Spunky

Reprinted from: http://www.wmctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8674502

Spunky was our first dog to need major surgery. We created our 1st fundraiser for her and though the generousity of many people, the majority of her medical expenses were paid with those funds. Since that time in July of  2008 we have financed other amputaions, orthopedic surgeries 20 heartworm treatments, with several waiting on the list for funds and many other diseases and cases of neglect.

Thank you to all for helping us help the helpless
Her new name is "Spunky."

"She's really outgoing and has a lot of personality," said Dr. Tracy Gullett of Northgate Animal Hospital in Memphis.

Spunky is a puppy who may have saved her life by chewing off her own leg.

"I'm sure she was in a lot of pain," said Gullett.  "You wouldn't have known it by the way she acted."

Spunky was one of several pets abandoned by former tenants of a house in Frayser when they bolted.

"I'm a grown man, but I wanted to cry about the situation," said landlord Richard Arendale.

Arendale found Spunky in the back-yard, on the brink of death.  He says a cord tied to a tree had gotten tightly tangled around her leg.

"And the leg was either chewed off or rotted off," said Arendale.  "And the dog was just back there starving, you know?"

He believes her former owners may have been crack heads.

"When they came in, they stole the air conditioners and a bunch of stuff," said Arendale.

He says their pets were their last priority.

"We see it all the time," said Dr. Gullett.  "People leave their animals behind like they're part of the fixtures."

Gullett removed what was left of Spunky's leg.

"We cut it off mid-femur, just above the knee," she said.

The severely infected area is now healing and Spunky is back on her feet.

"Spunky, I think, is going to do really good," said Linda Sutphin with "Dogs 2nd Chance."

The rescue group is now working to find Spunky a new home and teach other owners a lesson.

"It's a lot of people now, with the economy the way it is, that are leaving dogs everywhere," said Sutphin.

Spunky got lucky.

"And she'll get around wonderfully on three legs," said Dr. Gullett.

That's something already becoming second nature for Spunky.

Spunky was adopted by a wonderful couple and has a playful Heeler sister.