Tornado has acquired several important allies in Richmond since his world was slammed upside down last month. He could use some more.
The dog was found April 17 in Powellsville, N.C., one day after a powerful tornado killed 12 people in the small community and left more than 550 without homes.
Tornado was staying by the side of his human, who lay dead amid the wreckage of the twister. The dog's back was crushed in the twister, and he needed surgery and extended medical care that was not available in Powellsville in the disaster's aftermath.
That's when Ring Dog Rescue, a Richmond-based nonprofit devoted to helping pit bulls, entered the picture. Opie Taylor, the group's founder and president, got the pit bull mix to Richmond and into the hands of Dr. Roy F. Barnes at Virginia Veterinary Surgical Associates.
During four hours of difficult surgery on May 6, Barnes and his team inserted seven pins and two rods into the dog's back, cleaned out the bone fragments and did their best to repair extensive nerve damage in the area of the fracture.
From there, it was largely a matter of waiting and hoping while trying to keep Tornado as quiet and clean as possible to facilitate healing.
Two weeks after the surgery, Barnes smiled broadly Friday in an examining room at Virginia Veterinary's offices in Carytown as he checked on the progress of his star patient. Barnes and Taylor shook their heads frequently as they spoke about how the friendly, gentle, bright-eyed dog has repeatedly exceeded their hopes since the surgery.
"His mindset is kind of like Lance Armstrong getting back on the bike after cancer and winning the Tour de France," Barnes said. "He's got the will and the determination."
While Barnes and Taylor spoke, Tornado rolled on his side so a visitor could rub his tummy.
"He's got a wonderful disposition," said Taylor, who has collaborated with Barnes on dozens of rescue cases in recent years and who is keeping Tornado at her home during his recovery. "He's a happy little guy."
Little is known about Tornado's past, including his original name. Neighbors said he lived with a quiet, older man who mostly sat on his front porch with the dog faithfully by his side.
Now about 2 years old, Tornado weighs 37 pounds — up 4 pounds since he was brought to Richmond, but still relatively light by pit bull standards.
"He's definitely a mixed breed, but I'm not sure what," Barnes said.
Whatever breed he is, Tornado needs some more help. Ring Dog Rescue is accepting donations to help defray the costs of the $3,000 surgery, and the group also is looking to find the dog a permanent home once his recovery is complete.
What kind of dog will his new family get? Barnes said that when he first operated on Tornado, the odds did not appear to favor the dog regaining use of his hind legs and his bowel functions.
"I called him the day after surgery and told him Tornado was already up and trying to walk around," Taylor said.
The dog's left hind leg is already regaining muscle tone, and Barnes is now hopeful the right side will soon follow. Until then, Tornado is dragging the right leg, so the tip of the leg has been outfitted with a boot to prevent irritation.
Barnes said about 60 percent of the nerves in the area around the lumbar fracture were damaged, but there already is evidence of improvement on that front as well, inspiring confidence that Tornado will return to normal bowel function or something close to it.
The two rods protruding from Tornado's back are to be removed six weeks from now, and another four weeks after that, Barnes expects to have a good idea of the dog's long-term prospects and what someone looking to adopt him can expect.
But based on what he has already seen, Barnes feels Tornado has an active future awaiting him.
"He should live a normal, happy life," he said. "He's well on his way."
Anyone interested in adopting Tornado or helping Ring Dog Rescue with his expenses can call (804) 622-4200 or email ringdog@ringdogrescue.org.
(804) 649-6804
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