FOX Health

Vets Install Pacemaker to Save Life of Search-and-Rescue Dog

A search-and-rescue dog named Molly, who has spent countless hours helping authorities, is now being rescued herself.

On Thursday, surgeons at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine installed a pacemaker in the chocolate Labrador retriever’s heart. The 5-year-old pup needed the surgery after being diagnosed with a complete electrical heart blockage.

Owners Allen and Alicia Brown were overwhelmed with offers to help pay the more than $2,500 in surgery, vet and travel costs after a newspaper reported on Molly’s need for the pacemaker.

A medical technology company donated the device, and a Kansas businessman offered to anonymously pay up to $2,000 of the cost.

“It surprises me greatly,” Allen Brown said. “There’s just been such an outpouring of public support for her.”

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12 Responses to “Vets Install Pacemaker to Save Life of Search-and-Rescue Dog”

Comment by Rose Neeb

I was very touched by this story. I am always so amazed at how far we have come to save our beloved animal friends. The rescue dogs are such amazing and intelligent animals and it is good to see that they are taken care of. So many people would just put the animal down. This story brought tears to my eyes.

 
Comment by Sheryl Jones

It’s very heartwarming to hear stories like this. This animal has serviced humans selflessly and now they’re giving something back. It’s a shame the whole world isn’t like this. We’d all be much happier. :)

 
Comment by Shellyann

BRAVO!!! What a wonderful story. I hope for a full recovery for the “unsinkable molly brown”

 
Comment by Mary Adams

So good to read a positive story!! I hope Molly makes a full recovery and is back “taking care of business” soon. Go Molly!

 
Comment by Cammy

Now these are the type of stories that I’d like to hear.
Good for them, and hope she makes a full recovery.

 
Comment by Diane

What a heartwarming story. As a resident of Columbia, I can attest to the fine veterinary school that we have here.

 
Comment by Mary

What a wonderful story. I hope Molly has a full recovery. Dogs give so much love and affection and it’s only right for humans to give that back to them. God Bless the Vet’s and all around the country.

Hang in there Molly. You have a lot of people praying for you. :)

 
Comment by Elizabeth Coderre

This over-worked dog should be allowed to RETIRE! Clearly, she is suffering from a broken heart, literally & figuratively. If rescue personnel, i.e., firefighters, police officers, etc., can suffer PTSD from repeated exposure to traumatizing events, how much more do you imagine an animal, who cannot express their experience, must suffer? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, I beseech you, let this amazing canine be a dog when this is over! She has done enough!

 
Comment by nancy l tennant

IT’S JUST SO NICE TO BE REASSURED OF KINDNESS AND READ SUCH A HEARTFELT STORY….MOLLY WILL BE IN OUR PRAYERS……THANK YOU TO ALL ANIMAL LOVERS IN MO…..

ANIMAL LOVERS FROM RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA…..

 
Comment by thenakedemperor

Touching story.

But the technology is hardly news. A pacemaker was implanted in a drug/patrol canine, from Lafayette if I recall, at LSU’s School of Vet Med back in ‘91 or ‘92 during my senior year there. And we weren’t the first at all.

Thanks to the donor, and the fine folks at Missou. Good luck old girl, you’re in fine hands.

 
Comment by Linda Larnerd

My 23-month old grandson will have his second pace-maker surgery (first was just after birth) at Stanford Children’s Hospital on June 3…same problem as Molly, his leads are needing replacement and to replace these and the pacemaker, his ribs will have to be broken too. Poor guy has no idea this is going to happen – which is good and bad at the same time. So good to hear that the rescue dog will be OK, and that someone donated both the pacemaker and money to correct the problem.

 
Comment by ALICIA

JUST WANTED THE CHANCE TO TELL EVERYONE THANKS FOR ALL THE GOOD WISHES FOR MOLLY. I AM OVERWHELMED AT FAR HER STORY HAS REACHED AND I HOPE IT CAN HELP OTHER DOGS. AS FOR MOLLY SHE IS DOING INCREDIBLY WELL. SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY AND WE WANT ONLY THE BEST FOR HER. AS FAR AS POST TRAUMATIC STRESS I ASSURE YOU SHE SHOWS NO SIGNS, SHE HAS MISSED 3 SEARCHES THIS MONTH SINCE BEING ILL AND SHE WAS VISABLY UPSET ABOUT NOT GETTING TO GO. OUR DOGS ARE TRAINED TO FIND HUMAN SCENT. THEY NORMALLY DON’T SEE ANY OF THE BODIES USUALLY IT IS OUR POOR FIREFIGHTERS THAT HAVE TO DO THE RECOVERY OR OUR DIVERS (THE DOGS ARE OFF THE BOAT WHEN THE DROWNINGS ARE RECOVERED) SO THE DOGS JUST THINK THEY ARE PLAYING AWESOME GAMES OF HIDE AND SEEK. THEY NEVER HAVE ACTED LIKE WHAT THEY DO IS WORK.. AS FOR MOLLY GOING BACK TO WORK THAT IS UP TO THE VETS AND HER. I HOPE SHE CAN BECAUSE SHE TRULY DOES LOVE PEOPLE AND WHAT SHE DOES. SHE THINKS GOD CREATED PEOPLE JUST TO PET AND PLAY WITH HER. THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND PRAYERS. OUR 5 YR OLD CAN’T READ BUT I READ THE CARDS WE’VE RECIEVED TO HER AND THEN SHE READS (IN HER OWN WORDS) THE CARDS TO MOLLY. THANKS ALICIA BROWN

 

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