Log In


Reset Password
News Education Local News Nation & World New Mexico

Lt. Dan the dog regains health

Pooch heads for adoption
Lieutenant Dan, a puppy who has no use of his back legs, receives swim therapy with Chris Nelson, director of the La Plata County Humane Society.

Lieutenant Dan was, until a couple of days ago, the only pooch still homeless of the five maltreated, malnourished or crippled dogs brought during May and June to the La Plata County Humane Society.

But the lieutenant, treated for 3½ months by veterinarians, a chiropractor and an acupuncturist, has found a home.

Lieutenant Dan is in foster care with a woman and her daughter in Vallecito, Chris Nelson, the Humane Society’s director of animal services, said Thursday.

They intend to adopt him, but the Humane Society is keeping him as a foster-home dog for the time being in order to continue certain therapy. Nelson said.

Part of Lieutenant Dan’s therapy includes time on the underwater treadmill at the Durango Animas Hospital.

Collectively the five dogs needed four surgeries and two wheelchairs. Humane Society officials estimated the cost would be $5,000.

Their appeal to the public for help raised $32,000.

“We were shocked by the response,” Nelson said.

Lieutenant Dan arrived at the humane society shelter around the first of June. He was picked up by Animal Protection as he dragged himself along a road near Ignacio.

He was reeking from feces and urine on his coat and had severe sores on the top of his paws.

In cleaning him up, Humane Society volunteers learned he had a dislocated vertebra on the lower spine.

Lieutenant Dan has a wheelchair-type device for his back legs, and the humane society will provide a new device to his caretaker when Lieutenant Dan is fully grown.

The other dogs that arrived around the same time as Lieutenant Dan – Rocky, River, Rusty and Fawn – found favor with someone and are in new homes.

daler@durangoherald.com

Sep 29, 2016
7-year-old shnauzer stays in the family thanks to donors
Feb 12, 2016
Lt. Dan, disabled dog at La Plata County Humane Society, finds a home


Reader Comments