This is a story of dedication and survival. The only way to tell the story is to share my experience. It was late in the afternoon when I learned about a little pup that would later be named, George Robert. George had a broken jaw. It was probably broken for some time, and infection had set in. Honestly, what I saw made me sick. How had this little pup been surviving? How could he be so happy?

After a full day of spay/neuter surgeries, staff prepared George for emergency surgery. Everyone watched as SPCA Veternarian, Dr. Beichel, carefully cleaned out the infection and temporarily fixed George’s jaw (a permanent fix would be required later). All was finished late in the evening so Clinic Manager, Michelle Hamlin, decided to take him home to watch over him, assure he was stable and able to eat. It was then that Michelle, after seeing this pup’s will to live, would name him George Robert — after her dad a survivor and Vietnam War vet. George made it thru the weekend, and it would now be just a few days, before Dr. Taylor, a veterinary dental specialist, would come in to repair George’s jaw.

Dr. Taylor worked over an hour repairing George’s broken jaw. Although during this time, the surgery room was busy with other spay/neuter surgeries, everyone was concerned about George. I went to surgery to hear Dr. Taylor explain the surgery. He thought all went well, but said recovery would still be a wait and see game. I left the room, but returned moments later as I had forgotten to ask Dr. Beichel a question. When I walked into the room, I saw George back on the surgery table, Dr. Beichel doing CPR. I heard “You are not going to die on us now.” Staff moved about as Dr. Beichel directed them to help revive George. Then there was a beautiful sound – beep, beep, beep. Everyone stopped and listened to the heart monitor. Dr. Beichel confirmed George was back. Tears filled my eyes. Not only because I was so happy for George, but because I was so incredibly proud of our Clinic team, working together giving their all to save this one little puppy. Their dedication was moving, their concern genuine, and their skills and team work incredible. It was like watching a TV drama, although it was real; it was our SPCA.

The next day almost near close, I went to the clinic again to see George. Clinic staff were hustling about; George was bright and wiggly. He was doing well. But now it was not only George that needed them. There was an emaciated pitbull that could not even stand, and a puppy found as a stray, only 1 pound, barely alive. There were more animals that needed their help today.

We always talk about the resilience of animals, but for me this story is also about the resilience and dedication of the people that work day after day to make sure the animals have a second chance at a new life. Without them — there would be no happy endings.

Keep checking for updates about George and the other animals mentioned in this post.