To all those who cared about Garnet:

I am devastated to tell you Garnet shattered her left front leg yesterday, September 1st, 2008, one day before she was to see her surgeon to begin knee repair on her right hind leg. The break was of the radius and ulna very close to the growth plate. X-rays indicated there might not be enough room to apply a plate and screws and she would likely need an external fixation device to repair the fractures. She was only six pounds and I am told little ones like that don't do well with those because their bones are so tiny. She was very fragile and the potential for another break in the future was great. After the break Garnet was left with one good right front leg and one repaired hind left leg for ambulation. So it was thought to be in Garnet's best interest to humanely euthanize her and that was done last night.

It was never about money, but about what was best for Garnet. Born in a puppy mill with two bad back legs, she was born with the cards stacked against her. We tried, but even all the best intentions and love in the world can't fix the damaged dogs some of these millers are breeding. We were able to rescue Garnet's mother, so at least for her, the cycle has stopped.

Garnet has been with me since the end of March and already had a few very good inquiries as well as one excellent prospective family waiting for her to become ready for adoption. I am saddened they will not know what a great gift she was and how she loved life, hell bent on living her freedom to the fullest.

Fortunately for Garnet, she experienced almost as many months outside the mill that were filled with love, comfort, good food and a gazillion people who truly cared about her as when she lived inside those dark, horror filled walls that held her captive on the wire. As most of you know, she endured seven long months of mill life. And, because she no longer was of any value to the miller, her date of execution was set before a not so hardened soul begged her release to rescue.

Even though she was still very shy, she loved soft blankets and beds, stuffie toys and daily walks and greeted each day eager for the company of her foster brothers. I am sure she knew joy and her brave can-do attitude and willingness to work hard in rehab showed what a remarkable puppy she was. She celebrated her one year birthday with us on August 24th. Garnet now waits for those who love her at Rainbow Bridge.

Nancy Brandt
Garnet's Foster Mother

An update on Garnet by Nancy, her foster mom. July 31, 2008

Garnet wears foam braces for "walking" as it straightens her back topline. Notice she is walking on her operated left leg. That is now 100% of the time. We are building up the time she is in them.

She still carries her right leg that still needs surgery, but with the ultrasound treatments she's had on that leg, the amount of flexion has greatly increased. Hopefully, when she has surgery to correct her right knee she will be in a much better place for a better post op recovery and not need the extensive therapy she's currently getting.

Last night Garnet got her splints. Her body is too small for the Dynasplints as she is still under six pounds, so these have been custom made for Garnet. Dr. Becky and I will be working for a better fitting and we have longer rods to extend her stretch. Her ultrasounds have been reduced to two a week now that we have her appliances. The photos were taken after her FIRST 15 minutes wearing them. She is such a go-getter I have to sit and cuddle her with a blanket over her head to stop her moving long enough to be compliant.

An update on Garnet by Nancy, her foster mom. May 31, 2008

Garnet has already had surgery on her left knee with her kneecap and associated muscles and ligaments rerouted to the correct position. She was born with both kneecaps positioned alongside her thighbones instead of riding over the end of the thighbone between the shinbone like all other dogs and humans.

For all intents and purposes, the surgical correction and postoperative recovery was a success with one exception; Garnet should have been walking on her corrected leg within two weeks of her surgery. But since Garnet has been accustomed to walking on her two front legs since birth, she did not start walking on her corrected leg as she was supposed to do. Her surgeon did not want to proceed with the intended surgical correction of her right leg because it would only encourage more front leg walking.

It was felt she needed intensive physical therapy to rehabilitate her. So that is what she is doing now and she is advancing beautifully with ultrasound therapy and continued daily range of motion exercises. Within 24 hours of her first ultrasound treatment, Garnet started using her surgically corrected leg more. So far she has had three ultrasounds and we are able to see a steady improvement. We also tried water therapy and little Garnet swam like a trooper, eyes wide in anticipation of getting to the other side of the tank and her foster mom. When she was asked to walk on the underwater treadmill she went back to front leg walking. Her operative leg was weighted down and she wouldn't put it down to walk even though her other leg was held off the treadmill. So it was agreed that modality wouldn't work for her. Her rehab specialist is working on fabricating an apparatus with some rubber bands she can push against to further stretch her muscles and ligaments. Garnet seems to be the talk of the “net” in rehab blogs and physical therapy forums with professionals taking great interest in her by viewing her photos, reading about her condition and offering different suggestions for rehab.

And while Garnet doesn't know she is different from other dogs in how she gets about, a number of people are trying to assist this little girl with correcting a profound physical deformity that could have been prevented by using good breeding strategies; something totally lacking in the cruel puppy mill world where she was conceived and born to a very ill and worn out mom. Since Garnet wasn't good enough for resale in the pet stores supplied by the puppy mill and broker, it is only an ugly guess why she was kept captive on the wire until she was 7 months old. I have to consider the horrific idea she might have been considered useful as breeding stock because of her beauty and rare red coloring. Regardless, a decision and appointment was made to end her life. Luckily for Garnet, someone with a soul convinced the miller to let rescue take her instead.

Garnet has progressed well in piddle pad training, but she lets me know when she has pottied, as she does not like to have her person or space dirty. I cannot imagine how she coped living in the filth of the mill. After watching her foster brothers, she has also managed to potty outside a few times while walking on leash in the backyard.

She remains a fun loving and sweet puppy with a "can do" happy attitude that is a great help to coping with her medical problems and their correction. I tell her she is very brave.