Last week I drove out the back road of my farm across my neighbor's place towards the highway, a route I rarely take.  I don't even remember why I was driving that way but I noticed a black dog along the road that ran away as I approached.  I immediately noticed he was injured.  I talked to my neighbor about it and he recalled seeing a pickup stopped in his orchard and we suspected the dog was dropped off.  I went back home and got some food for the dog (he had ready access to water so that was not an issue) and then returned home and called Animal Control after hours and explained the situation. I fed the dog again the next morning and he continued to devour the food.  I called Animal Control again and they confirmed they had my call in as "urgent" and that they would get out when they could.  I'm in a remote part of the county and they just don't have the staffing to serve our area effectively.  By mid-day I decided to post the dog's photo on Facebook in case anybody local recognized the dog.  I had assumed the dog had some recent surgery based on being shaved on the left hip but that apparently is not the case, just some mystery.  After my Facebook post, things happened pretty quickly through a number of friends contacting friends, etc.  I became friends with Jamie who works as a volunteer as at a rescue operation and is a local resident here and we have several mutual friends.  She arranged for another volunteer to meet me and pick up the dog and later took possession and took him to a vet.  The dog was chipped and it was discovered his name is Bruno.  Bruno's owner was contacted and provided clear evidence that he is a dispicable person, changing his story and expressing no concern for Bruno.  The owner is from Oakland which is over an hour from here.

Bruno's story was on the Sacramento news last night and it can be read/watched at http://on.news10.net/1LnSnMX

Jamie has had a GoFundMe fundraiser established prior to taking on Bruno and is still in need of funds to pay for Bruno's surgery (amputation) and recovery.  She works as a volunteer at this non-profit organization but is still talking of putting the rest of the surgery charges on her personal credit card so that she can get him taken care of.  I've already donated but would like to do more and would like to try a fig tree raffle.  I don't know how this will work out but want to give it a try.  Here is how it will work:

1. Open to ConUSA addresses only.
2. Winner to have choice of one of the following: Black Madeira grafted onto Brown Turkey, ready to ship now; Planera (a favorite of M. Pons) ready to ship in August; De la Reina (another M. Pons favorite) ready to ship in August.  Shipping by USPS Priority Mail paid by me.  The Black Madeira is in a pot that is 4" square x 10" tall while the other trees are in pots 3" square x 8" tall.
3. Each "ticket" to the raffle requires a donation of $10 to http://www.gofundme.com/brunos2ndchance or http://www.gofundme.com/kritterkamprescue (new 6/23) and donor to email copy of confirmation to me at harveyc@gmail.com  Donors can make multiple "ticket" purchases (i.e., $50 donation result sin 5 tickets).
4. No formal tickets will be sent.  I will not make list of donor's public except that I will announce the winner here.  You must trust me for being impartial.  I will assign a number to each "ticket" purchased and then print out a piece of paper with each ticket number on it and then have my son draw once of these pieces of paper from a hat, bowl, or bag, or whatever fits me mood at the moment (maybe a 1 gallon blow mold pot?).  Ticket will probably be drawn June 24th at 7:30PM (Pacific) but may be extended by up to 4 days if ticket sales are continuing at a good pace.
5. I reserve the right to modify this raffle but without lessening the benefit to ticket buyers (i.e., if you really surprise me, maybe I'll add prizes).

I have never been involved in any sort of animal rescue before but this has been a very heart-breaking and touching event for me and truly appreciate your support.  It's been great to see how Bruno's life is already improving a lot.  He loves his foster care provider and follows her everywhere she goes.

Thanks,

Harvey

Edits:
Clarify drawing date
Edit link to video which didn't work
See post #12 for addition of second place drawing
Added new link for targeted fundraising effort

What an awful story, but thankfully with a happy ending. It's my deepest wish that whoever hurt this poor boy has the same thing happen to them. On another note Harvey, you and your friend are awesome, amazing people for going out of your way to help this sweet boy, and just as those who do bad deserve it right back, those who do good in this world also deserve to get it back tenfold, and you will. Please keep us posted with any updates on this case.

-George

The Dog Whisperer said it best.
"Dogs live for today, they don't dwell on the past like we do."

His life is already better. His suffering is over.

Many a three-legged dog chase down a tennis ball with no trepidation or self-pity.
I've learned a lot about myself by witnessing it with my own two eyes.

Now come on, Planera!
Come to Papa!

Thanks, guys!

Donations have gone very well in just the first hour.  I've heard from some who do not wish to be entered into the raffle but just make a straight donation and that is great.  This makes the odds of winning even better for others.

