Saving Riker

I am reaching out to raise funds for Riker's medical expenses. While the goal is $4000, his medical needs well exceeded that amount. He deserved every ounce of love and treatment he received. The Lucas County Pit Crew is an all volunteer, non profit that is supported solely from generosity. I'm asking if you can assist in any way, any small or large amount to help cover his expenses. Please also share his story. It's the only way we'll be able to get this guy's bills paid. 

Riker's Story:

Earlier this year, Lucas County Canine Care & Control picked up an emaciated, wounded stray in Toledo, Ohio. He was suffering from starvation and a gaping  gruesome facial wound. The wound was presumed to be a bite wound, and based on the depth of his infection and body condition he was given refuge with the non-profit rescue, the Lucas County Pit Crew. 

Riker was immediately rushed to the vet and his first of many surgeries was completed. Drains were placed in his face, facial tissue was removed and stitched closed. It was also discovered he had several severe anal fistula's.  Even though this was a very painful, uncomfortable and distressing trauma, he handled every poke and prod with easy gentle kisses and tail wags.  Sadly, this wasn't the end to his medical struggles.

After his surgery he was placed in foster care where he could find comfort and care while he healed. With a quiet safe place to rest, Riker began to put on some much needed weight but his facial wounds just would not heal, the infection was winning. After several attempts to rid his body of the infection, including medicines, removing more tissue and opening the wound completely to "heal inside out", a CT scan was ordered to see if there was a tumor and what was happening deep within his head. 

The CT revealed abnormal spots in his middle ear canal area and an appointment  was made with a specialist in Columbus, OH. The surgeon determined that years and years of untreated ear infections had caused calcification deep within his ear canals. The infection still lingering in his middle ear was trapped, it escaped through the path of least resistance…. It created a track deep within his skin, formed an abscess and finally exploded out his entire left facial side.  His facial wound wasn’t a bite after all, instead a giant infected abscess, that had burst through his face.

The  only way to save him was to remove his ear canals, without the surgery the infection would have ended his life.  The surgeon removed both ear canals and cleaned out his middle ear of infection and debris.   Removing the ear canal means Riker has no “opening’ leading to his inner ear to hear with (his ears are sewn shut and the canal is gone). He can still “hear” via vibrations through his bones and his inner ear was saved. 

He made it through surgery like the champ he is, however it was then discovered that the infection deep within his skin was resistant to all but one antibiotic. This special medicine has to be injected daily at the vets, along with blood-work and urinalysis. He's almost done with his treatments, his stitches have been removed and is predicted to be "good as new" with outstanding results.

Through this entire  ordeal, this boy has been the most tolerant, gentle, calm dog I’ve ever seen.  He loves everyone and lets you clean, exam and bandage that wound with out any issues. He let us help him, and only wants a few pets in return. We go to vets daily, and he gets excited because he knows he’s going to come see his “girlfriends & guyfriends”. (I’ve had 6 of them in the exam room with us, just because they all wanted to come see him). This boy just wants to be loved, petted and love us back. He’s truly an unbelievable dog. I say it all the time…. His heart and soul are made up off all our past loved and best dogs. He’s truly an ambassador of this breed, and all dogs.

Please consider donating what you can, any little bit will help. He deserved to be saved, he deserves a good life. He's got so much love to share and we've got so much to learn about love, patience and kindness from him.