Fight against adoptive dog’s leg amputation resolved with adoption – NBC Boston

A Boston woman and a pet rescue organization have agreed to a settlement that will allow her to adopt a dog named Kirklin and decide her medical future.

As NBC10 investigators told you in January, Michelle Begovic was fostering the dog and took K9 Last Hope Rescue in court to prevent his leg from being amputated. The organization said the procedure was necessary for the animal’s long-term health.

But Kirklin now has a forever home and could stay on all fours if he continues to show progress in his injury recovery.

“Honestly, a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders,” Begovic said from his Jamaica Plain apartment. “It was the solution I was hoping for and it’s just a relief to have it in the family.”

When we first visited Kirklin in January, he certainly came across as a healthy dog ​​when walking around the neighborhood or struggling with another dog in the yard.

However, it was a different story last summer when the dog broke his wrist while out for a walk.

A foster parent and a pet rescue group are in court to determine who will decide a dog’s medical future.

A metal plate was put in place during the surgery to help the bone heal. Kirklin’s recovery did not go as planned.

The plaque moved, causing swelling and infection. Even months after the operation, Kirklin continued to walk with a significant limp.

The Last Hope K9 Rescue medical team determined that amputation was the best option for the dog’s future.

However, Begovic took it upon herself to get a second opinion from other vets. Before something as drastic as an amputation, she wanted to have the plaque surgically removed to see if that allowed the leg to heal completely.

Begovic hired a lawyer, Samantha Kemp, to take the rescue organization to court and become the owner of Kirklin.

Through mediation, the two sides recently agreed to allow Begovic to legally adopt Kirklin, about a year after she first took him into her home as an adoptive dog.

“I think everyone in the situation wanted the best,” Kemp said. “It was the best possible result.”

Last Hope K9 Rescue told us that it was an entirely volunteer-run rescue and they were eager to focus 100% on their mission.

The organization breeds an average of 25 dogs per week from the South and recently adopted its 10,000^and dog since its creation in 2012.

Last Hope K9 said dogs often need medical attention before they are ready for adoption. In 2021, the organization spent over $500,000 on medical expenses.

“We are grateful to our donors, sponsors and volunteers who dedicate their time and resources 365 days a year to ensure that we can continue to operate at the level at which we hold ourselves,” said Board Chair, Erin Bascom, in a written statement. “We look forward to another year of many rescued dogs and completed families.”

With Kirklin chewing on a rawhide nearby, Begovic said she was grateful to have a happy solution to the canine conundrum.

“I feel so much joy and relief. To be able to officially adopt him is amazing,” she said.

Ryan Kath can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter Where log in on Facebook.