Zorro Update

[flowerpower]

Aries is also doing well. From the Frekings site:

Thank you very much for your support, sympathy, and generosity. We are amazed by the number of letters and emails we have received and certainly felt your thoughts and prayers while we were on the trail. We are very grateful that we have had several generous donations which has helped us cover the charges from Aries' emergency care and medical expenses. We were horrified to hear of Lances encounter with a snowmobiler and can only hope that some changes may come from these tragic accidents.

Aries is doing very well and adjusting to life with three functional legs. He picked up a ball the other day and went for a 2-mile jog with me yesterday. Even with just three legs, he is still faster than I am. He has gone on free-run hikes frequently as a pup and occasionally since them and loves heading down the trail off leash, comes when called, and looks for his treats. Of course, we live in the middle of nowhere with no distractions, so this isn't something I would do in a more populated area.

Aries has been examined by at least 28 veterinarians and specialists since the accident, and many more have been consulted. All have agreed that he is not likely to regain function in the limb, even with the best medical treatment available. He still has no sensation, no deep pain response, or movement in his front left leg at all. At this point would be miraculous if any healing occurred that resulted in sensation returning to the limb. Regardless, he is getting daily massage, range of motion (ROM) exercises, and physical therapy to maintain the limb as well as possible and in hopes of helping him regain function.

Although Aries life as a racing sled dog is over, he has a bright future as my sister "webmaster" Cindy's new companion. We will give him plenty of time and therapy in hopes of saving his limb, but most likely it will be amputated. Thankfully, he is a sweet and happy dog and will certainly adjust to his new life quickly. My sister and husband are just graduating from medical school and will soon be moving to a beautiful hobby farm in Michigan as they begin their residencies. He will be in good hands and be a great jogging buddy for Cindy!

We are working on putting our stories and photos together from the trail to share with

[emwcee]

Here's another site with info:

http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/mar/31/mackeys-dog-zorro-expected-recover-unlikely-race-a/

[ThisSpaceForRent]

Lance...you are a CLASS ACT!

In my opinion, I understand Lance's reluctance to name or charge the man who caused this accident. There is a reason Lance's Kennel is called the "Comeback Kennel"...cancer has not been only obstacle in the way of the Mackey's success...maybe someone once gave him/her/them a break when he/she/they...ummm...messed up badly or made a VERY bad decision...

In no way do I excuse the being that caused this incident, in fact, I hope this causes some deep introspect into the value of life...If lance had not reacted as quickly as he did this could have been a homicide investigation. Lance, YOU ROCK!

Z-Dog....you rock too...GoZorroGo,

For you Lance, Tonya and Zorro (borrowed from John Prine)

You can gaze out the window get mad and get madder,
throw your hands in the air, say "What does it matter?"
but it don't do no good to get angry,
so help me I know

For a heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter.
You become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there
wrapped up in a trap of your very own
chain of sorrow.

I been brought down to zero, pulled out and put back there.
I sat on a park bench, kissed the girl with the black hair
and my head shouted down to my heart
"You better look out below!"
Hey, it ain't such a long drop don't stammer don't stutter
from the diamonds in the sidewalk to the dirt in the gutter
and you carry those bruises to remind you wherever you go.


humbly submitted,

daniel...ThisSpaceForRent

[MotorWerk]

It's good to hear the dogs will make it, I hope they are able to save Aries' leg.

And knowing how good Lance is with his dogs I have no doubt that he will help his team through the trauma it is to be run over. As for Zorro - I'm sure he'll be able to sire top runners for some years yet.

[fladogfan]

tsfr, that is a beautiful verse. It's taken almost my whole life to learn not to hold grudges. We are forgiven as we forgive. Looks like Lance learned that lesson a lot sooner, wonderful.
fdf

[Minipins444]

On the Seattle/Tacoma TV news last night they showed pictures of Zorro resting and the X-Rays of his spine. The Vet was very thorough with his explainations and most reasuring that Zorro will recover well. No racing but can enjoy making puppies.

http://q13.trb.com/news/kcpq-033108-zor ... 5427.story

"Mackey Dog Zorro To Make Full Recovery, But Racing Days Over

The Associated Press

March 31, 2008, 2:58 PM PDT

The veterinarian treating Lance Mackey's sled dog Zorro says he will make a full recovery from injuries suffered when he was hit by a snowmobile.

But Kobi Johnson says Zorro's racing days are probably over. The 9-year-old faces weeks of recovery for four broken ribs and severe bruising.

Johnson says Monday's MRI and an examination by a neurological specialist at The Animal Emergency Clinic in Tacoma found no need for emergency surgery.

Zorro was flown to Washington Sunday with the injuries suffered Friday when he was hit on the trail during the All Alaska Sweepstakes race.

Zorro is the foundation stud dog in Mackey's Comeback Kennel. Mackey is the only musher to record back-to-back wins in the 1,100-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race and the 1,150-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race"

[aren]

Hey minipins, thanks very much for bringing us the wonderfull news about Zorro This news just made my day Maybe all the prayers and positive vibes helped after all
Hey Lance I guess you can relax now, hopefully you and Zorro will enjoy eachothers company for years to come. If all goes well, maybe Zorro will give you a few more promising puppy Zorro's too

[Breeze]

Most reassuring to me was reading in the newsminer article that Zorro was able to stand yesterday. THATS a huge step forward!

I would weep for happiness but I think I am all cried out.

A great name for a Zorro puppy would be Lucky , because Zorro just IS SO LUCKY, and apparently hasn't overdrawn that particular account balance.

I've dealt with my share of spondylitis with 3 dogs, all well past the average life span for their breeds ( 15, 16, and 18, golden retrievers and Irish setters). Spondylitis is just a name for "inflammation around the spinal root of a nerve pathway". It manifests as "acute", with an injury such as Zorro has sustained, or "chronic", which is episodic and recurring.

Zorro may not RACE again, but I keep in my heart and expectation that he WILL be in harness for some puppy training and exercise runs, but some months down the road.

Breathe in, breathe out.

WHEW!

Breeze

[flowerpower]

Nice update video about Zorro at KTUU. He might get to come home by the end of the week, and Lance says he will be living out his days as a house dog and as comfortable as he can be. The other dogs that were injured were Fudge, Pimp and Boycuz, they are sore but resting at home. Lance did say they seemed kinda depressed and weren't eating as well as usual and they are all "more skittish than usual around snowmachines".

http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=8097856

[Heidi]

Thanks minipins for the article update and flowerpower for the KTUU update. The best thing I heard was the vet saying, "Zorro's going to be okay."