Lengthy Road to Recovery Expected for Two-Year-Old “Jack”
BOSTON, Dec. 19, 2024 – This holiday season has not been very merry for Jack, a two-year-old French Bulldog who has been in the care of the MSPCA-Angell since he was surrendered by his owner on November 11 due to housing issues.
“We do a lot of work through all our programs—like Community Outreach and our Community Clinics—to try to keep pets in homes with the people who love them, but sometimes that’s just not possible,” explained MSPCA-Angell Vice President of Animal Protection, Mike Keiley.
Such was the case with Jack, although he is fortunate to have been placed in the care of an organization with access to world-class veterinarians.
“Jack had some problems with his mobility when he came to us,” Keiley expounded. “He had hip dysplasia, meaning his hip joints didn’t develop normally, which is a congenital issue.”
The sweet, small dog underwent a femoral head ostectomy (FHO) surgery on December 12 to improve use and reduce pain in his left hind leg.
“Surgeries on brachycephalic dogs like Jack are more complex because there are more risks for them with anesthesia, so it’s great that he’s in the care of our amazing medical team, especially considering that this surgery was just the first step.”
A Long Road to Recovery
In addition to his hip dysplasia, veterinarians in the MSPCA-Angell Clinic in Boston noted that there was also a serious issue with one of Jack’s front legs.
“Jack’s front left leg is severely disfigured,” described Keiley. “It’s actually turned 180 degrees and not only completely unusable, but also causing him discomfort.”
Clinic veterinarians suspect the malformation may have been caused by a fracture that did not heal properly.
“Unfortunately, it’s not an injury that we can fix, so we need to amputate the leg once Jack’s recovered a bit from the first surgery and has the stability needed in his hind legs to move forward,” Keiley added. “He may also need an additional surgery on his hind legs in the future, but right now, our biggest concern is the twisted front leg.”
Jack is expected to undergo an amputation in the coming weeks. Keiley estimates that his surgeries and related care are expected to cost roughly $10,000. Those who would like to donate to help offset that cost are asked to do so at mspca.org/jack.
“The popularity of bulldogs has led to overbreeding that often results in really complex and expensive congenital issues like Jack’s, and affording that kind of care puts an additional strain on owners and shelters,” he explained.
Jack’s Home for the Holidays
“Jack will navigate the world a little differently than other dogs following the amputation, but we know he’ll be the perfect pet for the right home,” Keiley elaborated.
Jack has been recuperating from his FHO surgery in a foster home, where his foster parents say that he is friendly with people and loves playing with their other dogs, as well as their children.
“It will be a while before Jack is ready for adoption,” said Keiley. “He still needs the amputation and then a little time to recover.”
Keiley estimates that Jack will be ready to find his new home in early-to-mid January. Interested adopters are asked to monitor the MSPCA’s social media channels for updates on his availability.
