By CASEY RYAN VOCK
PLATTSBURGH — As a local search-and-rescue dog fights to save his career, his caretakers and community members are doing everything they can to help him.
Oakland, a 2-year-old German shepherd and a member of the Keeseville-based Champlain Valley Search and Rescue K9 Unit, recently suffered a severe tear to his right Achilles tendon while performing advanced obstacle training in the High Peaks.
Formed four years ago, the nonprofit organization specializes in searching for and rescuing lost, missing or deceased people within a 100-mile radius of Keeseville.
Operating at the national and international response level, the team members — most having experience in firefighting and emergency services — train their own dogs and assist the Department of Environmental Conservation and fire departments upon request.
TENDON PUNCTURED
"We use the High Peaks as our big training facility," said Shannon Bresett, co-founder of the nonprofit organization and Oakland's owner and trainer.
"We were doing some scent work, and he went down a rock scramble."
Somewhere along the way, Oakland's Achilles tendon was badly punctured.
"He had just been certified as an air-scent dog before the injury," Shannon said.
She and her husband, Chris, a fellow dog handler and co-founder of the team, realized that Oakland was not putting any pressure on his leg, but they did not know the severity of the injury.
The Bresetts took Oakland to Dr. Paul Howard at the Vermont Veterinary Surgical Center in Colchester, who at first said it was a fairly routine procedure to repair the tendon.
"But there was nothing left to attach after removing all of the shredded material. (Howard) said he would have to do some research because he had never seen something this bad."
SPECIAL SURGERY
The vet concluded the injury required an advanced surgery involving stem cells, which have the ability to renew themselves.
In the first step of what could become a breakthrough surgery, stem cells were removed from Oakland's abdomen and sent to Vet Stem, a California-based firm specializing in veterinary regenerative cell medicine. Scientists there used the stem cells to create a polymer strand, which was sent back to Oakland's doctors.
In the next step, a thin piece of muscle was cut from Oakland's thigh and moved down to his lower leg — where the tendon would be — and twisted into a tubular shape to resemble a tendon.
The piece of muscle was then built up with the polymer and sutured to Oakland's lower leg bone.
"It's an experimental surgery," Shannon said, adding that the process is being documented for future scholarly research. "It hasn't been done to a dog before. It's normally done on race horses. If (the muscle) takes to the bone, the doctors don't see any reason he wouldn't make a 100-percent recovery."
MUST STAY IN KENNEL
But now, the Bresetts said, it is a waiting game and the start of a long rehabilitation process.
A line of staples runs the length of Oakland's leg, and he is missing large patches of fur where he was shaved before his surgeries.
"He is on 1-percent mobility for the next month," Shannon said. "I literally take him out of his kennel so he can eat and go to the bathroom, and then he goes right back in."
COSTLY
Original estimates for repairing Oakland's tendon ranged from $2,000 to $5,000, but the procedures have so far amounted to more than $9,000.
Several fundraisers have been held to help offset the costs of Oakland's medical bills, including one held by Greg and Deidre Berman at Canine Adventures in Plattsburgh.
While Oakland could not leave the house for the event, fellow rescue dogs Easton, a young brown lab in training, and his sister Inca, a trained cadaver- and water-recovery dog, were on hand to meet those interested in making a tax-deductible donation.
So far, the Bresetts have raised more than $5,000 for Oakland.
"There are still some good people up here in the North Country," Chris said. "We are working on a dinner to thank all of the people who have donated to Oakland's cause. We want to give back to everyone who has helped us so far."
Despite the support, it is still possible that Oakland will not be able to serve as an air-scent canine — a duty he performs with great skill.
"He will just find anyone," Chris said.
But the Bresetts are hopeful that, after he is healed, Oakland will at least be able to use all four legs.
"As long as he has a great quality of life, I am happy," Shannon said. "But I would miss him as a partner."
