Click here to see Sparky's story on 11Alive.

Photo taken 8/01/07

Photo taken 8/03/07

HELP US
find the person responsible
for doing this to Sparky!

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Please print it, post it and email it to everyone!

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Sparky has Guardian Angels!

Sparky's Platinum Guardian Angel is:

DENMARK {The Agency}

Additional Guardian Angels are:

Kelly W. of Atlanta, Georgia

Kim D. of AtlantaPetz Magazine

Kathy M. of Marietta, Georgia

Patricia K. of Melbourne, Florida

Kim G. of Cartersville, Georgia

Judy D. of Marietta, Georgia

Brooke H. of Decatur, Georgia

Kelly W. of Atlanta, GA

Thank you all so very much!!

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Update 8/03/07:  Sparky was re-bandaged today, and his "socks" are getting a little shorter.  Some of the dead skin was washed away, and he smells much better now.  The skin that was stapled together has more-or-less dissolved and fallen away, along with the staples holding it together and covering the underlying tissue.  On the positive side, we can see a narrow band of new skin forming around the margins of some of his wounds, but the dry tissue "scabs" are beginning to peel away, revealing underlying muscle tissue, not new skin beneath.

Tonight is a bit rough, though, as Sparky has a lot of pain when he tries to change his position or to stand, sit or lay down.  He has a fresh pain patch to help him be comfortable, and we hope that will help him get a good night's sleep.

Update 8/04/07:  Sparky's feet seem to hurt more than before.  (Yesterday's re-bandaging included removal of dead tissue from his feet.) Going out for a potty break is difficult because it causes him a lot of pain to move about.

He's also reluctant to eat from his bowl, but if we hand-feed him, he will eat, so that's what we do. It's strictly one-day-at-a-time for now.  But, each day takes him closer to recovery, too.

Update 8/07/07:  Sparky is getting some special intensive care at Paces Ferry Veterinary Clinic where they can keep an eye on him at all times and give him the extra special care and attention he deserves. Your donations have made this possible!  The vet says that she is so impressed and happy with how well Sparky is doing. We know that all of your well wishes are helping this guy!  Thank you all!

Update 8/09/07:  Dr. Merritt at Paces Ferry Vet Clinic reports that Sparky's feet are improving daily - as a matter of fact, they have been surprised with how well his feet are healing.  He wags his tail at the staff and has the best temperament anyone could ever hope for.  Still no guess about when our precious boy will be "out of the woods" as his wounds are so severe that none of the vets know what to expect.  He is being pampered by the loving hands of the entire Paces Ferry staff and given plenty of pain relief and antibiotics to hopefully control any infection that might occur from the wounds.   Keep your well wishes and hopes for his recovery coming! We promise to keep you posted with any news or progress!

Sparky is a 1 year old, 28 pound Terrier mix. He's cute as a button, and very sweet, which makes it all the harder to believe that a "human" would intentionally inflict such horrific injuries on a helpless dog.  Sparky was tied to the bumper of a car by his leash and dragged behind the vehicle on July 26th. He survived when his head slipped out of the collar, and he was quickly picked up by passers by who took him to Animal Control. This is the second dog we've had with these types of injuries, and from the same county.  (The first incident was in January 2007, involving our Winston who can be seen on the Toy Dog Page.)

Sparky was taken to a veterinary clinic where he received immediate attention for his massive abrasions, many to the level of bone or muscle. The pads on all four feet are gone, as are the toenails and the tops of his feet, and extending up his forelegs.  All four are bandaged, and will need to be changed twice a week and his wounds cleaned.  Fortunately, Sparky will be under anesthesia so he won't feel the pain.  He has staples holding the skin over some areas where he has open wounds, but where the skin is gone, he's exposed to the elements.   Most of his wounds are weeping and infected.  He's been given a pain patch to help manage his horrific pain at this time, and he's taking lots of antibiotics to try to get the infection under control.

The doctors at Paces Ferry Veterinary Clinic have taken over Sparky's care for now.  The staff cannot believe that he is able to walk and show interest in the world in his condition.

Sparky will probably need skin grafts once the infection is under control, but for now, he is living on the line, happy to be alive, but flirting with death because of the great risk of infection overtaking him.

Sparky will need months to heal, and the estimates for his overall medical care are in the $6,000-$8,000 range. We have created a Sparky's Fund to pay for medical care for dogs with extraordinary illnesses or injuries, in hopes that other dogs like Sparky can be saved.  If you'd like to contribute, please click on the Donate link below.

Sparky is currently unavailable for adoption.

Donate to Sparky's Fund
Send this Pet to a Friend
Email Us with Questions
Submit an Adoption Application

Sparky says "Thanks!" to his sponsors:

Kathy M., Patricia S., Charles A., Amy K.,

Michelle A. ~Schnauzer Rescue Cincy,

Barbara R., Gail L., Lynn C., Josue N., Jeff S.,

Amy H., Victoria M., Maggie L., Chris D., John L., Wade J., Katherine V., Crystal H.,RaDonna K., Susan, K., Clara M., Dana W.,

