Lucky breaks: How fund helps injured pets get second chance

When Rosie, a 2-year-old corgi and border collie mix, jumped out of the car when arriving home, she was eager to do what she always does — run around and meet new people. Little did Rosie and her family know the harrowing ordeal she was about to encounter. But thanks to the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Lucky Fund, Rosie literally got lucky.

“She barreled out of the car and saw someone down the street that she wanted to meet,” said Lyle Benson, Rosie’s owner. “Well, that person was on a bike and she grabbed Rosie’s leash and dognapped her. We looked for her the rest of the day and night and couldn’t find her. We were all devasted.”

The next day, Benson and his family started calling shelters and eventually found Rosie. Apparently, the dognapper let Rosie go, but that’s when she got hit by a car. Local vets told the Bensons that Rosie had suffered a fracture to her right front leg humerus bone and that they should take her to the MSU Veterinary Medical Center, so they did.

“The surgery wasn’t cheap but being such a young dog with a lot of life to live, we went through with it,” Benson said.

Months after the surgery, Rosie was recovering well and feeling great but her exuberance would land her back at MSU.

“We have a lot of squirrels around our house that Rosie likes to chase,” Benson said. “So, one nice day we were out on the deck, she saw a squirrel and jumped off the deck. She landed with a big squeal and couldn’t walk on that leg, so we took her back to MSU.”

The orthopedic surgeons at the Veterinary Medical Center said Rosie needed another procedure to manipulate her elbow back into place, which required anesthesia.

“There’s no way we could afford another procedure and, when the MSU doctors found that out, they told us about the Lucky Fund,” Benson said.

The MSU Veterinary Medical Center’s Lucky Fund provides financial assistance to qualified clients who demonstrate need and whose animal has a good prognosis for recovery. The fund began in March 1995 when an 8-month-old German shepherd and collie mix was struck by a car. The dog was picked up by a stranger and, without any information on the owner, was brought to MSU, where it received care thanks to contributions from the community. The dog was renamed Lucky.

After Lucky’s care was complete, the money left over was set aside to help other animals in need, and the Lucky Fund was born. Over the past 30 years, the Lucky Fund has helped an estimated 2,000 animals and their families.

“The Lucky Fund in an amazing way that our community — local animal lovers, alumni, former hospital clients, Vet Med staff and faculty and more — show up for dogs and cats in need,” said Kelley Meyers, doctor of veterinary medicine and executive director of the MSU Veterinary Medical Center. “Because of our community’s generosity, families facing scary emergencies can focus on their pet’s care and recovery. It makes a world of difference.”

Benson said Rosie is doing well and is as playful as ever, though he’s told her not to talk to strangers anymore!

“The only way we could keep Rosie alive was through the Lucky Fund and, for that, we are incredibly grateful.”

Read Ellie and Mana’s stories and how the Lucky Fund helped.

Read Haley’s story about supporting the Lucky Fund.

In this season of giving, consider making a difference in the life of a pet and for their family by donating to the Lucky Fund.