Sparta Needs Us – Urgent Care & Second Surgery to Save His Life

Sparta, my fiercely determined Belgian Malinois, was born with a severely deformed spine and has been paralyzed in his hind end since birth. Despite everything — no mobility, incontinence, chronic sores, and complications like paraphimosis — he has always found a way to live fully, loudly, and with undeniable spirit.

He recently underwent a double hind limb amputation on March 28th in what we hoped would be a major step forward in giving him relief, mobility, and freedom from constant wounds. But the surgery was not managed properly by the veterinary office that performed it.

Despite visible signs of infection both before and after the procedure, they proceeded without addressing it — and then sent him home with no plan for follow-up wound care or infection management. Days later, the surgical site ruptured, exposing deep tissue and sending us into a critical situation.

Now, we are facing the very real and urgent need for another amputation surgery, as the infection continues to spread through the remaining limb. We’ve started him on a stronger oral antibiotic and are working to get him on overnight IV antibiotics, but everything is happening fast. If the infection has spread too far, or if we can’t get ahead of it, we may have no choice but to let him go.

If — and we are hopeful — the infection is still local and controlled, we will still need to proceed with a second amputation as soon as possible. It is the only chance to stop the spread and give Sparta a shot at healing, adapting, and living his life with dignity and the fighting spirit he’s always shown.

This is an emergency.

We are out of time, and we are out of funds.

I’ve already spent over $7,000 on vet care, surgery, medication, and equipment to support him. I’ve done everything I can, but now I need help to get him through this next step — whatever it may be.

Sparta is still fighting. He still wants to be here. But I can’t get him through this alone.

Please donate if you can — no amount is too small. Sharing this fundraiser means the world, too.

Thank you for being here, for believing in him, and for helping me give him a chance at life.

– Rachael & Sparta