DDPHE Blog: Animal Protection Teams Up With Community to Save Dog

Published on December 06, 2024

Solo Vino is Solo No More!

He’d been on the run in Denver for months when someone shot him in the face. Volunteers in the community worked with Denver Animal Protection (DAP) to set a trap to finally capture the 3-year-old Australian shepherd. In turn, he captured the hearts of many.

He arrived at Denver Animal Shelter (DAS), bloodied, weak, and in pain. Our talented vet staff removed bullet fragments from the injured pup’s fractured upper and lower jaw, along with pulling several broken teeth. Then, they outfitted the frightened animal with a muzzle that he had to wear 24/7 for nearly three months. He was able to eat gruel with it on. A kind and compassionate foster family then took him in and cared and watched over him during that entire time. And in late November the foster family decided they didn’t want to foster him anymore—they wanted to make him a permanent part of the family and adopted him!

“We began fostering Solo a few weeks after his complicated jaw surgery. As many know, he was injured on the streets while living as a stray for five months. At first, he was quiet and reserved. He slept most of the day and did not want attention. Slowly, he began to socialize more with us but still slept in a corner most of the day. After about a month, he began following us around and showing more affection. His condition improved remarkably in early October, exuding curiosity and playfulness throughout the day. When the time came to finally remove his muzzle and cone, his spirit rebounded fully. He is a new dog, one that sprints through the living room and begs for several long walks a day. He is eager to meet other dogs on walks, as well as our neighbors. His temperament is calm, easy, and inquisitive, and he has never shown the slightest aggressive behavior. Having spent the past 10 weeks witnessing his full recovery of health and spirit, we plan to adopt him. He's become a member of both the family and local community.”

Solo has just one mouth surgery left in about six months, to remove the roots of teeth left in his jaw following his initial surgery in August.

Thank you to Solo’s foster family for bringing him back from his brokenness. We’re all so delighted to see how you bring out the best in each other.

Happy endings like this happen only with the help from our community. Donations provide emergency surgeries and supplies for the foster care it took to nurse Solo Vino back to health. Please consider a donation today.