FRANKLIN TWP. — In 12 hours, Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge raised $4,300 to provide intensive physical therapy and acupuncture to a 3-year-old French bulldog named Bane.

Bane came to the no-kill shelter on May 19 unable to walk. He did not have use of his back legs due surgery to repair a disk in his spinal cord and the lack of post-surgery rehabilitation.

He used his front legs to pull himself around and as a result, his stomach and rump were rubbed raw.

A local veterinarian determined Bane had feeling in his hind legs, which sent Marge Bart, the owner and founder of Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge in Franklin Township, and her staff of volunteers on a path to help the pup regain use of all four legs.

A daily and weekly rehabilitation program was developed, and Bane made progress. He could stand for almost a minute, said Cordie Braun, fundraising director at Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge, in an interview in June.

After following the physical therapy plan for three months, Bane’s progress came to a halt.

Bart was determined to give the dog a second chance at walking and sought out more help. She found an intensive four-day inpatient program at the Animal Therapy Center in Bethlehem offered the best chance for Bane.

The $500 per week cost was a major obstacle for Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge. The eight-week program involved daily physical therapy, acupuncture and water therapy.

Bart posted a plea for funding on the shelter’s website and Facebook on Aug. 25. Within 12 hours, Blue Chip had the funding needed to give Bane his last chance to walk again, Bart said.

Bane has finished up week three of therapy and is responding well, she said.

“The therapy is working, and we have every hope that he will become mobile again,” Bart said.

The public came to Bane’s rescue once before.

When he first arrived at Blue Chip, shelter volunteers sought help to acquire a canine wheelcart for him.

A social media request resulted in a receipt of a wheelcart within 24 hours, Braun said during a June interview.

“We have helped dozens of other dogs and cats that have needed rehabilitation and had expensive medical issues,” Bart said. “We have been able to do this because of the generosity of people’s donations.”

“We would like to thank everyone who helps us, help the animals at Blue Chip.”

If physical rehabilitation is not enough for one pup to worry about, Blue Chip is seeking a perfect match for a “fur-ever” home for him.

“Dozens of people have wanted to adopt Bane,” Bart said. “But it has to be the right fit.”

Bane, a 3-year-old French bull dog, uses a canine wheelcart to move around while at Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge, but donations totaling $4,300 enabled him to be sent to an eight-week, four-day inpatient rehabilitation program at the Animal Therapy Center in Bethlehem.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Baine-in-cart-02-2.jpeg.optimal.jpegBane, a 3-year-old French bull dog, uses a canine wheelcart to move around while at Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge, but donations totaling $4,300 enabled him to be sent to an eight-week, four-day inpatient rehabilitation program at the Animal Therapy Center in Bethlehem. Dallas Post File Photo

By Eileen Godin

egodin@timesleader.com

Reach Eileen Godin at 570-991-6387 or on Twitter @TLNews.