After dog was shot, St Louis County shelter rehabbing pup using massage therapy - KMOV.com

[Jon Kipper]

OLIVETTE, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Kenny is a 94-pound pup. He’s a bit loud, curious about video cameras and very loving.

He came to the St. Louis County animal shelter about a month ago with an injury to his left shoulder and leg.

When doctors checked the X-rays, there was clear damage.

“There’s your bullet fragment at the end,” said Dr. Douglas Pernikoff.

Dr. Douglas Pernikoff said they found a bullet in his shoulder area and got him into surgery, where they removed the bullet but had to amputate the left leg — and he has the scars to show it.

“Many shelters in this case, because of either funding, personnel or resources may have had to put him to sleep but our decision here is to kind of minimize those kind of events,” said Pernikoff.

Dr. Pernikoff, the veterinary medical director with the St. Louis County shelter, said while other shelters may have put Kenny down, since the county retook operations they’ve been trying to reduce euthanasia and put more pets up for adoption.

“Animals are incredibly resilient, they’re able to bounce back from things like this, especially when we’re able to give them a little bit of a helping hand,” said Taryn Leach.

Volunteer coordinator Taryn Leach added one therapy in particular has been especially useful — one that is rare in animal shelters.

Dog massage therapy — done for free by a volunteer, Elena.

“It’s going to help ease some of those knots, ease up those muscles a little bit,” said Leach.

Pernikoff and Leach said as Kenny learned to walk on three legs, he would overcompensate with other muscles, leading to soreness — especially since he lost a front leg.

“It’s a lot harder for him to move around. He’s got that thick weight in his breast, chest and head,” said Leach.

With the help of doctors and volunteers, including massages from Elena, Kenny is taking walks again.

“He turned out to be a dream from Step A to Step Z,” said Pernikoff.

And the clinic may be putting Elena, the dog masseuse, to work helping more dogs.

“It’s a great asset and we hope to use the volunteer more. She may not be aware of what we’re going to do with her,” said Pernikoff.

Kenny is now available for adoption.

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