Problem is: The manpower and funding required for advanced diagnostics, intensive care, specialized consultations, and rigorous patient monitoring at a high-intake facility like BARC, make the promises of socialized medicine seem almost believable. But it stands to reason that neither can deliver.
Even if your report were accurate, it begs the question: Why was Keiko, among the multitude of impounded animals, singled out for exceptional treatment? I'm reminded of a dog I saw in late October 2009 at the BARC parking lot. She also had sustained severe head trauma and was crammed in a rusty cage, too small for her, stashed in the trunk of a car. She was still there two hours later. My inquiry about the situation at the front desk was received like a personal insult; finally I was told she would be euthanized as soon as a veterinarian was available. No Johns Hopkins-like histrionics for that suffering black dog. Now that's more like the BARC Houstonians know and despise.
Perhaps the reason Keiko was chosen for high drama went something like this: Here is a pretty little dog who requires heroic surgery. Throwing caution to the wind -- because what's one more death in the daily BARC culling of 75-plus -- Atencio et al. decided that shelter vets would do it, shunning private offers of accredited, free veterinary help. Why! To impress Mayor Parker? Our mayor, you may know, straddles the fence on animal issues. Far from taking decisive steps to extract BARC from the gutter in which Mayor White and his predecessors sunk it, like them she seems to be turning the persistent BARC nuisance over to petty bureaucrats and lackluster shelter personnel.
The level of care you claim Keiko was given cannot be explained in the context of BARC given its culture and financial constraints, except to create the illusion that BARC has come of age under new management. It backfired, Mr. Newport. This latest flop only confirms that BARC is plodding along the old path of negligence, poor judgement, cover ups, and overkill.
Atencio and his minions gave us the face --an unforgettable face-- of a BARC martyr; maybe Keiko did not die in vain.
Dolores Proubasta
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From: ARA - Animal Care
Date: Tue, Mar 30, 2010 at 10:23 AM
Subject: Your recent email to Mayor Annise Parker
Thank you for your recent email to Mayor Annise Parker. The information below summarizes the care administered by BARC and two private veterinarians to Keiko. Also attached to this email is a memorandum delivered to Mayor Parker on February 24, 2010, describing some of the specific progress made at BARC since the organizational turnaround was initiated.
On the afternoon of March 15, 2010, BARC Animal Control Officers delivered a female pit bull mix dog that had suffered severe head trauma. The animal was immediately assessed by BARC veterinary staff, who determined that the dog's eyes and optic nerve suffered irreparable damage as a result of the both the trauma and the amount of time elapsed prior to her arrival at BARC. The veterinarian administered pain medication to comfort and stabilize the animal, which the BARC staff named Keiko. She responded positively to the pain medication and was made more comfortable.
On Tuesday morning, March 16, 2010, BARC Chief Veterinarian Dr. M'Risa Mendelsohn, DVM examined Keiko and determined that surgery would allow the dog to be successfully fostered and ultimately live a healthy life. All four veterinarians at BARC concurred that the damage to the eyes and optical nerve was irreversible. Keiko was in stable condition and exhibiting normal behavior and was playful with the BARC staff.
BARC staff issued a plea to its national foster/rescue network, including the Blind Dog Rescue Alliance, to locate a foster willing to provide a home and the ongoing veterinary care required for the animal to recover fully and to be rehabilitated. A willing foster with previous experience rehabilitating blind dogs was identified by Tuesday afternoon, and the surgery was subsequently scheduled for Friday, March 19, 2010.
On Thursday afternoon, March 18, 2010, BARC General Manager David Atencio arranged for Keiko to be seen by a private vet, who conducted an independent examination of the animal at his facility. The veterinarian concurred with the BARC medical opinion. This vet has asked not to be identified, but was able to refer Keiko immediately to a private ophthalmologist. The specialist at Gulf Coast Animal Eye Clinic also conducted an independent examination, at his facility, of the dog and absolutely agreed with the BARC medical opinion that Dr. Mendelsohn should proceed with surgery. In addition to confirming that BARC's assessment of the animal's condition on Monday afternoon was correct, Dr. Swanson graciously donated two synthetic globes to replace Keiko's eyes during surgery. Both of these vets provided their services at no charge to the City.
Prior to surgery Friday, March 19, Dr. Mendelsohn conferred with the ophthalmologist regarding what specific anesthesia and surgical procedures should be followed, and the two medical professionals agreed on the surgical approach that would minimize the risk to Keiko.
Keiko went into surgery Friday at 9:11 am. She had a strong pulse throughout, and displayed no anesthetic or surgical complications during the procedure. Upon recovery, Keiko had difficulty breathing without pure oxygen, and was placed back on oxygen and assisted ventilation. As recovery progressed, Keiko's body temperature began falling. The medical team applied heating pads and a heating light while they maintained intravenous fluid delivery. Her pulse and heart quality were good throughout recovery to this point. When the doctors attempted to let Keiko breathe on her own, she maintained normal breathing and cardiac patterns for several minutes, after which her pulse and breathing stopped. Keiko was placed back on oxygen, and the medical team initiated CPR. After 50 minutes of CPR, our medical team pronounced her dead.
As noted above, BARC staff obtained a fifth and sixth medical opinion from private veterinarians (including an animal ophthalmologist) regarding the appropriate treatment for Keiko. All six vets, including the animal eye specialist, agreed the surgery should proceed as scheduled. Each of the examining veterinarians also concluded that Keiko had been the victim of trauma or possible animal cruelty. Although there is a risk associated with any surgery, all medical professionals believed from their examinations that Keiko should have the procedure performed as soon as possible.
BARC's medical team responded promptly to stabilize this seriously injured animal, immediately evaluated the medical options that would provide the best chance for Keiko to lead a healthy life, and we fully support the decisions made by this team. BARC staff also took the proactive step to reach out to a nationwide network of fosters to locate a future home for this animal.
For more information regarding BARC, please visit the website at http://www.houstontx.gov/barc/index.html
Chris Newport
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