Latest News

Thanks to RAPS, big dogs with complex health issues like Buck have a chance at healing and finding a forever family.

Photo submitted

Giant pup gets lifesaving rescue

By Eyal Lichtmann

Published 12:47 PDT, Fri June 25, 2021

—

Staff members from RAPS went on a long road trip to the North of B.C. a few days ago. They were picking up Buck, a giant pup who was surrendered to us. Buck has health issues that are being assessed by doctors at the RAPS Animal Hospital. His people were unable to care for him during this period of treatment and rehabilitation and so they called RAPS.

RAPS is a no-kill organization and that means that we will invest all the time and resources necessary to nurse animals like Buck back to health. In other jurisdictions, a dog like Buck would have been euthanized.

Weighing in at about 100 pounds, this one-year-old Caucasian Shepherd/Sarplaninac/Lab mix is a big boy with a big personality. He’s a sweetheart who is great with kids.

Initial indications are that Buck may have hip dysplasia or some other joint issue. He may need expensive surgery on his hips or knees or maybe both. RAPS is uniquely positioned to care for animals with these types of special medical needs, like Buck, because of the community-owned, fully equipped not-for-profit RAPS Animal Hospital.

For now, Buck is getting settled into his foster home. A wonderful family is caring for Buck as he transitions to a radically different lifestyle than he knew up north. They will be chauffeuring him to what is expected to be many doctors’ appointments and possibly treatments at Canada’s only hyperbaric oxygen therapy facility for animals—conveniently located in the RAPS Animal Hospital. The hyperbaric treatments will provide Buck with non-invasive, quick healing.

Buck’s story is not unique. RAPS will always welcome animals from throughout the province—and even beyond. We believe that where an animal lives should not determine whether an animal lives.

The RAPS Cat Sanctuary, home to hundreds of cats who would have been euthanized elsewhere, is the model for long-term care. We have been more limited with space for long-term care for dogs. But RAPS is undertaking a campaign for the construction of the new RAPS Dog Sanctuary and Adoption Centre, a place where dogs with behavioural or physical challenges will be rehabilitated, socialized and trained by experts, surrounded by all the loving care they need, for as long as they require to find their forever family.

To help raise funds for this major development, RAPS has launched an online 50/50 draw at rapsbc.com. Tickets are on sale until the end of July and the draw is on Aug. 3. Another way to help is to donate to and shop at the RAPS Thrift Stores. Awesome bargains for shoppers and donating to the stores is a great way to make room by cleaning out your closets and shed, replace furniture and empty the storage area. Any way you support RAPS helps animals like Buck.

Eyal Lichtmann is CEO and executive director of the Regional Animal Protection Society.