Community donations fund Ann's surgery

By Cara Spoto
Journal staff

A local service dog has a new lease on life, thanks to community members who donated more than $6,000 to help pay for a life-improving surgery.

On Sept. 25, the Stevens Point Journal printed a story about the popular assistance dog, Ann, and her owner, Bonita Swan. Ann helps Swan, who is disabled, with household tasks and makes it easier for Swan to live independently. Ann was suffering from joint pain that severely reduced her activity.

At the time, it was believed the pain was caused by a hip condition that would cost $4,000 to repair -- money Swan didn't have. So, she asked for donations and collected a total of $6,121 to pay for hip replacement surgery for the golden retriever.

When Swan took Ann to Madison for a pre-surgery work-up last week, however, doctors discovered the dog's discomfort and limited movement were caused not by hip dysplasia -- a condition she still has -- but a torn knee ligament.

Surgery to repair the ligament was completed Tuesday at Packerland Veterinary Clinic. Ann returned home Wednesday.

Under strict rules not to move much, Ann is recuperating nicely, Swan said. She's not happy about having to spend the night in a kennel, though, because she's used to sleeping with Swan.

"Neither of us got any sleep last night," Swan said. "She cried because she wanted to be with me."

The surgery to repair the ligament cost roughly $2,900, but Ann still must undergo five weeks of physical therapy in Green Bay, at a cost of $950. When the bones have healed, Swan will then have to exercise Ann for another nine weeks before she is back to normal.

Swan has about $2,150 left in donations. She said she will hold on to that money during Ann's recovery in case there are any other expenses or complications. She plans to donate whatever money is leftover to the Portage County Humane Society and Power Paws Assistance Dogs Inc., the nonprofit group that trained Ann.

The biggest risk Swan faces is Ann tearing her other ligament, something that happens with one in three dogs that have the surgery. Thankfully, the doctor who performed Ann's surgery is fairly confident Ann will avoid that pitfall because she is so well behaved.

Swan started raising money for Ann in mid-September. Since then, she has seen an outpouring of support. A local woman paid her $126 balance at Community Animal Hospital, most of which was for medication and other items. The hospital treats Ann, as well as two other service dogs, for free. And Swan has received free trips to Madison from Ambu Lift for Ann's appointments. The company has pledged to drive Ann back and forth to Green Bay for her therapy.

Larry Lee, owner of Ambu Lift, said Friday that helping Ann just seemed like the right thing to do.

"She has actually gotten very attached to drivers, and the drivers to her, too," Lee said. "It's hard not to like that dog."

Swan said the level of support she has received shows that the community of Stevens Point cares not just for its animals but for its senior citizens.

"Please thank with my whole heart, every one who donated towards Ann's surgery. I never could have done it without their help," she said.