05/22/2026
Please join us in extending deepest sympathies to Kayla on the passing of her beloved Hank yesterday, 05/20/2026. She adopted Hank 12/26/2021 (NOT from BOAD). In April 2022 she contacted BOAD for help as Hank was adopted to her with undisclosed medical issues. We immediately started fundraising. She had already taken care of his necessary dental surgery a couple weeks after adoption. His skin was awful, ear infections, and he walked terribly so we pretty much figured he had a torn CCL. We sent him to his regular vet for more skin scrapes to rule out mites, etc. All negative. Then it was off to Dr Galindo (fabulous ortho surgeon) for a consultation. Kayla had already had Hank to another ortho for xrays and they wanted to do bilateral TPLO (torn cruciate) surgery. Dr Galindo found on the xrays he took that, not only did Hank have torn cruciates in both legs but his knees were fused. If I remember correctly Hank was about 6 when he was adopted. He was also overweight but since he could barely walk it would be hard to lose weight. And, couldn't do surgery on legs until skin cleared up because of cross contamination. Our good friend Christine of SBAAG donated a bag of dry food and a case of wet food specifically for skin. Within 3 days his skin was much better. The first week of May 2022 we sent him to Animal Therapy Center for a consultation for swimming/PT for weight loss. The next day he could barely move so TPLO surgery was moved up with Dr Galindo. Only one leg at a time because now it would be a double surgery on each leg (TPLO & MPL). First surgery May 2022 and he had to be sent back to Dr Galindo because he refused to try to walk. A few days later and he was using it but now one leg worked normally and the other was straight where it wouldn't bend at the knee since it was fused. I believe his next surgery for the other leg was November 2022. That recovery period was much much better than the first! January 2023 and Hank was cleared for PT at Animal Therapy Center (there's a pic of him in hydrotherapy). Yes, Hank was muzzled outside of his home because all he knew was pain (legs, skin, dental needs) so snapping was his defense when someone wanted to touch him which would cause him pain. Kayla was vigilant and once he healed he was able to be around some people other than family without a muzzle. With your help we were able to cover most of the almost $15,000 in medical/surgical needs for Hank! It took 10 months to get him healthy and pain free but he was so worth it! He started to slow down a few months ago and 2 months ago testing revealed that his lymph nodes were swollen. Medication helped...until it didn't. Hank lived a beautiful life filled with love from Kayla, her family, and friends. He finally had the life he should have always had. Kayla is absolutely devastated by the loss of her best friend. We thank Kayla for giving Hank everything he needed and for trusting BOAD with the medical/surgical needs. Fly high Hank, you are loved and will always be remembered. Until we all meet again.....
