Dear Great Pyrenees Friends,
Thanks to so many of you, our Gentle Giants had the best thanksgiving ever as we not only met our Thanksgiving Match goal of $75,000, but actually surpassed it before our November 30th cut off!!! This is an enormous boost to our massive medical costs as we head into 2018 and will allow GPRA to continue to give virtually every PYR in need in the southeast the high level of medical care they deserve. Thanks to each and every one of you that donated.
We wrap up our campaign with the epic love story of Liam and Susan. GPRA took Liam after discovering his hind quarter had been blasted by a shot gun. He had extensive damage to his femur that required a plate, pin and bone grafts. Since Liam had hip dysplasia in both hips, our orthopedic, Matt, wanted to try to save the leg as opposed to taking the more simple route of amputation. Almost simultaneously, a young female, Susan, was shot in the back leg that GPRA rescued and determined her leg was shattered to the extent that amputation was the only option. Serendipitous, both Liam and Susan landed at the all star foster home of Sherry and Mike and here begins the love story.
Almost immediately it became apparent to Sherry and Mike that the two were inseparable and, literally, needed to be touching each other. A fabulous family in Michigan became smitten with Liam and planned to adopt him once healed until they discovered his unique relationship with Susan a
t which point they decided to adopt both so they could stay together.
Gary and Erin came to Gentle Giants in the Park and drove Liam and Susan back to their home in Michigan. Unfortunately, Liam's bone did not fuse together and Gary arranged for the director of orthopedics at Michigan State vet school to perform surgery using a special femoral nail, which he invented, and significant bone grafts from Liam's hip to address the healing. The surgery is working as the healing process has responded.
Gary and Erin call this a true love story and tell us "they are an inspiration to everyone they meet and are the true expression of unconditional love and gratitude".
Thanks again to our fosters, adopters, volunteers and donors as without your involvement, we wouldn't be close to approaching 1,300 rescues of this special breed.
