Lucky Lexi finds a home
Unfortunate circumstances leads to a happy ending for a little stray dog.
SEVERAL Upper Highway residents have rallied together to rescue Lexi, an eight-month-old stray Africanis that was seriously injured after she was run over by an 18-wheel truck at the Cato Ridge Truck Stop in Cato Ridge in October.
Lawrence Van Gent, a mechanic at the truck stop, witnessed the truck hit Lexi and drive off.
“Lawrence realised that Lexi was seriously injured when she tried to walk off, but collapsed after a few meters. He and a colleague, Stacey Riley, immediately rushed off to collect Lexi” said Maree Frohlich, the financial manager of the truck stop.
Subsequently, Van Gent and Riley took Lexi to her veterinary Graham Murrays, of Winston Park Vetinary Practice. Murry stabilised and sedated Lexi, and recommended that Lexi be taken to a specialist vet, as she had suffered multiple and extensive fractures to her right back leg.
Frohlich approached Dr Bruce Meyers, an orthopaedic and reconstructive surgeon, from St Helier Veterinary Hospital and Specialist Centre in Hillcrest for help, and he immediately agreed to do the surgery pro-bono on the condition that a home was found for Lexi.
“I am very fortunate to be able have a job that I love. I am very passionate about animals and it is a policy as our centre to do half a dozen pro-bono cases on a yearly basis. It is important for us to give back and to assist animals in need,” said Meyers.
According to Dr Meyers, if Lexi had not received the surgery her leg would have to have been amputated, which would have effected her quality of life.
After Lexi had been found, Frohlich had put up notices around the neighbourhood in the hopes of finding her owners, but so far no one has claimed her.
Lexi has since found a loving home with Anne and Phil Knight, after Jill Colepeper, of Winston Park Veterinary Practice, told Anne about Lexi and her ordeal.
“She has become part of the family, and has become particularly fond of my husband. Her movement still needs to be confined for two weeks to prevent her from jumping and injuring her recovering leg, but she is desperate to just get loose and explore,” said Anne.
