The Chihuahua found abandoned in a dumpster in Santa Rosa Junior College Bech parking lot on Oct. 27 died Monday after surgery to repair her two broken legs.
Sonoma County Animal Services took the puppy into the county’s animal shelter where the staff named her Darla and estimated she was between 12 and 14 weeks old.
In a detailed message about the dog’s medical care, Dr. Daniel Famini, SRJC Vet Tech Program coordinator and veterinarian at SCAS, said a veterinary orthopedic surgeon offered to perform a special repair she required, which the shelter was not able to provide.
“Knowing that a small, young patient having an extensive procedure was higher risk, we took extra precautions and vigilance as we supported Darla through the bone plating procedure on both her front legs,” Famini said in his message to the school. “During the two-hour surgery, the extent of her unhealthy callousing was evident and this validated that a procedure of this level was required to save her legs.”
Famini said Darla went into cardiorespiratory arrest shortly after the procedure was completed. Doctors immediately started CPR and were successful in restarting her lungs and heart, but her cortical brain function never returned. She was placed in ICU level care when her vital signs appeared stable, but she died in her sleep a few hours after the surgery.
Famini expressed his gratitude to those involved in caring for Darla. “I, along with everyone who has been involved with Darla, am truly heartbroken at her outcome,” he said. “At the same time, I am sincerely grateful for everyone who provided Darla with these last two weeks of comfort and love.”
Darla’s tragic story touched those in the surrounding community, and coverage of her neglect and pain spanned worldwide. The Oak Leaf article reached news media in France, Spain, England, Germany and Mexico.
Simona R. Stefanescu, SRJC marketing and social media coordinator, said the college put out a plea on Facebook asking people for any information about the puppy and the post quickly reached more than 156,00 people, received more than 440 comments and more than 2,200 shares.
Facilities and operations groundskeeper Syda Khaleck found the puppy in the Bech Lot dumpster as he was throwing away garbage on the morning of Oct. 27.
Animal Control Officer Justin Foster filled a report and notified the Santa Rosa Junior College District Police on Oct. 28. Investigation on who threw the dog in the dumpster is still ongoing.
If you have any information regarding the case, call the SRJC District Police at 527-1000 (Case Number Reference JC15-0554).
Socoresident • Nov 13, 2015 at 4:52 pm
This is heart breaking. I am a little confused though. I had read in the Press Democrat that the dog was doing fine a couple days after it was found. It had two pink casts put on and I assumed it would probably have them on for some time to help heal. Now I am reading that the dog passed away during a complex surgery. Was this surgery necessary so soon? Also the dog was only 2lbs, wouldn’t it have been less risky for the surgery not to be performed? I know it would have been ideal for the dog to have 4 functioning legs, but I have met many dogs that adapt extremely well to less than 4. I am not a vet and I’m not trying to be snarky, I’m just confused by it all. I also find it in extremely poor taste to bash the vet hospital who did not take the dog in at first (this was in the first article about the dog). It would be wonderful if vets could take in any and all animals, but that just isn’t possible (both money and space wise). That is what the humane society and animal shelters are for. Unfortunately there are people who dump animals everyday. If anything positive comes from this, I hope that it brings awareness to the help animals need everywhere. Regardless, my heart breaks for this little chihuahua. May she RIP.