Thanks to the care of a BC SPCA foster home and the companionship of Roxy, their English Labrador, Marley made a remarkable recovery. Soon, he was ready to embark on the next chapter of his life. Once his adoption profile was posted on the BC SPCA’s website, it did not take long for his forever family to find him—they were already searching for the perfect dog to complete their home.
“We lost our Yorkshire terrier, Maltese mix Mocha in August last year,” says Barb. “She was 14 years old. We grieved her loss for months.”
When the time felt right, Barb and and her husband Jack, began their search for a rescue dog to complete their family. One of their first stops was the BC SPCA’s adoption page. “The very first time I looked on the site I saw Marley’s sweet face. I was instantly drawn to him and his story. He was everything we weren’t looking for, but he was perfect,” she says.
Barb quickly called the BC SPCA Abbotsford animal centre and made an appointment to meet Marley the following week. “When the foster brought him out of the car, and both my husband and I teared up,” Barb says. “He was meant to be ours.” Jack adds that Marley was wagging his tail when he came up to them. “He is a dog that looks for love.”
It took Marley about three weeks to settle into his new home. A new furry cousin helped him find his way. “We take care of Oakley our daughter’s dog,” Barb says. “He is a five-year-old BC SPCA rescue who is currently recovering from torn ACL surgery on the same leg as Marley’s hip surgery. When they walk together, they both raise their shaved legs at the same time.”
Jack adds that Marley has a wonderful temperament and impressive manners. “He knows how to sit and give a paw and doesn’t pull on his leash unless there’s a scent he just has to investigate,” he says. “Marley is such a lovely dog—we feel like we’ve won the lottery.”
Marley has more than a few adorable personality traits. “He will put himself to bed,” says Barb. “When he is ready, he waits at the bedroom door and asks for it to be opened and then climbs onto his bed. In the morning, he goes out to the garden, and when he comes back inside, he jumps on my bed and snuggles with me.”
Barb and Jack say they have always had dogs in their lives. “Life is better with a dog,” says Barb. “We didn’t go out for walks as much after Mocha passed. Now we are out with Marley every day taking him to different parks and shopping with us if they allow dogs, he is always with us.”
Now that they are both retired, they can spend all their time with Marley. “He has brought so much joy back into our home,” says Jack. “Our grandkids are madly in love with him. We can’t thank the foster and the staff at the animal centre for taking such great care of Marley and giving us this beautiful opportunity to add him to our family.”
BC SPCA takes dog hit by car into care
Original story: December 17, 2024
Marley was brought to an animal hospital in Abbotsford by his owner after being hit by a car. He was crying out in pain with a seriously injured hind left leg. Marley was surrendered to the hospital when the owner realized they could not afford the veterinary care required to treat the injury appropriately.
“We were contacted by the hospital and asked if we would take on Marley’s care,” says Ashley Fontaine-Ost, the BC SPCA’s senior manager, Interior & Fraser Valley. “He was picked up and brought to a hospital that we work closely with, where he was given pain medication and x-rays to determine the extent of his injury. Unfortunately, Marley was diagnosed with a dislocated hip. This kind of injury is very painful and requires an expensive surgery to repair,” says Fontaine-Ost. “We know this was an incredibly difficult decision but the guardian definitely did the right thing by surrendering Marley so he could receive the care he needs.”
Fontaine-Ost says that Marley was brought to the BC SPCA’s Vancouver animal hospital for further examination to determine the best treatment option. “The surgeons determined that Marley would be best served with a femoral head ostectomy.”
A femoral head ostectomy is a surgical procedure where the femoral head (the ball part of the hip joint in dogs) is removed when it is causing pain and inflammation as it no longer fits properly in the hip bone.
The removal of the femoral head leaves an empty socket and, over time, scar tissue forms to provide cushioning called a “false joint”. This prevents bone-on-bone contact and provides pain-free mobility to a diseased or damaged hip.
“Marley is currently staying with an incredible BC SPCA foster volunteer while he waits for his surgery,” says Fontaine. “He is an extremely sweet and calm dog who is so trusting. I would like to think it is because he knows we are helping him.”
Fontaine adds that Marley is affectionate with everyone he meets and is thoroughly enjoying spending time with his foster brother, an English labrador named Roxy. “They were instant friends,” says Fontaine. “His tail never stops wagging, even in spite of his injury.”
Marley will be available for adoption in approximately four to six weeks.
When Petsecure Pet Health Insurance* learned about Marley’s story, the company generously offered to match all medical donations up to $3,500 to help with his care and other animals who need urgent medical help.
* This grant was made by the Definity Insurance Foundation at the recommendation of the Definity Insurance Company Petline Insurance Company.