Emergency Vet: Dr. Carrie Stefaniak
Animal: Rocky
A gaze into the big brown eyes of a puppy can melt the hardest of hearts. But even Rocky's adorable face can't deflect attention from the enormous wound on his right forelimb. An infection of unknown cause is literally devouring the 3-month-old's skin and soft tissues. An amputation is a surefire way to stem the tide of infection, but the pit bull's owners aren't prepared for the cost. Dr. Carrie Stefaniak must watch as the damage continues to spread, even in the face of treatment. "It's hard to look at. I see it everyday and I don't get used to it," she says.
After days of indecision, Rocky's owners relinquish the dog to the hospital, clearing the way for surgery. As a first-year vet, it will be Dr. Stefaniak's first major surgery. Under the watchful eye of a surgeon, she must remove the puppy's entire limb, carefully dissecting muscles, blood vessels and nerves.
For Rocky, adjusting to a three-legged lifestyle is easy, especially when Dr. Stefaniak decides to become his new owner. After all, who better to help him recover than a doctor who understands everything he went through?