Vet clinic donates services to help dog

MOSES LAKE - The dog shot Monday morning was stabilized by the veterinarians at the Animal World Veterinary Clinic later that day but still likely needs extensive surgery to survive.

The procedure can't be done locally, according to local veterinarians.

"Baby Boy," a 2-year-old fawn chihuahua, was brought in to the clinic Monday with an apparent gunshot wound. Dr. Barbara Fehr said they were able to stabilize the dog and provided pain medication, antibiotics and treatment for shock, keeping the dog alive.

Mavis Barnett, who said she raised the dog since he was born, was able to use her last $100 in her bank account to cover the initial costs to have the dog seen. But Fehr said the clinic provided a majority of the care without cost, and likely won't get paid for the free services they provided.

"Ninety percent of what we did, we won't get paid for," Fehr said, adding the clinic did everything they could do to keep the dog alive.

Fehr said they even came in overnight to check on the dog.

Barnett said she appreciates what the clinic did for keeping the dog alive. She wanted to apologize to the clinic's employees for any threats they received, apparently due to a perception by some that the clinic should have helped the dog for free. Late Monday, Animal World doctors decided to provide some free treatment and X-rays, which was after the Columbia Basin Herald's deadline.

Barnett took the dog to the Pioneer Veterinary Clinic Tuesday morning, but Fehr said she fears the dog will need thoracic surgery because of a hole in the dog's esophagus. The best bet for the dog to survive is to take him to the Washington State University Veterinary School, but Barnett can't afford to pay for the surgery, she said.

The vets at Pioneer Veterinary Clinic are looking after "Baby Boy" until a decision can be made on surgery.

Anyone wishing to donate funds to help can contact the Pioneer Clinic at 509-765-6794.