From the moment Duchess walked into the hospital, her loving nature took everyone by surprise.
— Dr. Holt, Carmel Valley Vet —
Duchess was a sweet six year old pit bull old recently adopted from the local Monterey County SPCA. Duchess, a new addition to the family, loves going on walks, spending time outdoors running around her owners 40 acre property and playing with her owners’ two young children. Soon after Duchess’ adoption, while walking with her dad on his property, the unthinkable happened. A mountain lion pounced out of nowhere and attacked Duchess. Luckily, with the help of the other family dog, Duchess and her owner were able to fight off the predator- but she did not survive unscathed. Duchess was left with six severe, dirty and deep lacerations all over her body. With injuries of this nature, surgery was vital. The vet gave Duchess antibiotics to prevent infection, but remained concerned about bacteria entering her body from the cat’s claws and mouth- making these wounds even more time sensitive.
With a good prognosis and quick action taken by Carmel Valley Veterinary Hospital, Max’s Helping Paws Foundation (MHPF) was called to help. Carmel Valley Veterinary Hospital sponsored Duchess to receive a grant. Because of the gravity of the situation, MHPF was able to accelerate the review process and to help subsidize the cost of surgery. Without receiving this life saving surgery, Duchess would have had to be euthanized, as her family could not afford to take on this financial burden, nor did they want her to suffer from these life threatening wounds.
Dutchess’ veterinarian, Dr. Holt, said, “From the moment Duchess walked into the hospital, her loving nature took everyone by surprise. Duchess must have been in excruciating pain from her attack by a mountain lion the night before, but that did not stop her from greeting everyone and wagging her tail the entire time she was being evaluated for surgery. It’s patients like Duchess that inspire our team to keep doing what we’re doing every day. Thanks to the work of MHPF, Duchess was able to receive the surgery she so desperately needed and is now on the road to fully recovering, making remarkable strides every day.”
About Our Veterinary Partner Who Helped Duchess:
Carmel Valley Veterinary Hospital is a full-service veterinary practice, with a focus is to provide your pet with the very best professional care possible.We know that exemplary medical care is just part of what you expect for your pet. You also want people who will love your pet the way you do. At Carmel Valley Veterinary Hospital, you’ll find caring and compassionate people who, like you, prioritize your pet’s health and well-being.
