What were you doing on June 16, 2008? How about July 6, 2010? Maybe April 5, 2011? You probably don’t remember, do you? For most these were just days on a calendar, nothing significant. To The Friends of Attleboro Animal Shelter (FAAS) and former Attleboro Animal Control Officer Karen Harvey, these are all days with meaning. Each of these days represents a sense of love, dedication and devotion.
On June 16, 2008 a miracle was born in Attleboro, it was in the form of a tiny black and white puppy. Once named “South Attleboro Puppy” is now known to many from Attleboro to Boston and right on up to New Hampshire as “Sappy” or “Sap-Sap." Puppies are born every day, what’s the big deal? Sappy is a big deal, she is truly a miracle! She was one of many in the litter, but the only one that mom rejected. She made her way into the hands of FAAS at a mere four hours old, by FAAS Volunteers Audry Fontneau and Nancy Robinson. Sappy was raised by Attleboro’s Mrs. Doolittle also known as Karen Harvey.
It wasn’t too long after being cared for by Karen that a problem was noticed and this problem was major and for most puppies a death sentence! Sappy was diagnosed as having a severe Cleft Palate. The survival rate of a puppy with a severe Palate like Sappy’s is unheard of – Sappy is a true fighter (although we know she is a lover). The inside of Sappy’s mouth (her palate) is wide open! If you were to look inside her mouth you would see right into her nasal passage, and it’s not a pretty site! This means Sappy cannot do a lot of things a normal pup would do such as: enjoying bones, playing freely in the yard and she cannot even eat without being hand fed. Karen Harvey has hand fed her from birth to now, such love and devotion…the bond shared here is unmatchable!
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Sappy was faced with only one option and that was a very extensive risky surgery. Most doctors saw the severity of her palate and felt there was no hope for a successful procedure. Well, on July 6, 2010 history was about to take place right behind the doors of The Animal Rescue League of Boston with Dr. Davis. The surgery will be done in phases and consists of screwing in a custom-made distraction plate to artificially close up the palate. While the distraction plate is in place, Sappy remained under the care of Dr. Davis for approximately two weeks. The plate is tightened daily by screws that are attached to the plate in hopes of it pulling the bones inside the palate closer together.
Sappy went back into The Animal Rescue League of Boston on April 5, 2011 for phase two of the surgery with Dr. Davis. Again the distraction plate was inserted and daily tightening was taking place. As of today, Sappy remains with Dr. Davis and incredible progress is taking place.
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This is a long journey for Karen and Sappy, but one that I am pleased to report is already having a huge impact on Sappy. For the first time in Sappy’s almost three years of life, she has eaten out of a dog bowl! We continue to put our paws together and pray that Sappy continues to be the miracle she was born to be!
Miracles can happen, one just has to BELIEVE!
My apology to Sappy as I stated her wrong birthday in the video on a previous post. Shame on me, as I am blessed to share my heart and home with her sister Miss Daisy Dukes.