Thanks to fortunate timing and a pair of Good Samaritans, a young dog survived a life-threatening injury sustained while exploring the great outdoors.
Michele Hillier and her partner, Danny Dares, had been hiking a familiar path along Cable Bay Trail on Dec. 31 with Pip, a two-year old Australian shepherd, when the dog hurt itself.
B次元官网网址淧ip was running through the woods and launched into a blunt stick B次元官网网址� basically, like a big blunt log B次元官网网址� and was immediately injured,B次元官网网址� said Courtnay Huber, HillierB次元官网网址檚 daughter-in-law, who was not with them at the time.
The pup was in such shock from the injury that she bit HillierB次元官网网址檚 hand when she reached out to console her pet.
B次元官网网址淚t was a pretty hairy scene, by the sounds of it,B次元官网网址� Huber said.
Hillier and Dares had a two-kilometre trek back to the parking lot, and the pup needed to be carried back. Dares struggled with Pip for approximately half a kilometre before the couple came across a group of friends walking their own dogs.
B次元官网网址淲hen we came upon them, [Hillier] had her hand wrapped B次元官网网址� and they just looked stressed B次元官网网址� her partner was quite out of breath,B次元官网网址� said David King, who was the first to ask if the couple was all right.
King and his friend, Brent Murphy, offered to carry the pup the rest of the way.
B次元官网网址淧ip was just a total champ the whole way,B次元官网网址� Murphy said. B次元官网网址淢aybe she was in shock, or who knows, but we couldnB次元官网网址檛 really tell from the dogB次元官网网址檚 reaction what the situation was.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淗onestly, we had thought Pip had just broken her leg,B次元官网网址� King said. B次元官网网址淲hen I first picked up Pip B次元官网网址� she didnB次元官网网址檛 feel heavy at all, but after two or five minutes B次元官网网址� I see why [Dares] was so tired.B次元官网网址�
Since Hillier required medical attention for the bite, Pip was dropped off with Huber and immediately taken to Central Island Veterinary Emergency Hospital in Nanaimo.
B次元官网网址淎t which point, [she] was swelled up like a little balloon B次元官网网址� she had air trapped under her skin,B次元官网网址� Huber said.
The vet identified the injury as a ruptured trachea and immediately sedated and x-rayed the dog.
B次元官网网址淭hey had to tap her chest because her chest cavity was filled with air and it was collapsing her lungs,B次元官网网址� Huber said. B次元官网网址淪o, probably 30 minutes to losing her.B次元官网网址�
PipB次元官网网址檚 life was saved just in the nick of time, and Huber said she is immensely grateful for the B次元官网网址減henomenal care, second-to-noneB次元官网网址� provided by the veterinary hospital.
B次元官网网址淚 look at her and I canB次元官网网址檛 believe we still have her because we were so close to losing her,B次元官网网址� she said.
While Pip is recovering well and should have no lasting effects, the pup will need to refrain from B次元官网网址渂ig walksB次元官网网址� for four to six weeks.
Two days later, with her dog on the mend, Huber wanted to thank the Good Samaritans who helped on that potentially fateful day and so she took to Facebook. Within two hours of posting a picture of Murphy and King, which has been shared nearly 2,000 times and appeared in dozens of Nanaimo-based Facebook groups, they were recognized.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty wild how quickly those connections can happen,B次元官网网址� King said, noting that a friend of a friend had recognized them in a local hiking group.
B次元官网网址淚t was nice to see everyoneB次元官网网址檚 reactions online and we were just super happy that Pip was OK and that we were able to help out,B次元官网网址� Murphy said. B次元官网网址淚t didnB次元官网网址檛 really seem like a heroic thing or anything like that B次元官网网址� It really was just the right thing to do B次元官网网址� But it was nice to see that people thought that it was nice enough to share.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE:
mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow us on
