This ravaged pup landed at Lake Highlands’ East Lake Pet Orphanage during a winter storm.
It seems like a distant memory on this sunny spring day — the abundant snowfall and ice storms of but a few weeks ago.
But go back in your mind, if you will, to Feb. 27 — you might have been stuck in a wintery-mix-made traffic jam or watching local newscasters deliver the latest thundersleet and school-closing reports.
Kenny and Lucky: Screen capture from ELPO video
Kenny Clary, like so many of us, left work early that day to avoid the worsening storm, and he was navigating backroads in an effort to bypass the highway’s juggernaut.
That’s when, under a bridge, in a thorny knoll, he spotted a shivering, miserable little creature.
“I saw this dog sitting on the side of the road in this thorn patch and it seemed like he was just basically waiting to die.”
Kenny says he almost drove on. But he could not. (You’re one of the good ones, Kenny.)
“I figured I could take it to a shelter and maybe they could save it, maybe put it to sleep — either would be better than freezing to death.”
Now here’s the thing you might not know — there aren’t many places that will accept a stray dog off the street at a moment’s notice.
And if one locates such an outfit, the staff therein likely will take the most financially sensible, least labor-intensive approach and euthanize the patient, especially one in need of extensive medical treatment.
Luckily, Kenny and this poorly puppy found themselves in close proximity to an extraordinary pet care facility — one right here in Lake Highlands, one that takes in goats and three-legged Labradors and even tries to keep them together because they are friends, one whose compassionate staff goes to great lengths to treat rather than kill any beast fortunate enough to land inside its walls — that is, East Lake Pet Orphanage and Hospital.
Lucky now: Photo by Roderick Peña Photography, who, Angie Clark notes, graciously donates his time and talent to ELPO.
This pup indeed was lucky — lucky to have Kenny, lucky to have East Lake — so they named him Lucky, but he still has a long road back to health.
A female of mixed breed, Lucky has a serious and painful skin infection caused by mites, explains one of the veterinarians at East Lake in a video.
“I think given some time and affection that she will pull through,” she adds.
You can help East Lake help Lucky by donating a few dollars — plus see videos and Lucky updates — through this site.
So far, social media updates and videos about Lucky have generated an impressive response from the community, says ELPO volunteer Angie Clark.
“People want to thank the man and help the dog. Lucky is heartbreaking and sweet, and the hero who brought her in is gentle and heartwarming,” Angie says. “I just wanted to hug them both.”
Read our past story about East Lake: “Animal House”
