Thinking it was dead, they stopped their car and Yuvabalan approached the canine. To his surprise, the dog was still alive – but it was howling in pain as it tried to get up.
The couple, who love animals, did not have the heart to leave the male dog there. Yuvabalan carefully carried him to the car, and the couple brought him back to their nearby home. They tried giving him some water, but he refused to drink.
Realising the animal’s injuries were serious and he was in need of medical attention, they brought him to a veterinary clinic around the corner.
“We believe it was a hit-and-run case, and he looked like he was in a shocked state,” Athiletchumy, 33, told FMT. “At the clinic, he was panting really bad, and his tongue was hanging out. His temperature was about 40°C which, according to the veterinarian, was really high.”
The dog, estimated to be between six months and a year old, was immediately given treatment, and the vet suspected he had fractured his legs as they couldn’t move.
“However, the clinic was about to close, so we were recommended to bring the dog to an emergency clinic in Petaling Jaya instead,” Athiletchumy added.
“He was then admitted to stabilise his condition. He looked so exhausted, and the vet also suspected a possible spine injury in addition to the fractures.”
A subsequent blood test further revealed the pooch was suffering from anaemia, a lack of red blood cells or haemoglobin.
An x-ray was done, and it was confirmed the dog did, indeed, have fractures in his legs. Thankfully, the vet was able to rule out the possibility of a spinal injury.
As the facility does not perform bone surgeries, Yuvabalan and Athiletchumy were given options for other clinics. After the dog was discharged on July 5, the couple made enquiries and finally decided to bring him to a clinic in Puchong.
“During the journey, he vomited in the car. His eyes were wide open and he was not responding to us. Both his front legs were also really swollen,” Athiletchumy recalled.
To the couple’s relief, he managed to eat a little bit of food when they arrived at the clinic, and appeared comfortable with the team there. Surgery was planned for July 7.
“On the day of the operation, he ran a high fever, but thankfully it subsided later, and they carried on with the surgery,” she said.
Due to his anaemia, however, the operation was carried out only on his left leg to minimise risks. A second procedure was carried out on his right leg the next day, which took four hours and involved two metal plates that had to be inserted.
Although the couple paid the bills – amounting to approximately RM900 – at the first two clinics on their own, they realised they would need financial help as the cost for the subsequent surgeries would be more substantial.
To that end, Yuvabalan took to social media to ask for help from the public, and the response they received has been overwhelming.
“As of July 11, we have raised approximately RM9,000. This will be used to pay for the surgeries, as well as the cost for post-operative care and boarding,” Athiletchumy shared.
While they are not sure what the final cost will amount to, she added: “I am so grateful that we received this help, so we don’t have to worry about money and can just focus on the dog.”
On a happy note, when the dog is ready to leave the clinic, he is assured of a fur-ever home as Yuvabalan and Athiletchumy plan on adopting him. They have since named him Browny.
“I hope others, too, will lend a hand when they see a stray animal in need, because these animals also have feelings,” Athiletchumy concluded. “Don’t just ignore them; I believe it’s our social responsibility to help.”
If you would like to contribute towards Browny’s healthcare fund, get in touch with Yuvabalan via his Instagram profile.