The image of a small dog suffering from a severely injured jaw and declining health after an accident near the railway tracks has drawn attention from the online community.
Recently, a post shared by the Hanoi Pet Rescue Station on their fanpage about the health condition of a dog suffering from a severely damaged lower jaw after an accident in Long Bien has moved many people online.
The story of the severely injured dog has left many heartbroken.
“Doing the work I love—rescuing animals—sometimes also means doing things I don’t want to do.
Like today, we received a case that was, as they say, ‘flesh torn and bones shattered.’
A dog had been hit near the railway tracks in Long Bien.
Quoting the vet’s exact words:
‘The lower jaw is completely crushed. The upper jaw is also shattered in the front, with bones scattered. The palate is destroyed, injuries lead up to the nasal cavity, making it hard to breathe. Two-thirds of the tongue is necrotic. The eyes are bloodshot.’
As much as I didn’t want to, I knew I might have to be the one to decide whether or not to euthanize it.”
“I called everywhere—from professors to PhDs, from the U.S. to South Korea—explaining the dog’s condition.
I said openly that I was prepared to care for it by feeding through a tube into the stomach for life if necessary.
Then I asked: ‘Is there even a glimmer of hope for this dog?’
Everyone said yes.
So in the end, I decided not to euthanize. I’ll stay by her side, share her pain, and fight for her life with everything I have.”
The dog’s jaw was severely damaged in the accident.
Along with the post were photos of the rescue team transporting the injured dog back to their center to seek urgent medical help. After the accident, the dog—suffering life-threatening injuries to her jaw—was left barely clinging to life by the railroad tracks in Long Bien, unable to move. Fortunately, she was found in time and brought to safety.
According to the rescue center’s update, once her story was shared, many people quickly offered support to help fund her treatment and save her life. The dog has since been given a name—KAT—and her surgery is scheduled for this afternoon (June 20).
Kat is scheduled for surgery this afternoon to improve her condition.
The vets have also provided a surgical plan:
“For surgery, they’ll remove the entire lower jaw. The damaged, necrotic parts of the upper jaw will be cut away, and soft tissue will be grafted to cover the exposed nasal cavity.
About a quarter of the tongue is gone and will be left as is.
If the surgery is successful and recovery goes well, she may be able to drink water and eat soft foods on her own again.”
As soon as Kat’s condition was shared online, it sparked an emotional response from thousands. Many expressed their sorrow and hope that she would pull through. Others shared the story on their personal pages to help garner more support and donations for the rescue effort.