Life-saving dog gets second chance of her own
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DES MOINES, Wash. -- When RoseMarie Valda suffered a heart attack, it was her dog, Piper, who sounded the alarm and saved her life.
Now, that loyal pet needs help herself after being struck by a car.
Piper was playing in the snow on Wednesday when a pickup truck skidded on ice, hit the dog then drove away.
"The bumper hit her on her left side, and she went down immediately," said owner Tony Valda.
Piper can no longer walk, but there's little her owners can do. They are too cash-strapped to even pay for X-rays.
"I'm worried, because it's part of the family," said RoseMarie Valda.
The situation is especially difficult for 79-year-old RoseMarie Valda, who was saved by Piper just four months ago. The loyal black Labrador woke up the woman's son, Tony Valda.
"She saved my mom's life, and so we need to, you know, save her life," he said.
"No wonder they say that the dogs are the best friends," said RoseMarie Valda.
With Piper in pain and time running out, the Valdas turned to the Problem Solvers.
The Problem Solvers teamed up with West Seattle veterinarian Dr. Kenneth McKim at Greentree Animal Hospital to provide for Piper the care she needs.
"I appreciate it, immensely, your help," said RoseMarie Valda.
"Thank you so much! There you go, Pipes!" said Tony Valda.
"Hopefully, we can get her stabilized," said the veterinarian. "We can cut down the inflammation and irritation she's got around those nerves, and maybe some of that will come back."
X-rays show Piper has a broken tail that might need to be amputated, as well as fractures near her spine and hip.
"How much of this damage is gonna be permanent -- we don't know," McKim said, adding Piper has some feeling left in her legs.
Whatever the outcome, Piper's owners are just glad to see she's receiving the care she needs.
"It's just giving me a lot of hope, and you know, I'm just so grateful to you guys for everything," Tony Valda said.
Now the dog who saved a life has a second chance, too.
Now, that loyal pet needs help herself after being struck by a car.
Piper was playing in the snow on Wednesday when a pickup truck skidded on ice, hit the dog then drove away.
"The bumper hit her on her left side, and she went down immediately," said owner Tony Valda.
Piper can no longer walk, but there's little her owners can do. They are too cash-strapped to even pay for X-rays.
"I'm worried, because it's part of the family," said RoseMarie Valda.
The situation is especially difficult for 79-year-old RoseMarie Valda, who was saved by Piper just four months ago. The loyal black Labrador woke up the woman's son, Tony Valda.
"She saved my mom's life, and so we need to, you know, save her life," he said.
"No wonder they say that the dogs are the best friends," said RoseMarie Valda.
With Piper in pain and time running out, the Valdas turned to the Problem Solvers.
The Problem Solvers teamed up with West Seattle veterinarian Dr. Kenneth McKim at Greentree Animal Hospital to provide for Piper the care she needs.
"I appreciate it, immensely, your help," said RoseMarie Valda.
"Thank you so much! There you go, Pipes!" said Tony Valda.
"Hopefully, we can get her stabilized," said the veterinarian. "We can cut down the inflammation and irritation she's got around those nerves, and maybe some of that will come back."
X-rays show Piper has a broken tail that might need to be amputated, as well as fractures near her spine and hip.
"How much of this damage is gonna be permanent -- we don't know," McKim said, adding Piper has some feeling left in her legs.
Whatever the outcome, Piper's owners are just glad to see she's receiving the care she needs.
"It's just giving me a lot of hope, and you know, I'm just so grateful to you guys for everything," Tony Valda said.
Now the dog who saved a life has a second chance, too.
