5-12-09  Update
Funds raised to date $630.00

We heard the following from Don, Timber's owner.  "The deer hunter paid approximately $1,100 on the first $2,000 vet bill.  The Assistant District Attorney down here would prosecute him, but there was no guarantee of jail time or fine.  He advised me to get any money from him or the case could drag on for 9 months or longer at jury trial.  I've contacted Orthopets and am now looking into getting the prosthetic made for Timber."  Thanks!

Just Because......Elberton, Georgia
Shot for no reason.

Don Gilbert heard the familiar pop, then his dog's anguished cry. He took off running. What he found was chilling. A deer hunter climbed down out of his tree post holding a muzzleloader, an out of season weapon, in his hand.

"Did you shoot my dog?" Don asked angrily. The man acknowledged he shot a dog, but said it "was probably wild." Don heard a sound and turned to see what it was. Timber, his six-year old Husky mix, was pulling herself toward him with her front legs, but her hindquarters were limp.

Don ran to her side and scooped up the 75 pound dog. Bleeding profusely, he carried Timber to his pickup truck. He struggled with unlatching the tailgate while the hunter just watched.

Don knew exactly what had happened to Timber. Perched in his tree loft, the hunter could clearly see Don, his kennels and his 12 acres, although Don could not see him.

Evidently, when Timber was let out to run with the rest of his dogs while Don cleaned their kennels, Timber must have picked up a scent and followed it to the adjoining 100 acre parcel.

The hunter in the tree wasn't seeing any deer action. But he did see a dog standing very still, sniffing the ground. So he shot her. What's even worse was how Timber was shot. The hunter didn't shoot to kill. He shot to wound, ensuring the dog would die a slow painful death.

Don angrily informed the hunter that he would pay half the vet bills for Timber's recovery but he refused.

At the vet's office, Don struggled between his heart and his head. He briefly thought about putting Timber down. She was in so much pain, and he wanted to do what was right for her.

But Dr. Sales, Don's veterinarian, had a different take on the situation. He felt Timber's life could be saved, and he was committed to proving that. Dr. Sales examined Timber's extensive injuries and recommended amputation for the one leg. The muzzleloader had shattered it beyond repair.

The other rear leg was more complicated. Dr. Sales put five pins through the tibia to try to correct the alignment of the fragmented bone. He also recommended that Don get a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Georgia veterinary school to see what other options there might be.

Don did just that. The surgeon recommended two more surgeries, one for the tibia with five metal pins and one for the hock. Timber's foot was not moving because of nerve damage. The orthopedic surgeon told him frankly, "She needs more surgery or she'll never be a dog again." But with a $2500 up front fee for just one surgery, the surgeon's recommendation was out of the question. Don reluctantly brought Timber back home.

After ten weeks with pins in her tibia, Dr. Sales removed them. Unfortunately, the pins did not correct the alignment of Timber's shattered bone. With Don's consent, Dr. Sales amputated below the break, leaving the leg functional for a prosthetic.

The hunter was eventually forced to pay $1000. But even with the hunter's financial allotment for the damage done to Timber, Don still had vet bills to pay. That's when Don contacted The Mosby Foundation for help. We were glad to assist this remarkable man and his dog!

For her part, Timber was a real trooper. A happy dog by nature, her sunny disposition kept her going. She adjusted almost immediately. Even though she only had partial feeling in the injured leg, and her paw was more like a floppy glove.

Don worried about this. But a neighbor loaned a handicapped dogcart for Timber to use. Although it wasn't made for her, Timber did make use of it. That is, until one morning when Don saw her walking without it.

She used her two good legs to pull her along and her injured leg as minor support to move around. And move she did. Slowly, at first, but then Timber seemed to get the hang of it. She developed her own rhythm for walking. That's when Don realized Timber wanted a prosthetic, not a cart.

Timber's health outlook is good and will only get better with an artificial rear leg. It will keep her mobile and increase her balance without having to expend so much energy just to walk. With a functional third leg, she will be able to walk faster and possibly be able to run.

Don is a champion in a state that places little value on the life of a dog. Although there are strong laws in place against animal abuse, they are rarely enforced. Don, on the other hand, is the kind of man that picks up stray dogs along the side of the road. He brings them home, nurses them back to health, and offers them the love and care they have never received.

Currently, Don has 27 dogs in 14 kennels. All are posted for adoption on sites such as Petfinder.com. But he is realistic. With over 200,000 animals seeking new homes,
Don wants nothing more than to give a dog a second chance at a first class life. If someone inquires about adoption, he's certainly hopeful it works out. But until then, Don treats all 27 as preciously as he would a single pet. Don says, "I consider these animals my personal pets."

Don's compassion is a light shining in the darkness. He could have chosen an easier way out with Timber, but he didn't. He wanted to give her a chance, and she took it. Now all she needs is one more good leg to wander Don's 12 acres, and the world will make sense again.

Would you like to support Timber?
With twenty-six other healthy dogs to care for, Don now has the added expense of a severely disabled dog. We'd like to encourage our readers to send The Mosby Foundation a tax-deductible donation toward Timber's prosthetic. Estimates for the prosthetic range between $600-$1000. If we receive an excess of donations, the remainder will be placed in our general funds to help other needy dogs.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP TIMBER PLEASE USE PAY PAL AND MARK THE DONATION FOR TIMBER, OR MAIL YOUR CHECK WITH TIMBER's NAME IN THE MEMO SECTION TO:  THE MOSBY FOUNDATION, P.O.BOX 218, DEERFIELD, VA 24432.

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