Puppy with injured leg gets help from Firehouse Animal Health Centers through Statesman Season for Caring

Three months ago, 11-year-old Lamar Batts was taking his puppy Versace out to the bathroom in the middle of the night and dropped him.

Versace, a long-haired Chihuahua mix, broke one of his front legs near the shoulder. Batts' mom, Caitlin Coker, took Versace to a veterinarian and was told Versace needed a $3,500 surgery.

That wasn't anything Coker could afford. She and her three boys had taken in her grandmother, Diana Sneed, and cousins Jalija, 9, and Seraiyah, 5, in July after their East Austin home burned down.

In November, Coker was able to take Versace and his brother, Chi-Chi, for a checkup and a look at Versace's leg at Firehouse Animal Health Center in Round Rock.

All five of the Firehouse Animal Health Center locations have donated $10,000 worth of veterinary care to Statesman Season for Caring featured families. This year, they will be caring for Coker's two dogs, as well as dogs Tookie, Leyla and Venus from the Gaston-Ellis family; Cheryl Selby's dog, Freddy; the Riveras' dog, Bella, and cat, Elijah; and Judy Silva's dog, JJ.

This is the fifth year Firehouse Animal Health Centers has contributed $10,000 of care to the Statesman program, which helps featured families nominated by local nonprofit organizations, as well as hundreds of other families throughout Central Texas served by these nonprofits.

Inside the program: How to help families through the Statesman Season for Caring Program

“We give because pets bring joy to their humans and offer support during tough times. That's what draws us to Season for Caring each year,” said Adan Davila, hospital manager at Firehouse Belterra near Dripping Springs.

Coker had a long list of things she was concerned about with her dogs. For Versace, who is 7 months old, she was worried about his foot, which causes him to limp sometimes, as well as a bump on his belly. On 2-year-old Chi-Chi, she was concerned about whether he had lasting effects from parvo, as well as stinky breath. She also wanted to talk about flea prevention.

Dr. Sean Quintana examined both dogs, gave them their routine vaccines and heartworm prevention and took X-rays of Versace's leg.

There was good news all around. Versace's foot is healing on its own, and surgery to straighten it is no longer necessary.

"That makes me feel better," Coker said.

Give now: Donate to Statesman Season for Caring

She said she initially had considered giving up Versace to someone who could afford the surgery, but she said that "no one would take him. In my mind, God is saying hold onto him and help him."

She has noticed that Versace now can run as fast as Chi-Chi and doesn't seem to let the leg slow him down. They will just need to watch for arthritis in that leg as he ages and treat that if it happens.

Firehouse also will schedule Versace to get neutered.

Chi-Chi didn't need any oral care, but Quintana offered advice about what kind of treats she could give him to help get rid of the funky breath.

They left with medication for flea prevention, as well as some new balls from Firehouse.

"Thank you all so much," Coker said to the staff after getting all the good news.

It was a relief to Coker, who is now the main caregiver for her sons, her two cousins and their grandmother.

"I'm only 30, and taking care of all six of them is hard," she said. Meals on Wheels Central Texas, the nonprofit that nominated them to Season for Caring, has helped a lot, Coker said.

About the Sneed family: Season for Caring, Diana Sneed: Grandma rebuilding after house burned down

The Sneed family also needs help with rent and utilities; an attorney to help advise on rebuilding the house; a sofa (preferably red); window blinds and curtains; a washer and dryer; a laptop; and gift cards for H-E-B, Target and Walmart.

To find out more about the Sneed family or to fulfill an item on their wish list, contact Meals on Wheels Central Texas at 512-476-6325 or mealsonwheelscentraltexas.org. Their online wish list is available on Amazon and Walmart.

Donate to Statesman Season for Caring

Now through Christmas, the Sheth family is matching up to $500,000 in donations.

Find out more about Season for Caring, read the stories of the featured families and make a donation at statesman.com/seasonforcaring. You also can find a coupon and mail in a donation on Page 2B.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Statesman Season for Caring, Firehouse Animal Health Centers give $10,000 in veterinary care