New Kobe Photos-In the Backyard on a hot Summer Day

We just noticed in any photo of Kobe, in the backyard, his foster brother Jake is very close and seems to be watching over him. Today was so hot, they found some shade.

Kobe taking over patio swing, on a hot summer day

What's to say?

Many of the stars alligned to come to Kobe's aid, to get him to New York from the Shelter in West Virginia, shelter volunteers drove him and Randee part of the way and then turned him over to our Mid-Atlantic Region's wonderful volunteers who got him all the way up to Jill Pickering in Buffalo. That is after a stopover at a temporary foster home for a few days. Then he continued his trip and spent some time in another foster home prior to his surgery and is recooperating in the same home. Jill's vet did the procedure and the veterinarian and the staff took special care of him. A fund raisinf effort was organized to collect money for his surgery and after care. To help cover the cost of his surgery and not burden expend normal rescue funds for his operation. RRRI would like to thank everyone who helped, especially John Arvin, of Mystic RR's at http://www.mysticrrs.com/. John donated $1200 to help cover the greater part of Kobe's expenses! Part of Kobe's femur was shaved to reduce the bone-on-bone rubbing and aide him in putting more weight on his right rear leg. He is doing well in his foster home and hopes to find his forever home soon. He likes to be with his people and will follow you outside or into new rooms. Once there, he lays down and hangs out. Kobe gets along well with his foster brother Jake and enjoys rides in the car. He would do well with other dog-friendly dogs. Kobe had his sutures out on Tuesday and is now in recovery. He can go for short walks and will be able to enjoy 2-3 miles strolls in about 8 weeks, maybe sooner. Kobe would go tomorrow if he had his way! We also have several families interested in adopting Kobe and arrangements are being made for meet and greets.

OOPS...We know these are out of order, but...

While we are waiting for an update and maybe some new pictures of Kobe, these are the photos on the rescue site, with his profile. The write up and the photos are pre-operation but show a dog being pampered and very happy, probably for the first time in his life...

We are super excited! He is going to have part of his hip shaved so there will no longer be bone-on-bone rubbing. His muscles will do the rest and help his leg function like it would if it were in the joint. Can you believe all this damage was from trauma, mostlikely a car accident, that went untreated? He is a love and deserves this chance at a better life. He will treat you like a hero as your forever pet and everyone else will think you are one too! He is currently in his foster home in Buffalo, NY with his foster mother and foster brother, Jake. 5/22/10 Kobe was found as a stray and brought to a kill shelter. He has a twisted leg and hobbles around. He doesn't consider himself to be disabled-he runs and plays like all the other dogs. He loves to give kisses and is a real people lover. He may not look perfect but don't tell him that. He thinks he is just great and has a great attitude to prove it. He was due to be put down because nobody wanted him but we did. He drove 12 hours to get here and now waits to find his forever home and a family that will accept him for the sprited, beautiful boy that is Kobe. His leg will be evaluated and whatever care his leg needs will be provided before adoption.

Kobe Relaxing on Deck on a hot day

Kobe contiues to improve. It was very hot, here, today and Kobe and his foster brother spent most of the day relaxing on the deck. He even took time to walk around the garden and then another nap on the deck. He returns to the vet tomorrow to get his stitches removed and for the vet to take a look at his progress. Fingers crossed.

Kobe at his foster home

Kobe and his foster brother on the patio.

Kobe doing well and walking better after Operation

Kobe had his pain patch removed today and is due to have his sutures removed next Tuesday. His foster mom reports that there is no stopping him and that he is eager to move around, check things out, and sniff. He does not care for the large amount of time spent in the crate for rehab this first week and seems glad that he can move around a bit more, now.

Kobe becoming a problem post surgery.

It is bercoming increasingly hard to keep Kobe quiet after his surgery, he is obviously feeling better but his activity still must be restricted and he has to be kept from doing certain things, until he heals.
Here are a few photos of his surgical scar.

Randee, Kobe's sister Finds new home, thanks to Rescue and Kobe

Randee, Kobe's sister came along for the ride. She was transported with him for part of the trip and was then sent to another foster home. It was supposed to be a short stop-over for her and her trip was to continue to a longer term foster home in upstate New York. She was adopted by the first foster and now lives with a German Shepherd and they frolic together in the pond on the property of her new home.

Kobe keeps slipping out of his Elizabethan Collar and his stitches are in jeopardy!!!

Anyone have any ideas of how to keep a cone on a dog's head? Our rescue who just had major hip surgery keeps taking it off when home alone in the crate. We duct taped the center where it could be split, so that can no longer happen. He is somehow managing to get it off his head.

Photos of traditional E-Collar and a relatively new device more like the Donut idea.

Some of the best suggestions so far are that the gauze securing the collar should be replaced with a dog collar and it should be buckled to the point it can not slip over his head. Another novel idea is to use a Hemrrhoid Donut. Slip it over his head and inflate it.

Kobe's Surgery Successful-there has been some improvement already he has long road to recovery

Kobe had his surgery on Wednesday. He was able to be picked up yesterday from the vets and is doing well. I took some pictures and have to upload them. I should be doing that tomorrow and will be sure to share them with you. His foster mom is taking great care of him, although he is a master-mind at getting his cone off. Kobe has a patch for pain and that will be taken off Tuesday. He was already walking better on Thursday when leaving the vet's and he was his usual self- tail wagging, waiting to greet as many people as possible. Instead of walking with his rear feet stepping one in front of the other- into the same spot, he is kind of walking with them side-by-side. The gait is still ackward, but not as much. The vet said that the pain from the bone-on-bone rubbing should be much less and that he will be much more comfortable. He is such a loving dog and is going to make a great companion for someone.
Kobe's pre-surgery X-ray studies.

Kobe and Randee are found by Rescue

Rescue needs funds to help Kobe and his sister Randee and dogs like them. Both Kobe and Randee have the most important Ridgeback characteristic, the ridge. If all goes well these two
dogs are on their way, from a high kill shelter in West Virginia, this very weekend and should shortly be in our care.
Kobe comes to us with a leg injury needing surgery. He had quickly been placed on the shelter’s euthanize list because of this leg injury, when he came to the attention of rescue and we are raising money to pay for an operation on his leg. We believe his injury was caused when he was hit by a car.
Fortunately, Randee, though very small, is in good health and a very high energy dog.
All she needs is a good home and the love and care she deserves.
There are many dogs like Kobe and Randee in the care of Rescue. Each costs money for
care and treatment, preparing them for their new homes. The number of dogs coming into
rescue in 2009 was about 50% higher than the dogs taken in during 2008. This year, 2010
is on pace to beat the 2009 levels. Without money Rescue can not help these dogs. Each
rescue dog is a unique individual and special in his or her own way.
Please look at your own Ridgeback and then don’t forget those without homes. Without
Rescue and the people who make it work, no one would be there to help these dogs. It is
a special feeling when we bring a dog to his/her new family and we know we have given
a dog a second chance at happiness.
Please go to the website and look at the work we do. Read some of the profiles and then
give what you can afford to help continue the much needed and good work.