New lease of life for dog found with broken leg

20.08.11

A dog who was left for dead and suffering from a severely broken leg is now enjoying a fantastic new life with loving new owners, thanks to the efforts of a local vet, RSPCA staff and a little help from a dog called Clipper.

Lurcher Gyp, as he has been affectionately named, was found running loose on a golf course in the village of South Kyme in Lincolnshire last year after he was believed to have been used for hare coursing.

It is thought that Gyp sustained his broken leg after he ran across the fields and caught it in a hole. The break in his front leg snapped his tibia and fibula clean in half.

He was then left to fend for himself and was spotted by a concerned member of the public who contacted the RSPCA.

Gyp was too scared to be caught

When RSPCA officers attended to catch Gyp, he was too frightened and scared to come near them, and the rescue effort failed. Despite his horrific injury, he ran off across the vast golf course every time someone tried to get near him.

But RSPCA animal welfare officers (AWOs) Kate Burris and Becky Harper were determined to catch him, knowing that he had been fending for himself for a number of days, and would have been desperately weak, hungry and thirsty, and in an incredible amount of pain. 

Clipper to the rescue

So they called in the help of Kate's dog Clipper who was used to lure Gyp off the golf course.

Fortunately the plan worked - once Gyp befriended Clipper, Becky and Kate managed to catch him and take him straight to Quarrington Veterinary Surgery in Sleaford.

Fears Gyp's leg would have to be amputated

Gyp was examined by vet Matthew Fry, a partner in the veterinary practice, who at first thought that the break was so severe that the only option would be to amputate the leg.

But his decision was met with resistance by his staff and he was urged to try to fix the leg as Gyp is such a lovely dog.

Mr Fry decided to fix the leg using plates and carried out the complicated operation at cost price, offering his service to carry out the operation free of charge.

He said:

Everyone at the surgery had fallen in love with Gyp, and the nurses wanted us to do all we could to help him.

I have done orthopaedic work in the past so fixed Gyp's leg with a plate.

He is such a wonderful dog, and I am so pleased that we have been able to help him.

It was one of our clients who eventually rehomed Gyp and we are so pleased that he has been given a second chance.

 

New lease of life and new home for Gyp

Gyp has been rehomed with Tracy Winfield and her family who live in the Grantham area. He has been neutered, microchipped and given a clean bill of health.

Tracy said Gyp has settled in well to his new home and added:

Everyone just loves him and I was so sad when I heard how much he had been through.

We are just delighted that he has joined our family. He copes very well despite having a plate in his leg.

 

Pictured left to right: AWO Becky Harper, Gyp with new owner Tracy Winfield, AWO Kate Burris with Clipper and vet Matthew Fry

Thank you to everyone who helped Gyp

AWO Kate Burris said:

We are so pleased that this is a happy ending for Gyp.

He is such a fantastic dog, he really did deserve a second chance.

We just want to thank everyone who helped him along the way, even Clipper who managed to lure him in so that Becky and I could rescue him.

 

---

Adopt a pet

There is nothing quite like the feeling we get from successfully rehoming an animal. You can read more heart-warming stories like Gyp's in our rehoming successes.

If you're interested in giving a rescue animal a second chance at life, visit our rehoming pages to find out more.

You can use our pet search to find animals for adoption in your area. Or browse our special appeals for animals who are being overlooked through no fault of their own.
 

---