

When I got the call from the police officer, I thought I would be driving and seeing my dog dead on the street. At the emergency clinic, the doctor gave her “very slim odds” that she would make it through the night. At 4am when the doctor called, I thought it would be to tell me her condition had deteriorated. But here I am writing this with her at my feet, home safe and sound. She has always been stubborn, been a fighter, and I know she will continue to be.

Before this accident, she had been to the vet and had a full checkup. We did bloodwork and urine test. All came back completely normal. She was as healthy as any younger dog. So for her to be in so much pain going through something like this just doesn’t seem right. Let’s just say I’ve been bending God’s ear a lot in the last 24 hours.

I am a college student working towards being a vet tech. I love all animals, especially dogs, and MOST especially my dogs. I don’t have human kids, so my dogs are my kids. I saw Jezebel 10 years ago in a shelter in Washington State curled up in the corner with all the light and life gone out of her eyes, while all the rest of the dogs were jumping and barking. The moment I saw her I knew I had to take her home and show her there were good things in life, because clearly she hadn’t seen any. She saved us both that day.

The money I am asking for is for current vet bills. All contributions will go directly towards paying this unexpected expense. I know everybody has their own bills to pay, so any contribution, big or small, will be much appreciated. Jezebel is full of life, and she makes me laugh and smile every day with her antics, finding ways to get in trouble, standing on my chest every morning to let me know it’s time to be fed (even when it’s a sleep-in day), or bringing me her new favorite toy of the day. She’s not ready to give up and neither am I.

This is the most recent update from the GoFundMe page.

Jezebel had a doggie doctor follow up visit today. Her head wound is not infected, and though she still is limping on her leg, it doesn’t appear to be anything more than a hairline fracture. Yesterday (Monday) morning was the first time since the accident that she actually wanted to eat when it was meal time. And her favorite thing to do when I walk in the door is bring me her current favorite toy for me to look at and admire before going about my business. She started doing that again yesterday as well. So she seems to be back to her old self, which makes me a very happy mommy. We are just waiting for the hole in her head to heal (which it might not ever heal completely, but will be fine nonetheless) and for her leg to not be painful and she’ll be fully back to how she was before the accident.

Thank you all so much for you prayers, concern, donations, shares, good thoughts, etc. They mean so much and have obviously helped Jezebel pull through all of this trauma. Thank you for your continued support.