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Dr Michael Garvin (Medical)
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Posted: 2011 May 06 - 02:01
Dogs, cats suffered from neglect, filthy conditions, disease By Jay Meisel meisel@hometownnewsol.com
ST. LUCIE COUNTY - At veterinarian Leonard Fox's clinic last week, Cadbury, a mixed breed dog, was receiving treatment for malnourishment and long-term neglect. Cadbury, whose bones protruded, was perhaps one of the more fortunate of more than 160 dogs and cats found at an animal sanctuary on Carlton Road. However, as of Monday all of the dogs and cats had been removed, many from animal rescue organizations from around the country. But some, like Cadbury, were taken in locally. Gillian Robertson, daughter of David Robertson, head of the Humane Society of St. Lucie County, is taking care of Cadbury on a foster care basis until the dog is ready to be adopted on a permanent basis. Among other things, Cadbury has a salivary gland tumor that may need to be removed. It was apparent the animals received virtually no care medical care at Sanctuary Animal Refuge, Mr. Robertson said. "There were dogs with sores all over their bodies," Mr. Robertson said. Others suffered from mange and some had lost most of their hair, he said. Those types of problems don't occur overnight, Mr. Robertson said. People became aware of conditions that animal rescuers called deploring at the sanctuary after a dispute between those removing some of the dogs and cats, said Karen Taylor, animal control coordinator for St. Lucie County. When authorities responded, they found about 158 dogs and eight cats, she said. Many of the animals had open sores, mange and tumors and were suffering from malnourishment, she said. During the past week, animal rescue groups from all over the state, including Tampa, Naples and Vero Beach, and from as far away as Georgia, arrived to take some of the animals, she said. "You get a good feeling knowing they're going to get a better home," she said. Dr. Fox said that without the intervention, a critical point could have been reached in the near future where the animals were at risk of dying. One such dog, a six-month-old mixed breed, was named Hope. The dog was found in a small cage covered with feces, Shawn Hart, outreach coordinator, for the Humane Society, said in a press release. Hope lost most of its hair due to mange, had internal parasites and was suffering from malnourishment and an eye infection, Ms. Hart said. Mr. Robertson said a veterinarian is now caring for Hope. Authorities are investigating whether the situation merits criminal charges, Ms. Taylor said. Palena Dorsey, the owner of Sanctuary Animal Refuge, could not be reached for comment. Ms. Dorsey had previously run a similar facility in Clewiston. The Carlton Road property was previously the home of Dogs & Cats Forever, which moved to Selvitz Road and has no connection to Sanctuary Animal Refuge. About a dozen dogs were expected to be moved to Fort Pierce Westwood High School, where students in the veterinary program will help care for them, he said. The St. Lucie County Humane Society has started a fund to help provide continued care for the animals, such as Hope. Those who would like to donate to the "help us help Hope" fund can go to the Humane Society headquarters at 100 Savannah Road, Fort Pierce,
Humane Society of St. Lucie County Kindness Center Ground Breaking.
Staring "Hannah"
Ground Breaking Ceremony for the PSL Kindness center.
January 22nd 2011
As seen in the video above, special guest "Hannah" dug up the keys to the new Humane Society PSL Kindness Center. "Hannah" was specially trained by and represented The Animal Hospital of West Port St. Lucie, for this once in a life time opportunity. See additional photographs and full story on our facebook page for Amber Fox.
Girl Scout Troop #40253
Bronze Award Project
This Silver Buttonwood tree was donated by the city of Port Saint Lucie and planted by Taylor Harkins for completion of her bronze award project, the highest award a junior girl scout can earn.