Sue L., John S., Brandon W., Jay J., Susan M., Cindy B., Kenneth M., Linda M., Francie M., Debbie O., Kimberly H., Mary Y., Bridgette P., Betsy R., Andrea B., Kevin N., Tiana O., Natasha J., Vanessa M., John M., Robert B., Katie W., Dawn S., Jeffery T., Nancy S., Susan A., Ashley C., Julie F., Susan K., Marsha M., Rita S., Julie F., Rachel F., Roe E., Beowulf & Bunny, Steve M., Erin P., Andrew K., Samantha B., Laura V., Debbie G., Elise H.,Tamara H., Jessie F., Melissa G., Patricia M.~Schnauzer Rescue Cincy & FL, Victoria T., Help This Frenchie, Kevin H., Whitney P., Mary B., Linda N., Phyllis G., David B., Ivette R., Faye B., Therese A., Penny M., Christina B., Rebecca K., Ana C., Nancy L., Theresa W., Sonja E., Marilyn M., Bradley L., Dawn B., Robin H., Rush W., John C., Karen B., Mercedes C., Ron K., Emily L., Vernon R., Ruth D., Salli T., Mandy G., Linda F., Diane G., Denise N., Pat M., Patricia H., Hannah M., Steve G., Amy B., Patricia S., Paula A., Amber J., Disco Mike & Laurie W., Carina R., Lora P., Michelle T., Christopher R., Kell M., Joe A., Nancy F., Kimberly H., Wendy M., Angie Z., Kimberly W., Becky H., Donna C., Cynthia P., Ashley K., Doris A., Susan M., Christy S., Betty B., Stephanie F., Jennifer C., Jodi M., Bethany K., Barbara R., Angelia J., Linda F., Katherine B., Elizabeth H., Kerry R., Mike's Performance and Machine Shop~ Michelle, Rita S., Kelli K., Courtney & JR G., Lenord G., Amy S., Ryan K., Gwyneth J., Heidi's Legacy Dog Rescue, Jennifer V., Christi H., Laura J., Honey B., Rebecca P., Kathryn D., Sarah T., Alexandra G., Leslie P., Suzy M., Gertrude G., Erin D., Shauna W., Cindy B., Amy B., Kristinia V., Linda J., Rebecca T., Jennifer G., Kimberly H., Ray K., Cara B., Patricia R., Peggy B., Dorothy M., MARS Productions~Ashlee & Rachel, Little Azio Restaurants, John V., Angel J., Robyn P., Kim G., Kenneth L., Samir C., James F., Tracy D., Jason W., Florence D., Susan M., Dolle E., Karen L., Denise E.,

Penny T.~In Memory of Gizmo~, Craig G.,

Kathleen W., Brian L., Eindy R., Kellie C.,

Bobbi M., Barbara A., Dawn B., Robert D.,

Katherine M., Susan R., Elizabeth F., Rose W., Lora B., West C., Jack M., Belinda H.,

Lyndon W., Carole M., Natalie S., Brenda M.,

Marilyn S., Claudia M., Taylor D., Michele E.,

Anne F., Sara T., Linda T., Deborah D.,

Angie Z., Caroline K., Michelle C., Holly B.,

Susan H., Nathan P., Kris R., Maria S.,

All Star Pizza, William& Jessica F.,

Cindy P., Phyllis G., Jennifer B., Jeani T.,

Sheree Dog Rescue TX, Colton B., Debra S.,

Leslie C., Suzanne P., Rosa C., Howard A., Cindy S., Karen D., Nichole M., Flora S., Kristin J., Gayle P., Danielle M., Eduardo M.,

Sergio O., Stephanie S., Ellen G., Kelly R.,

Kelli S., Clifford G., Carrie G., Heather S., Charles B., Nicole L., David H. & Jeff W., Rachel D., Cheryl C., Ray K., Edward L., Lorain C., Laura G., John B., Darin M.,

Vickie V., Debra M., Leonard G., Carly W., Michelle C. & Allison C. & Genie M., David S., Kenn B., Emily J., Sarah S., Claire M., Carol B., Ann Marie C., Alisha B., Leslie B., Missy M., Ruth R., Karen C., Brandon L., Kelli S., Jane S., Bill S., Nancy G., Joe B., Brie K., Kenneth M., Andrea H., Ellen N., Ann K., Jennifer D., Suzanne K., Susan G., Paris K., Joanne A., Jennifer D., Ann K., Laura A., Gwendolyn M., Ann T., Claude M., Mark S., Susan P., Julie M., Raymond F., Melissa F., Nikole B.~In Memory of Lucky & Scooby~, Claire T., Michele W., Tracy B., Susan B., Anne D., Birgitte P., Kathy C., Scheri V., Megan R., Mike V., Jamie S., Judi M.,

Leigh Ann B.~In Memory of Sterling~

Zack, AJ & Kerstin S., Gayle K., Leslie K., Mary O., Barbara P., Amy Lee V., Cherly S.,

Terence C., Arthur H., Steven G., Sarah C.,

Susan Z., Salvatore F., Lauren M., Allison F., Lauren M., Marissa M., Phillip S., Jamie W., Janice O., Pamela C., Joanna W., Kathy S., Judith B.~Hannah & IC~ Sharon L., Grace H., LIz D., June N., Nora W., Vilaysone S.,

Amy M., Lauren C., Betty B., YowJen C.,

Ilhan O., Sharon F., Rebecca K., Michele D., Sherrie & Jeffrey E., Kenneth C., Jean F. & Frontier Woods~In Memory of Jeff Weeks~ Annetta K., Nora M., Beverly S., Brian E., Dana T., Roger H., Carol F., Reid A., Alexis D., Michele T., Christopher C., Victoria A., William S., Donna S., Denise W. ~In Memory of Kelsey~, Michael D., Jennifer M., Nadia G.K.B., Diane B., Larry R., Sheila S., Grayson K., Mary N., Judi P., Sandra W., Gregory B. ,

Rick R., Mike S., Maryanne M., Carol M.

Thank you all!