Injured dog finds way to hospital - (Hold muh leash)

AP ^ | July 9, 2003 | AP

[Damocles]

BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) It was canine intuition when an injured black Labrador retriever did a doggone good job of getting medical attention.

The dog, apparently struck by a car on July 4, found his way to Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital, hobbled through the sliding glass doors and waited for assistance in the hallway.

[csvset]

Hurt hound hobbles into hospital

By Bev Davis/Register-Herald senior Editor

Dr. Roger Ward, doctor of veterinary medicine at Beckley Veterinary Hospital, answered the call Friday to treat this 45-pound lab mix that limped into Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital after apparently being hit by a car on Stanaford Road. B-ARH is footing the vet bill and hopes to find either the dog's owner or a good home for the hapless pooch. (C.L. Garvin/The Register-Herald)

Since there's no veterinary clinic on Stanaford Road, an injured dog opted for the next best thing - a hospital for humans.

The black lab mixed breed, apparently hit by a car about 10:30 p.m. on the Fourth of July, limped up to the sliding glass doors at the front of Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital. The canine triggered the automatic sensors and sought help in the hallway between Admissions and the pharmacy.

"It's the darndest thing," said B-ARH Marketing Director Ted Weigel. "The dog limped in and laid down where people could see it. It seemed to know exactly where to go for help."

Although the unlucky pup couldn't provide proof of insurance, the staff couldn't find it in their hearts to turn him away.

"There's no way they were going to put an injured animal back on the street. The staff gave it some water and called administrative personnel who told them to find a veterinarian to come and pick up the dog, and that B-ARH would foot the bill," Weigel said.

Dr. Roger Ward was the vet on call at the Beckley Veterinary Hospital. He went to pick up the dog.

"It isn't unusual to see injuries on holiday weekends, especially on the Fourth of July. Dogs especially are afraid of fireworks and a lot of times they run away and get hit by a car," Ward said.

There's no telling how this dog was hurt, but some of his injuries are consistent with those of colliding with a vehicle.

"It has some road burns and scrapes," Ward observed, "but it has some type of penetrating trauma that caused a puncture wound in the front carpal joint, which is comparable to a human's wrist area."

The wound had become infected, causing the dog to limp.

"When I first saw the dog, I thought it had a broken leg, but there's a hole there that's more consistent with something like an animal bite," Ward said.

The dog is being treated for hook worms and ear mites and will be neutered before it leaves the hospital.

Ward said the male dog is about 7 years old, weighs 45 pounds and is mild-tempered.

"He is incredibly calm and patient. He has a wonderful temperament. He's very gentle and he's been easy to treat," Ward said.

The vet and B-ARH officials hope to find either the dog's owner or a home for the pooch.

"If we can find its owner, the dog can leave the hospital today. If not, we hope he will find a good home soon," Ward said.

- E-mail:

bdavis@register-herald.com

[armymarinemom]

Labs are great. My Black Lab has kept out an intruder and watched kids his whole life. If one of our sons had a hard time waking up you just had to ask the dog to go get them. Dudley would always root the requested child out of bed.
When we lost our best human friend to an accident I offered to wash his belongings that were with him when he died to spare his wife the pain. As soon as I opened the plastic bag our dog howled then he settled in to a cry that lasted until I was finished cleaning everything. That spooked me out.

[dogbrain]

"...and will be neutered before it leaves the hospital."

...WHOA THERE!!!

You call that place a HOSPITAL?!

[Lazamataz]

Its straight out of the Twilight Zone. I mean talk about supernatural knowledge. How does man's best friend even know what a hospital is? The beasts are said to lack souls and sentience. Well then how does one explain this? Its eerie.

It's not all that eerie. A dog who has gotten medical attention at a vets might connect feeling ill with assistance at such a location.

Couple that with a dog's incredible nose, and the dog may have sniffed out medical supplies, which it connected with assistance and healing in it's mind.

It's not eerie, it's just a pretty intelligent and observant dog.

[Lazamataz]

Humans have immortal souls.

Humans have short, brutal existances, then nothing.

[Lazamataz]

Dogrobber

STAY AWAY FROM MY DOG.

Well, I don't have a dog yet. But I will. AND THEN YOU STAY AWAY FROM IT.

[SwatTeam]

That would be "Dragon Tears" with the dog named Woofer. Good read.

I thought it was THe Watchers or something like that. Anyway I really liked the book and wished I had a dog like that.

[Joe Driscoll]

Humans have short, brutal existances, then nothing.

Laz,
You must be a big hit at parties. Do people say that you sound like Eyeore?

[Joe Driscoll]

Do I get extra points for answering the question twice?(see #19)

[Dogrobber]

Don't worry, I don't "rob" dogs in the sense that I would take a dog from another person. I am an attorney, that means that I would rob from a dog if I had to.

Of course dogs rarely have anything really good to steal.

[dogbrain]

One dogs turds are another dogs treasure.

Right?

[SwatTeam]

Do I get extra points for answering the question twice?

You have a much better memory than I do. It took me until now to remember that. And I wasn't really sure if I remembered it right or no so I looked it up on Amazon and the name of the book was "Watchers" and Einstein it was. When you get to be as forgetful as I am you can read the same good books over and over.

[ought-six]

The only animal that truly DOES have a soul is a dog. No greater friend hath man than his dog.

[frodolives]

No, I think one CAT's turds are another dog's treasure..

[dogbrain]

I stand corrected.

(I thought they were a bit "off"...)

[bwkelly]

I live in Beckley. Its surprising that B-ARH (the hospital) did help the dog. I bet they made him sign a medicaid waiver. Nah we are proud of the hospital though for saving the pooch.

[xm177e2]

and that B-ARH would foot the bill," Weigel said.

...

The dog ... will be neutered before it leaves the hospital.

There's always a catch! Remember to read the fine print!