Liel

     

This boy had a owner and lived in a apartment. One day, the owner had a fight in his home and the dog was scared so went onto the balcony to hide. As the fight became larger the dog jumped from the balcony out of fear. He fell five floors.

When the owner found Liel, he couldn’t walk. He was unable to move. So the owner left him on the street to fend for himself. Shopkeepers watched over him for a few months, feeding him scraps as he learned how to walk with his injuries. Liel was rummaging through rubbish for food and dodging in and out of traffic. He was living on a dangerous road in pain. Getting him into a car was a challenge – one of the local shopkeepers who had built up a bond by feeding him helped with this.

The vet said Liel had several fractures in his hip and femur. Because of the length of time he was left on the street, the fractures had started to heal, meaning surgery will be difficult, but it is a necessity.

Liel was also seriously underweight and malnourished. Pictures don’t emphasise how skinny and fragile he was. His fur had thick matts that needed shaving. His skin was flaky, and he was infested with ticks and fleas. This boy was really let down by the person who was supposed to love him.

Liel has had initial surgery to help his broken hip, and once he’s recovered and is able to bear weight on that leg, he’ll have further surgery on the malunion fracture. He is expected to remain in medical boarding for some time.

Update 7 Feb 2025:

Liel has landed in the UK! Over the past two days, he made the long journey to his foster home near London to await further veterinary treatment.

He spent some time exploring the garden and meeting with his three new doggy housemates before catching up on some much-needed sleep.

Update 28 Feb 2025:

Liel’s foster mum reports that he’s settling in well with his new brother and sisters. He’s experiencing so many new things – toys, rain, cheese, his first ever pig ear… He’s fascinated by his reflection in the mirror, and he loves to watch the birds in the garden. The vet gave him top marks for good behaviour 😁
 
A huge thank you to everyone who’s donated towards his journey so far! 
 
While Liel’s foster family covers his day-to-day costs, he has ongoing veterinary needs that the rescue may need to help with in the future. An anonymous donor has kindly offered to match all funds raised towards Liel’s future treatment. We will update further once he’s been assessed by an orthopaedic specialist – this will happen once he’s fully settled in. Liel is currently receiving pain relief and gentle exercise to build up his muscles.
 
Update 4 July 2025:
 
Liel has now been assessed by the orthopaedic team at a specialist referral veterinary hospital. Luckily, he is a candidate for surgery. He’ll need two operations – the first to realign his femur and fit his kneecap back into place, and the second (once he’s recovered from the first op) to fix his hip. If he can build up enough muscle, he’ll have a total hip replacement (the best option), but if his bad leg remains too weak, he’ll have some bone spurs tidied up in order to reduce any pain. Between the two operations, he’ll need extensive physio to help with his movement. Liel’s foster family is committed to his long-term care, and in between veterinary appointments, he’s enjoying his new life with his fur-brother and sisters. 
 
Update 31 July 2025:
 
Liel has had his first big surgery in the UK! It went well, and now he’s back home with his foster family to start his rehab 💛

Liel’s metalwork after his first surgery. His femur was re-broken and realigned, and he got a new patellar groove to hold his kneecap in place.

Liel’s leg before surgery. His kneecap was on the side of his leg!

Liel at a hydrotherapy session in the UK.

Liel on a trip to the dog park.