On Feb. 13, 2014, Ruff Start Rescue learned about a 3-month-old hound dog found by a Good Samaritan ditched in a Minnesota snow bank. The young dog suffered from deformities on his face and front legs, but the rescue group did not know if these were a birth defect or a caused by nutritional deficiency.
On Valentine’s Day Ruff Start Rescue pulled the deformed dog from the dog pound and named him Cupid. He was taken to a foster home and a campaign was started to help him live a better life.
After consulting different vet specialists, it was determined that Cupid’s front legs could be corrected with surgery, but the rescue organization needed the public’s help to pay for the canine’s medical and rehabilitation costs.
On March 1, 2014, CBS 4 Minnesota ran Cupid’s story and viewers fell in love with the wobbly, energetic dog.
Within 48 hours the $6,000 needed for the surgery were collected and Cupid was scheduled to receive corrective surgery by University of Minnesota veterinarians the following week.
More than $8,000 has been donated to Cupid’s surgery and rehabilitation fund.
The surgery consisted on removing a small piece of bone from his legs, letting the remainder bone to fuse together in a straight position. With the help of splints and physical therapy, Cupid will be able to walk normally again.
The surgery was a complete success and the young hound has been recovering at his foster home for some weeks now.
Thousands of applications have come in to adopt him, but he won’t be ready to go to a forever home just yet. In two months Ruff Start Rescue will review all adoption applications and find Cupid the perfect forever home.
To follow Cupid’s road to recovery and to see how he is doing today, visits his Facebook page. To make a donation to help him or other pets in need, visit Razoo.
