I'm just putting this out there because if the situation comes up again, I would like to have an idea of what options are available if any.

I work at a local shelter. Yesterday one of the Animal control officers brought in a badly injured GSD, evidently hit by a car. Shelter sent her to a vet to be monitored and kept comfortable on pain meds to try and find an owner. This evening the apparent owner called and after some inquiries and calling back and forth, this appears to be his dog. They did not have the funds to treat the dog and the shelter didn't have the funds, so he released the dog to the shelter so it could be euthanized. The dog had 2 broken (compound) legs, one on each side so it would have been intensive treatment. I tried to get in contact with a rescue but the foster mom ended up leaving a message and the shelter made the decision to let the dog go. In the event this situation should come up again, does anyone have any ideas of finding a quick answer on whether a rescue could take such a dog or not? I know there are options for raising money, such as IMOM, but when it is pretty much a life or death situation, there isn't time for that.

Poor dog had been given away a couple of times already and these people had only had her a short time. Sad that the family that actually is looking for their dog has to have such a sucky ending and other dogs that are healthy are sitting in the shelter because no one is looking for them.

how very sad ...

VERY sad. I am guessing it would be so variable if a rescue could commit ahead of time to being a backup - like if they had just had an expensive medical case, they wouldn't be able to help but might be able to other times if the owners would sign the dog over to them. But if there were a list of emergency rescue contacts set up in advance that might help.

There is Care Credit.

IMOM does ONLY do emergency cases now, so their turnaround is pretty fast. It might be good to email them and just ask - or I could if you want me to.

If the shelter wanted to create a fund in her memory for future cases, that might be a good idea. In fact, I would consider that especially if a newspaper could run a story on it.

Oh, the AAHA has a fund that vets have to apply to - do not know how fast they find out about if they get the assistance. But the vet would have to be willing.

I am liking that special fund in her name idea. It is one of those things that people might give $5, 10 to and that adds up. Especially if the shelter could partner with businesses to give coupons or something for donors. Maybe set a $5000 goal to have on hand (or less if that sounds nuts).

Jean, are you talking about the shelter working with local vets to set up an Emergency Medical Fund in that dog's name.

We have that here. Here's the info: http://www.petemergencyfund.org/

I'm not sure how it works though...

That or just have the shelter do a fundraiser and call it the "Sweetie Fund" or whatever for emergency cases - need the BOD to help set criteria and things like that - so when a case like this comes in they can afford to vet.

That one is neat - sounds like the vet picks who gets it.

That is sad! Poor dog, poor family.

My first purebred GSD appeared in my backyard bleeding from a punctured jugular vein. He also had a punctured trachea. I called the vets and took him to the one that could see him ASAP. Said I'd pay. The vet got the owner to surrender him to me. (This was his second home and a very recent home). Subsequently I took him 100 miles to a clinic that could monitor him 24/7 and had the equipment to examine him & treat him. He was going into shock and there was no time to worry about who was going to pay. That dog had me hooked before I got him loaded in the truck to go to the first vet.
I think that's the dog's best bet.

If I had any hope of being able to pay for and rehab the dog I would have done the same thing, but right now my finances are strapped and I wouldn't have the time to rehab a dog with two broken legs. I guess in a way I'm glad I didn't see the dog, they say she was beautiful. This shelter does treat emergencies occasionally, we had a blue pit come in with a badly mangled leg. She was very sweet so they heartworm tested her and she was negative so off to the vet she went to get help. They amputated her leg and she has recovered just fine and her then foster mom (now forever mom) was at the Atlanta Pet Expo (she has a dog collar business) and her booth was right across the hall from Shorty the Pit Boss so they had her pic made with Shorty. We have a copy and so does the vet.