Published: March 29, 2008 12:00 am      

PetSafe needs help to save abused pup

TRAVERSE CITY Members of the PetSafe Rescue Alliance went to great lengths to save the life of an abandoned dog.

Now they're appealing to the public to help them pay the tab.

The group acquired an approximately 7-month-old boxer mix named Shamrock Clover from local animal control authorities just before the weekend. He had a broken femur and showed other signs of abuse.

Scott Fisher of Traverse City took the dog in as a foster pet, while the nonprofit group began figuring out how to come up with the money for leg surgery.

Then Shamrock Clover stopped eating and taking water.

"We were starting to raise the money to help save his leg, and unfortunately, over the weekend, he started going downhill and getting very ill," said Dee Sheldon, PetSafe canine director. "They took him as an emergency."

Sheldon said his condition was so bad, she had "five minutes to make a decision if he was worth putting the money into, or if they should put him down."

Sheldon chose life for Shamrock Clover, who, it turned out, had Parvo. As of Thursday, he was responding to treatment at East Bay Animal Hospital in Acme. After that, exploratory surgery for a stomach blockage is likely, followed by leg surgery that might include amputation.

"He's wagging his tail and he's responding to TLC," said East Bay Office Manager Sherri DeRushia. "And he has a little twinkle in his eye now."

The vet bill alone could end up at close to $2,000 money PetSafe doesn't have. In addition, the group had to take eight more dogs that were exposed to Shamrock Clover's Parvo in the animal shelter and were at risk to be "put down" as a result, Sheldon said. They are supervising the dogs through a 10-day quarantine.

"We are now in full rescue mode," she said. "We have to make three trips per day, to insure they get walked, fed and watered. Each trip is between 20 to 30 miles minimum for us."

PetSafe is hoping the community will help out.

"He's the sweetest little guy," said Sheldon. "He tugs at you."

Donations may be directed to PetSafe, P.O. Box 2328, Traverse City, MI 49685; or East Bay Animal Hospital, P.O. Box 295, Acme, 49610. Write "Shamrock Clover" on the check memo.