Presented to:
The Animal Hospital of West Port St. Lucie
Port Saint Lucie, Florida
on this date of September 18, 2010
Dog survives being dragged 2 miles behind truck in Port St. Lucie, man arrested
By Tyler Treadway Updated Tuesday, December 15, 2009
PORT ST. LUCIE — A 31-year-old man was arrested about 10 a.m. Monday on animal cruelty charges for allegedly dragging a dog nearly 2 miles behind his pickup truck.According to Port St. Lucie Police Department reports, Napoleon Davis, who told police he was homeless and living with a brother in the 1500 block of Iffla Avenue, said he was taking the dog to the Humane Society of St. Lucie County because his relatives would no longer take care of it.Tom Nichols, public information officer with the Port St. Lucie Police Department, said the cab of Davis’ truck “was full of stuff, and rather than clean it up and put the dog up there where it belonged, he put it in the back (of the truck),” tying the dog to a post in the truck bed with a 15-foot leash.The dog, described as a small pit bull mix, apparently jumped out of the truck near Paar Drive and Darien Street and was dragged to the 3200 block of Rosser Boulevard, a distance of 1.9 miles, according to police.Nichols said two people tried to stop the truck, “but it just kept going” before another pair of passers-by managed to stop Davis.“The first people (who tried to stop the truck) called 911,” Nichols said, “and (Davis) called 911 once he stopped.”Nichols said Davis told police he didn’t know the dog had jumped out of the truck.Davis was being taken to the St. Lucie County Jail late Monday morning, Nichols said. The dog was taken to Animal Hospital of West Port St. Lucie.“She’s in pretty rough shape,” Dr. Leonard Fox, a veterinarian at the clinic, said of “Holly,” the name given to the dog because of the Christmas season. “She has road rash everywhere; and treating road rash is like treating a burn victim. You can’t stitch the wounds together. She’ll have to have her bandages changed every two to three days for a month.”Fox said the worst injuries were to the dog’s feet, which he said “look like ground beef.”“She was dragged so long on her back legs that what you might call her big toes were worn down to the bone,” Fox said, adding that at least three of the dogs toes will have to be amputated in surgery planned Tuesday.Fox said the dog weighs 42 pounds and is between a year and 18 months old.Treating the dog is expected to cost from $1,000 to $1,500, Fox said.David Robertson, operations manager at the Humane Society’s animal shelter in Fort Pierce, said that estimate “could be just the tip of the iceberg. She’s got some really horrific injuries.”Fox said his office will donate some of its services, and the Humane Society is dipping into its emergency fund money.“We’ll do whatever it takes,” Fox said. “She’s a good dog. She hasn’t given us a hard time, hasn’t tried to bite anyone, even with all the work we’ve been doing on her. I think she appreciates what we’re trying to do.”The Holly Fund has been set up by the Humane Society of St. Lucie County to help pay for medical treatment for the dog dragged nearly 2 miles Monday morning in Port St. Lucie.
To contribute, call (772) 461-0687.Also meet "Holly" on her facebook wall. Justice for Holly.
The staff at the animal hospital are pictured below working fast to ease the pain of "Holly"
Click on the above link to see first hand Dr. Fox and office manager Amanda stand up to the Planning and Zoning department to save the murals on the animal hospital exterior.
The pet's shown on these segments are available for adoption at the St. Lucie County Humane Society. Look for them and other available fur kids @
Call it an early Christmas present or call it fate. A stranger sees a dog hit by a car and rushes it to the hospital, paying for its care.
Serenity's a digger. Her owner, Debi Kelly, says, "We rigged it (the fence) up so she couldn't get out. So we thought."
Digging her way out of this fence and dashing into oncoming traffic. Kelly says, "She said I tried to swerve, but I still clipped her on the bottom of the car."
An SUV hit the dog. The young couple got out to check on her. Serenity's owner was distraught, "I was very upset watching the dog, and she was bleeding from her mouth and I felt so helpless that there was nothing I could do."
Bob Gaffney was on his way from a doctor's appointment. He saw the whole thing, "I beeped my horn to get the SUV to stop. I pulled over to the side of the road."
Without thinking he rushed her to the veterinary hospital. Serenity has a fractured vertebra in her back. Dr. Leonard Fox said he'd care for her, but it would cost. Gaffney says, "So, I threw down my American Express card and told him I'll pay for the whole thing."
$500 paid for by a complete stranger, just 23 days shy of Christmas. "This Christmas I got the best Christmas present of all and it didn't even have a bow. I mean, this angel walked out of nowhere. He didn't even know me. He hadn't even seen me before," says Kelly.
Gaffney says, "I don't give it a second thought, I never have. I have been like that all my life."
Right now, Serenity has a 60% chance of living. A chance she might never have had without Bob Gaffney, "You know what I think, it was fate."
The broken vertebra could have cut off blood supply to Serenity's tail, bowels, and bladder. Right now, Dr. Fox is waiting to see if it will heal on it's own. If it doesn't she could need a $5,000 surgery. That is something the family can't afford, but Bob Gaffney said he'd help pay for future care for the dog. An even further act of kindness.
Dr. Leonard Fox said he would also help the family out in anyway he could.
Pet care cut-backs
February 16, 2009 - 5:48 PM
Allison Bybee
We worry about our health, what about our pets? During these tough times, many are skipping out on needed pet care to make their ends meet.
Max the dog has a hurt back, Surgery and blood work are pricey. So, his owner decided to do the best with the money they have. Dr. Leonard Fox with the Animal Hospital of West Port St. Lucie says, "The owners elected to treat what it is, rather then what it might be."
It's a common decision heard at Dr. Fox's office. Dr. Fox says, "Some of them just don't really have the money to take care of their animals like they normally would have. It's kind of sad."
Dr. Fox says more and more people are cutting back on medications, x-rays, and surgeries. That has pushed Dr. Fox to do some daring deeds to save lives, "Honestly, I've been forced to do surgeries that I am not used to doing."
Many pet owners can't afford to see the specialists right now. So, Dr. Fox steps up. He says pet owners offer to put their pet down, but first he tries to help.
Not everyone is feeling the pinch. For the Woehls, no matter what they will treat their four furry friends. Jim Woehl says, "No it's not been tough. We're retired so we have money coming in and we live with in our means."
Dr. Fox says he helps pet owners with payment plans during these rough times.
