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The Oscar Medical Charity Fund
Photo of Oscar with his ashes and paw print
We have had several GWPs come into rescue with injuries and medical problems that have not received prompt treatment. While they can’t relate their history, dogs like Oscar and Chief have injuries or illnesses that, if treated early, may have resulted in favorable outcomes. By the time we are involved, the medical problem is advanced, requiring more extensive care or, sometimes, euthanasia. Robin Palermo, a foster for NGWP rescue, selflessly took Oscar, a GWP with a mass on his face and no known owner to be evaluated. 

Chief, another GWP currently in foster care, came to rescue in the Sacramento area with a badly damaged left front paw that clearly had gone untreated. The vet said it may have happened one or more months before and was the result of an automobile accident. Chief’s weight was normal, so presumably he was cared for until the injury occurred. This may be a case where the owners saw the injury and realized they could not afford to have it repaired, so abandoned him. The cause of the problem was a brachial plexus injury. Though not common, this type of injury can occur in dogs struck by an automobile resulting in damage to the network of nerves controlling the front legs.. The injury resulted in numbness in his paw and difficulty moving the leg, so he dragged it, worsening the injuries. After a brachial plexus injury, use of the leg may not be regained, therefore, amputation removes the weight of the leg the dog cannot use and eliminates the risk for pressure or trauma sores. While the initial repair may have been costly, it may have spared him losing his leg. Financial assistance may have allowed him to stay in the same home. 

Fortunately Chief was cared for by excellent surgeons and recovered well. His loving foster took outstanding care of him, and like most young GWP’s, they had difficulty keeping him quiet. He is probably a little more than one year old, full of energy and love but no aggression. Happily, Chief was adopted into a fantastic forever home.

Unfortunately for Oscar when Robin took him to the vet, he was diagnosed with an incurable head and neck melanoma, and she selflessly accompanied him while he was euthanized with human kindness and love. This sparked the idea for the Oscar Medical Charity Fund. Robin is the founding donor. 
Chief, playing with a toy and healed