A name like Chocolate may not be sweet enough for this dog.
The Washington State University team in Pullman that examined the dog with two broken front legs Thursday was amazed by the same overwhelmingly friendly demeanor that has melted the hearts of Tri-Citians.
"The irony is ... despite this dog being in a lot of pain, he's very happy and even playful," said Darin Watkins, spokesman for WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine.
The 18-month-old Chesapeake Bay retriever broke his legs about six months ago, probably from being hit by a car. He didn't receive any veterinary care until now because he was abandoned in the country north of Pasco.
Dr. Steve Martinez, an associate professor of veterinary clinical sciences, planned to operate on one or both of Chocolate's broken legs today.
Martinez's goal is that Chocolate will be able to support himself with both of his front legs and have some range of movement in his elbows. But his broken bones built up calcium deposits, and the bones and joints have fused in improper positions, sometimes even backward, Martinez said.
He won't know until he's operating exactly what will work. Another option will be to accept that Chocolate won't be able to use his elbows and to fuse the bones so his front legs don't bend.
Then Chocolate would be able to walk by moving his shoulders and swinging his legs out. But because both legs are so messed up it probably wouldn't make sense to focus on rebuilding one while amputating the other, Martinez said.
Watkins said Chocolate's enthusiasm encouraged Martinez in planning the ambitious surgery and rehabilitation. If a dog doesn't have the will to live, it couldn't go through such a demanding process, Watkins said.
One trick to the rehabilitation may be that Chocolate has trained himself not to put pressure on his legs when he feels pain. But in rehab he'll have to be trained to overcome that hesitancy.
"This dog is remarkable," Watkins said. "He's figured out how to walk without really using much of his front legs at all. ... (Martinez) described it as a T-Rex."
A new underwater treadmill, donated to the university in the last month, will play a role in the rehabilitation.
At one point as Chocolate was being helped along Thursday, he dropped the yellow squishy ball that has been his companion since his abandonment. Even though he was in a harness, he squirmed until he could grab the ball again.
"He was like, 'I don't hurt anymore. Let's go play with the ball,' " Watkins said. "How do you tell a dog to slow down, both of your legs are broken?"
Such enthusiasm is common in Chesapeake Bay retrievers, and the adaptability of dogs in general is another trait that has served him well, Martinez said.
Chocolate's friendliness has made him a popular dog since Sonia Ayala of Pasco picked him up and took him home last month. When word got out that she didn't have the money to take him to the vet, the community responded with offers to help.
Meadow Hills Veterinary Clinic set up an account to receive donations for his veterinary costs. The clinic posts updates on his progress to its website, www.mhvc.net.
The first day Chocolate's story was on the site, it received 500 hits, said Brian Conrad, practice manager for Meadow Hills. The site typically receives only 1,000 hits in a year, he said.
Chocolate has received other support besides donations. Judy Devine-Geuther stopped by the vet clinic to drop off a collar and a voucher for a matching dog tag for him. And Bill Stokes of Kennewick donated transportation to Pullman, driving Chocolate there in his SUV and hitting a blizzard on his return trip.
Ayala said she's received about 150 calls from people contacting her to offer help or to thank her. She said she no longer can return all the calls because there have been so many, but she's grateful for the support.
Eventually, Chocolate will need a new home, and Meadow Hills has agreed to help find a suitable owner from among those who have offered to adopt him.
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