The Leo Fund

The Story of the Leo Fund
by Skip Nizer

LEO - The inspiration and namesake of The Leo Fund which provides extraordinary medical care for special needs dogs. Leo came to GRREAT as a young, playful, healthy, loving dog--but with severe dysplasia in both hips. After much discussion, the Board of Directors decided to spend the money required to allow Leo to have a full, pain-free life.

About 1982, a number of individuals banded together to form an new humane organization in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. They were Golden lovers who had been doing rescue work informally on their own with no financial help. They couldn’t stand seeing so many Golden Retrievers being given to shelters and pounds or being destroyed. In June, 1986, they were being overwhelmed by the numbers of Goldens they were being asked to rescue, so they approached Potomac Valley Golden Retriever Club for help. The response was a positive offer of help and support from the club, and GRREAT (Golden Retriever Rescue, Education and Training) was born.

In 1998 GRREAT rescued 219 dogs. Some of the dogs were owner give-ups, meaning that, for whatever reason, the owners could not to keep their dogs. The reasons are too numerous to list here, but for most they signify a lack of commitment. Others have been dropped at shelters that don’t have room. Then there are the horror stories. In 1996, a pregnant female Golden was found chained to a tree, abandoned by her owners. Nearby was a second dog, a male. The owners had moved out two weeks before. The dogs’ only source of water had been rainwater and there had been no food. A distant neighbor saw the dogs and called the authorities. When the county determined the dogs were really abandoned, GRREAT was called. The transport volunteer cried as she picked up these dogs with lifeless eyes. As she drove to the vet she heard a noise and looked back.

What she saw was a starving dog giving birth. By the time they reached the vet 10 puppies had been born. Somehow 5 survived in addition to the mom and dad. Several months later, mom had regained her health. Her lifeless eyes now glowed and her tail wagged. She now knew love and returned it. All seven dogs were adopted into loving homes. This was a sad story with a happy ending but only one of dozens–sad and happy–that I could tell you.

A new type of situation arose in 1996, when an eight month old dog named Leo was turned over to GRREAT. He was happy, playful, loving—everything a Golden should be—except he was born with two defective hips. He could stand only for a short time without pain. In the past, GRREAT didn’t have the finances to help dogs like this and they were turned away.

Two questions arose: What could be done for him? Could we afford it?

Leo was diagnosed with hip dysplasia: in layman’s terms, both hip sockets were not deep enough for his leg bones to fit properly. Since he was young, corrective surgery would make his hips 98 to 99% correct. But there was the cost factor – $1,500 per hip.

How much could GRREAT afford to pay and what would the return be? It was a difficult decision for any nonprofit organization with limited reserves. The 99% effective repair rate said yes; his age said yes; his personality said yes. GRREAT said "We’ll find the money somehow." GRREAT was also fortunate to find a surgeon willing to give us a substantial discount.

In spite of the fear of setting a precedent, GRREAT leaped into the void. There would be two separate operations about 2 weeks apart and total rest, meaning a crate for months. The only time he was allowed to walk would be to relieve himself and he had to be leashed. My wife and I volunteered to do his long-term care. The first surgery showed us how serious it was. His leg was cut in 3 places, with 25 staples in each incision. Leo never whimpered while going in and out of the crate. The only sound he ever made through this whole ordeal was when first left alone after the first surgery. He was lonely and cried when left, so for a few nights we slept on the couch near him. As long as a hand touched him, he was happy. For about three weeks after the second operation, he walked with a towel under his belly to support him. Eight weeks later, off came the leash and he was slowly allowed to start being a normal dog. He is now walks and runs and is in a loving home. He even has his own Web site.

In concept, that was how the Leo Fund started. We still had to get the word out and get donations. An appeal appeared in the July/August 1996 newsletter, and very quickly a special lady, Jean Kahl, sent in our first donation.

The response to our initial plea has been wonderful, allowing us to continue affording surgeries on deserving dogs. The foster homes that volunteer for these special cases are tied up for months at a time, but all have found it very rewarding. In the past three years the Leo Fund has helped 15 dogs. Let me tell you about them.

In 1997, six dogs needed help from Leo’s Fund. Their stories are at left. Each of these dogs had the surgery it needed and each found a new home.

In 1998, the Leo Fund came to the rescue of four dogs. Their stories are in the box on the next page. Again four more successes. We managed to afford these surgeries because of the momentum of donations to the fund.

This year, 1999, has already been busy for the Leo Fund with six surgeries so far, as you can see from the column at the far right of the next page. This year isn’t over yet and there are two more surgeries being discussed. PJ is an 11 month old male that is currently being evaluated for possible hip problems. Dolly, who came from a local shelter, is a very sweet mix, spaniel/golden, with an all-Golden temperament, 4-8 years young, with hip dysplasia so severe that the two doctors seeing the x-rays refer to her as "that dog with the really bad hips."

I’m sure if you have read this far, you know we’re asking for help—either for GRREAT’s general fund or for the Leo Fund. GRREAT is entirely a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that survives only through the generous donations of its members and supporters of our cause. So please consider helping us in our endeavor to save these wonderful dogs. Just print out, complete and mail the donation form below. In helping us, here’s what you’ll get in return:

1. A tax write off for donation in excess of the $30 membership dues.

2. Annual membership in GRREAT and a bi-monthly newsletter, full of health tips, dog stories, advice, and pictures.

3. A good feeling knowing you’ve helped someone in need.

4. You can tell your friends, family, and your own dog that a GRREAT dog felt your helping hand.

Dear GRREAT:

I want to help dogs that need special surgery. Here's a donation to THE LEO FUND.

___Check here if you would like a donation acknowledgement.

NAME: _____________________________________

STREET: ____________________________________

CITY: ______________________________________

STATE: ___________ ZIP: ____________________

Mail to:
                    The LEO FUND
                    c/o GRREAT, Inc.
                    P.O. Box 3069
                    Falls Church, VA 22043-0069