Cranford Community Chips In For Dog With Broken Jaw

CRANFORD, NJ - A GoFundMe page has been set up offset the cost of surgery for a dog that came home from a grooming appointment last week with a broken jaw. According to Jennifer Fay Collins, Baboo, a seven-year-old male shih tzu, suffered a broken jaw after getting groomed at Petco in Clark on Sept 16.

Messages from Patch to Petco in Clark and to their corporate offices were not returned.

"To date I have spent approximately $3,000 on medical expenses and I expect at least another $2,000, which will include costs for a day time caretaker to come in and care for him while I am at work," Collins said.

Baboo joined the Collins family on Sept. 2 after her brother Frank, Baboo's owner, suffered a massive stroke.

"He has been hospitalized since then and he will be moving into a nursing home soon and we are not sure about his long-term prognosis," Collins said.

Collins said when she took in Baboo full-time he was in good health and injury free but was badly in need of a haircut and to get caught up on his vaccinations.

"In order to get him groomed at the Petco near my home he needed to get updates on a couple vaccines. I took him to get those vaccines at Petco on Saturday, Sept 15," Collins said. "I stayed with Baboo during that visit while a vet there did a wellness check on him as well."

He went back for a grooming appointment on Sept. 16, this time with Collins dropping off the dog and picking him up when the appointment was completed.

"When I picked him up something seemed off with the left side of his face. I pointed this out to the groomer who said his behavior might be due to the shots he received the day before," Collins said. "I took him home but it was obvious that something wasn't right so I brought him to another vet in the area that evening."

After two subsequent trips to the vet and a series of X-rays done under sedation, the diagnosis was a jaw fracture and the solution was surgery and it was performed on Wednesday, Sept. 19.

"The healing process would involve his muzzle being taped shut and feeding via feeding tube for six weeks. It's possible the feeding tube could be removed after a couple weeks but only if he can take water and liquified food orally for at least 14 days straight," Collins said. "His bandages are dirty now because he has been eating a little orally."

Collins says the family is focused on getting Baboo healthy.

"In addition to this physical stress , I can only imagine the stress he feels being separated from Frank," Collins said. "They are best buddies and I hope to take Baboo to him for a visit as soon as possible."

Collins said her husband set up the GoFundMe page to help defray the costs of care.

"I just wanted to help my brother in this uncertain time, and I fell for this little guy as soon as I picked him up," Collins said. "I feel terrible for what they both are going through."

As of this posting the drive had raised just under $1,500 and Collins expressed gratitude for the help.

"Thank you all for your donations and kind words. It really helps to know so many of you are rooting for him and my family," she said.

As for Petco, Collins said they have not acknowledged any responsibility.

(Photo courtesy of GoFundMe)

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