I got the first knock on my door this past Tuesday evening.  My neighbor had come to ask me if I knew a good vet. I told her that mine was great and asked what was wrong.  She told me that she thought their 6 month old chihuahua, Jewels, had a broken leg.  The day before, Monday, her oldest son said he had accidentally dropped her and then accidentally stepped on her leg.  It sounded odd (two things in a row...seemed strange right?) but I asked if I could come see the dog.  She agreed and off I went.  When I walked in their home, I saw her, this tiny gray pup on top of a couch, with an 18 mo. old child bouncing and falling up and down on the couch next to her.  Her paw was curled up and she wasn't using her leg.  I scooped her up and just cuddled with her for a bit as I examined her leg.  She was so sweet.  Didn't growl or bite or freak out.  I was gentle, but she was obviously hurt and in pain.  It was all I could do to leave her there, but I told them to come get my cat carrier and keep her in there on a towel so she didn't move around too much (ie...so your child doesn't fall on her and break more body parts) 

Wednesday evening I checked in on her as soon as I got home from work.  They had not taken her to a vet yet.  Two months behind on rent, and more excuses.  I told them she would likely need to be surrendered to the animal shelter so she'd have a chance to get treatment.  Then I looked at them, grandmother, mother, daughter, and the daughter's four children, and told them she MUST be taken to a vet by the next day, Thursday.  On top of that, if they were unable to do that and had to surrender her, please bring her to me and I will take care of her.  A few hours later, a second knock on my door and the sweet precious pup was placed in my arms.  They said they wanted to find a home for her brother too, as their oldest son admitted to throwing her over a fence on Monday. 

I took her to my vet the very next day where x-rays show a broken and displaced elbow. Her films have been sent to orthopedic surgeons in Tampa and we will go back to our vet on Tuesday to see what, if anything, can be done surgically.  We have now renamed her Piper as it suits her personality.  She's a plucky little pup, all 4 lbs of her.  Right now she is hopping around happily on 3 legs.  The vet gave her some pain meds in order to do the x-rays, but told me she didn't want to overwhelm her little kidneys.  I can assure you, the vet was very angry.  She said the break was an extremely painful one and was so disappointed that Piper didn't have access to treatment/pain meds when it happened. 

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But now, Piper seems really happy, and wow what a snuggler!  She sleeps all night on the bed next to my pillow.  I've never had a dog that was so in love with being cuddled before.  My husband was sure we wouldn't be keeping her...just fix her up and find a good home.  Yesterday though, he spent hours holding her and helped us decide on a name.  She's definitely a part of our family at this point.  Our 11 lb Toy Australian Shepherd, Cody, and our three cats have welcomed her with open paws as well.  Financially, I am over $300 in right now and that amount is sure to grow, starting with her follow-up visit on Tuesday when she'll receive her vaccinations and hopefully news from the surgery team in Tampa.  My vet warned me that it was a tough break and surgically might not be fixable.  That would mean she would remain on three legs with the 4th for balance unless she started to have issues and it needed to be amputated.  I am searching for vets in the area (Central Florida) that have some sort of fund to help or would agree to donate services in the event she needs surgery.  My vet is a small-town country vet and does not do orthopedic surgery.  I would love any advice or direction in that regard.  Thank you!