April 24, 2008

ANDOVER, N.J. -- It is hard enough for stray dogs to live on the streets of New York City, but one dog had her luck pushed –- when she became paralyzed after being hit by a car.

It happened on Thanksgiving Eve 2007, the stray dog, nicknamed Ellie, was struck on Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive in New York City.

In a twist of serendipity, the accident placed the stray dog, estimated to be about five years old, at the right place and time to meet Beth Mersten.

"We are driving in New York City, took a bunch of wrong turns -- thanks to our GPS, that I put the wrong address in," said Mersten, board member of Shelter Showcase, who was lost trying to drive to the Animal Medical Center.

Mersten and another board member, David Cruz, came across the accident, where a police cruiser had responded to the scene and was keeping Ellie protected from oncoming traffic.

“She look lost, she just looked out in the air, into the distance just holding herself up in pain,” Mersten said. “She didn't know what to do. She was going into shock."

That's when Beth kicked into action.

"We all together loaded the dog onto the back of our SUV,” Mersten said. “(And) drove her to the closest emergency hospital."

During the drive, Mersten says Ellie kept edging closer to the front of the vehicle to be near Cruz and herself.

“We could see how Elle was getting worse and we were afraid she wouldn't even make it to the hospital,” Mersten said.

Ellie did make it -- and after getting treated -- she was in stable condition. But the prognosis was dim.

“Initially we were hopeful,” said Dr. Karin Dashfield. “However when we found she had no deep pain, we felt the chances of her walking again were very, very slim."

Ellie was suffering from Ellie suffered from a dislocated hip and bruises to her spine.

Dr. Karin Dashfield explains that -- at that point -- she felt that Ellie would survive but only as a wheelchair dog

The poster-child for canine happiness, Ellie makes it hard to believe, looking at her now, that a couple months ago she was expected to never walk again.

But the true survivor has walked away from tragedy with a new lease on life, honoring her namesake of Eleanor Roosevelt.

After she was found on FDR Drive, rescuers noted her gender and stoicism to aptly name her after the late First Lady of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

"Saving her life was worth it -- it was the right step,” Mersten said. “We could save her and even if her prognosis wasn't good, her prognosis for living, as Dr. Karin said to me that day, was 99 percent good."

Given those odds, Mersten asked Dashfield to do everything possible to help Ellie, including surgery. Dashfield agreed.

"We should give it a shot because she's a great dog and deserved every chance she can get,” said the vet.

After the surgery -- Dr. Dashfield and Mersten had an unexpected, pleasant surprise.

"It was a couple of weeks before she was able to do anything and the first thing she did that showed us she had nerve control was she started to wag just the very tip of her tail," Dashfield said.

And by Christmas Eve -- amazingly against all odds -- this cheerful dog took her very first step after the accident.

Now, Ellie has completely healed from the surgery and is getting used to walking and running again.

While Ellie’s life is just getting back to normal, Mersten says the dog’s outlook has always been the same.

"We couldn't have a conversation without kisses being constant -- I mean the number of kisses going on were just incredible,” Mersten said. “So it really showed me that she has the ability to bond and whoever gets to have this dog as their dog is going to get a very loving, cuddly dog."

Ellie has been staying at the Pequest Valley Kennel since the accident.

She has been receiving canine therapy and is now ready for a permanent home.

"I think her perfect home would be someone who is looking for a very special dog with a special story," Mersten said.

And the special story includes this little thing called fate since Beth accidentally found Ellie right after she was hit.

"Where we found her was absolutely no where where we were supposed to be,” Mersten said. “We were not supposed to anywhere near that location.

"We weren't supposed to be there but clearly we were meant to be there, that was really special.”

For more information on Ellie, or if you are interested in adopting her, visit sheltershowcase.com or e-mail Beth at beth@sheltershowcase.com.

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