Puppy with rare condition gets second chance after local vet performs surgery for free

PENDLETON COUNTY, Ky. (WKRC) – A good-hearted veterinarian has saved a local abandoned puppy with a rare medical condition.

Someone dropped off a 9-month-old beagle at the Pendleton County Animal Shelter. She was malnourished and declining fast. Heather Fischer with Frankie’s Furry Friends got a call last Wednesday from the animal shelter telling her about the dog’s condition.

“We thought she had something wrong with her. Parvo or something because she was so skinny, and you could see her ribs and her hips,” said Fischer.

She called Alexandria veterinarian Dr. Brandon Heineke, DVM, who quickly discovered the issue—Lucy was born without an opening to go to the bathroom.

“With how her anatomy is, she very well could have had, and will have had, a massive infection somewhere within her reproductive tract and her urinary bladder,” said Dr. Heineke. “All of those areas could get very infected if we didn’t do something.”

The $8,000 surgery was far beyond what Frankie’s Furry Friends could afford. That’s when Dr. Heineke said he would do it at no cost.

Just days later, Dr. Heineke constructed an opening so Lucy could relieve herself properly. She came through the surgery like a champ, but she’s still very malnourished. She only weighs 15 pounds, and the doctor said that she should weigh 25. But he also said the prognosis looks good.

“I don’t see any reason why she can’t live a normal life,” said Dr. Heineke.

Dr. Heineke posted Lucy’s story on his Facebook page and already got a call from someone who wants to adopt her.

“I think that Lucy will have a great future, hopefully with a new adopter,” said Fischer. “A new forever home.”

The doctor said that he still needs to observe Lucy for a few more days, but by the end of next week, she should be ready for her adoptive family.