I also just received word that Bruno's surgery is scheduled for Tuesday.  Because of the infection, the sooner the better.

How sweet of you. :-)

Thanks for the generous outpouring of support.  We've raised $570 so far with some of that being outright donations (no raffle entry) due to location or whatever.

Someone who watched the video asked me why my name wasn't mentioned.  Jamie told me she had mentioned "Mr. Correia" during the interview but it got edited out, but that's fine by me.  I just got Bruno introduced to some very nice folks and made some good friends while I was at it.

I have three throw away Cats that are as loving as can be.  One was found under a car by me in front of Petsmart  with his whiskers cut off  filthy dirty and his own flea circus and ear mite festival.  So dirty that I did not know what color he was.  Thought brown and yellow.   But with lovely blue eyes.  After flea bath  pamper bath and ear mite treatment   he turned out to be a smoke point siamese.  He was not much bigger than my hand.   He sleeps beside me every night for the last 4 years.   No. 2 was wild kitten found on jogging trail in my neighborhood and gifted to me wrapped in my friends tshirt.   No. 3 was found under a truck at Gator Ford.   Brought to me by another neighbor who said she had to find the best home ever for it.    Every day I read of such inhumane things done to the most helpless of gods creatures.   Latest was dog tied to railroad tracks and shot with gun because it was to gentle to fight (it  was a pit bull)  Somebody rescued it and they found the two thugs that did it and they will do time for dog fighting and animal cruelty.    Sorry Rui   my three adoptions give me good luck.  Come to Joycie   Planera   :)

Keep it up folks!!!  Okay, here's the deal, we are standing at around $700 now and if we exceed $1,000 I'll thrown in a second prize for a second drawing.  I only have one grafted Black Madeira that can get sent but can offer the same items to the second place bidder.  The first and possibly second place bidder can also chose from Col de Dame Gris for August shipment as well.

Thanks again, folks!

P.S. Don't forget to forward me the email confirmation you receive from GoFundMe.

What a touching story, that poor puppy!   Bruno’s good fortune to have had a chance encounter with someone of your awareness and kindness!   I hope his surgery is a big success and he ends up in a loving home.  
As a fellow dawg lover, I’m in.

Once a again, a reminder:

If you donate to the fundraiser at GoFundMe and want to be entered into the raffle, please forward the confirmation from GoFundMe to me at harveyc@gmail.com.  

GoFundMe will later send a second notice thanking you for your donation.  There is no need to send that.

There have been some anonymous donations made and I don't know if those were intended to be raffle entries or not since this fundraiser is also open to the general public.  Our raffle effort is just part of the overall effort.

Bruno made a visit to the vet this evening as the smell from his infected leg was getting to be very bad.  His surgery is taking place tomorrow.  I chatted with his foster caregiver some today and she is taking great care of Bruno!

Sorry, but have some bad news, folks....

Bruno went in for surgery late this morning.  But his blood count was critically low and they cannot operate on him.  Jamie, the rescue volunteer, called UC Davis and they can help with transfusion, etc. with the cost estimated at $2,500-$5,000.  I don't know yet what is going to happen, but wanted to give an update.  That's a pretty big range and I don't know that the rescue can handle that upper range.  I'll keep you posted....

EDIT: Jamie is on her way to UC Davis with Bruno.  For those that don't know, UC Davis is a top veterinary school.

Okay, I learned just a bit ago that Bruno has his own Facebook page now with already 417 likes.  See https://www.facebook.com/bruno2ndchance  I also was told that the KXTV video (the news report) has over 10,000 views.  Bruno is going in to Davis at 6pm.  As of a few minutes ago, Bruno was cuddled up on the floor with his foster mom.

One of our donors has made his third donation.  Yeah, he's one of us crazy fig guys.  Many have gone for a big sacrifice all at once.  Support of any kind is greatly appreciated!  We don't have enough to cover the medical expenses already incurred and what's expected tonight, but we should get there.  If we run over more than we need, that is definitely not a problem as Kritter Kamp Rescue typically has 90 animals a month.  Our Bruno is just special to me.

We're close enough to $1,000 that I will go ahead and add a second place drawing.  The second place winner can pick from the same things originally offered unless the grafted Black Madeira is already chosen.  I will make available a Red Lebanese (Marius' variety) available to either the 1st or 2nd place winner.

