This Is Guernsey

By Jess Stevenson

Doreen Ford of Isabelle Vets with Coby the injured greyhound. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0874061)

A GREYHOUND that was run over last week is recovering well after an operation to save her leg.

Seven-year-old Coby’s front leg was broken in more than 100 places when she was hit by a car in the Vale, the Monday before last.

Amputation was not an option because her other front leg had been broken previously and would have been too weak.

Her owners, Andrew and Gillian Falconer, were faced with the heart-breaking decision of whether to put her down or not, but they decided to take the chance and go ahead with the operation last Thursday.

Metal plates were used to help strengthen and repair her leg with four external fixators – the structure looks like an external metal frame.

Mr Falconer, who has two other greyhounds, said he and his wife had been surprised to have her back so quickly.

‘She’s been doing great. She is one of those dogs that takes a lot,’ he said.

‘Coby is starting to want to put weight on it, but any knock could cause problems.’

Mr Falconer, a stock processor at HMV, said it was hard work trying to keep her still with the other dogs around.

‘She’s wanting to try and get up and hobble after them. She can’t go for a walk so we need to carry her up and down.’

It could be eight weeks before Coby’s leg repairs itself and the bone grows back together.

She has to have two check-ups a week as the frame leaves her leg open to infection.

Mr Falconer said: ‘We are aiming for a functional leg but with no pain.’

Police said their investigation into the accident was continuing.

Mr and Mrs Falconer have had Coby for five-and-a-half years.

As a puppy, she was one of 45 malnourished or dead greyhounds found abandoned in Aberdeen.

Article posted on 26th November, 2009 - 2.29pm