UC Davis didn't have an opening and the original vet decided to sew up his wound up today and treat him with antibiotics and wait until next week for him to get stronger and by then he hopes his blood count will be good enough for him to perform the surgery.  Bruno seems to be getting around great so he should be getting stronger.  There are still more expenses than originally estimated because of the additional treatments but it should be less than what was estimated with treatment at UC Davis.  The TV reporter that did the story on Saturday is off until Thursday and she plans to do a follow-up story so that may bring some more donations that would cover the rest of the expenses.

bumpin for Bruno

Thanks, Jeff.  If I remember correctly the first raffle will be tonight.  It's been a crazy week so I might be confused but I think I got it correct.

So far, from the fig collecting community we have collection donations of $1,060 that I am aware of with 85 raffle "tickets" issued (some people donated from areas I can't ship to and some asked for no tickets, just donation).

If you have made a donation and have not emailed you GoFundMe confirmation to me, please do so right away!  Forward the confirmation to harveyc@gmail.com

There is still time to donate to either of the GoFundMe accounts:
http://www.gofundme.com/brunos2ndchance
http://www.gofundme.com/kritterkamprescue (I can't remember, either $2,200 or $2,700 was in this account for prior dog rescue)

Thanks again!

I asked our Yellow Lab, "Yella", to draw just one ticket but she did not cooperate...

 

Okay, Yella talked my dad, age 90, into drawing the winning ticket....

 

#1008.... Soni  :)

I am going to hold the second place drawing on Sunday at 7:30pm.  Soni's winning ticket stays out of the bowl and all remaining 84 tickets remain plus any further ticket purchases.

We may have enough raised for Kritter Kamp Rescue, but we don't really know since he is having to have on-going antibiotic treatment and blood tests until his blood count is good enough for the amputation surgery which will hopefully take place next week.  Bruno also falls over quite a bit so they plan to get a "wheelchair" for him to support the front part of his body until at least he recuperates and gets used to walking around with only one front leg.  The rescue can always use any excess funds as they handle approximately 90 animals a month (many saved from the pound and held until they can be adopted).

Thanks again, everybody!

I have not heard from Soni yet, will message her another way.

After midnight last night I heard that Bruno was not doing well.  His leg was very swollen and he seemed less active.  The rescue volunteer contacted the vet who was concerned that Bruno might be in septic shock but decided that was not the case this morning when he made his examination.  Still, he said that he could not help Bruno further so the rescue is now working to get him admitted to UC Davis (waiting for records from vet and lab to be submitted).  He will probably be admitted under an emergency situation which will increase the cost.  I was holding off on the update as I had hoped to know more by now.

The rescue foster "mom" says that Bruno is still a happy dog in good spirits.  She shared photos and a video of him that showed him to be a silly and happy dog.  They are doing all they can for him and his good spirits should improve his chances of recovery.

Soni didn't think she would ever win so she wasn't checking.... :)  She chose a De la Reina.  This leaves all of the choices also available to the winner of the drawing being held Sunday evening.

Jamie of the Kritter Kamp Rescue is still waiting to hear from UC Davis so that Bruno can be brought in.  She's prepared to use her personal credit card for any expenses not covered by our fundraising efforts so far.  I hope that's not necessary, of course.

Greg Luchak from Arkansas won tonight's drawing.

Bruno has changed hands to a new rescue entity called Paws Crossed Rescue which is being formed by Jamie, the lady I was put in contact with (friend of a friend).  It's complicated, but nothing has changed about the care being given to Bruno.  She is still waiting for a call from UC Davis to get him admitted but Bruno seems stable.  Although he has swelling due to infection, he does not have a fever, has new tissue growth, and remains active and in good spirits.  The foster care provider shared photos of him with me yesterday.

Thanks again,

Harvey

Hopefully he is stable enough for the surgery soon.

Thanks for doing this Harvey.  Looking forward to the new cultivar.

I don't understand exactly what is going on but UC Davis apparently never called the rescue volunteer and, at this point, they believe he is getting better and will go in tomorrow for a blood test in hopes the vet can perform the surgery.

Bruno is settling into his new home well.  I believe it is pretty certain that the foster caregiver will adopt Bruno once he is recovered.  She told me last night that Bruno is a really sweet guy and was being extra nice to her after she fell.  He also had been aggressive towards other dogs that came near him while he was eating but he seems to have got over that.  I imagine he now realizes he doesn't need to worry about food being available for him.

The current active site for Bruno's fundraiser is at http://www.gofundme.com/brunos2ndchance where a photo was posted today. He looks sort of small in that photo but he is a big dog.  The caregiver said he weighed 70 pounds when she got him and he's had access to food continuously since then.