Have you met GEORGE THE MIRACLE PUPPY that belongs to Sister Danny ?
George was born via C-section late on Saturday evening, 13 June. He was one of eight puppies, and this is where the first miracle happened…
It wasn’t picked up that George had a cleft palate.
His wonderful breeder tube-fed him for four weeks, every 2–4 hours, because he wasn’t suckling from his mom. He was also only a third of the size of his littermates.
On 13 July, she brought him in to see Dr Allen, and that was when they discovered his cleft palate.
George had a cleft involving his entire hard palate and soft palate.
For many, the only option would have been to let him go right there and then.
But not Dr Allen.
He was willing to try. He was willing to give George a chance and attempt the surgery to repair his palate.
George weighed just 400 grams. He was TINY.
Dr Allen said that if we waited until George was older and stronger, he would have a better chance of surviving such a major surgery. If he had already been successfully tube-fed for four weeks, why couldn’t we continue?
His breeder was exhausted by this stage and simply wanted the best possible chance for him. So she entrusted George to Nurse Danny.
George joined her family on 14 July.
We placed an oesophagostomy tube so that Nurse Danny could safely feed him every four hours.
And what a journey little George has had…
George could not be left alone and needed 24/7 care, so he very quickly became a regular during Nurse Danny’s shifts at Midlands Veterinary Hospital
There were ups and downs. There were difficult days. There were moments when we questioned whether we were doing the right thing.
The plan was to raise him until he was around 4–6 months old, get him as strong as possible, and then attempt the big, very difficult surgery.
Dr Allen contacted a human plastic surgeon, Dr Bronwyn Schoenfeld, for advice about the surgery, and this incredible, selfless and caring doctor offered to perform the surgery for George.
We were hoping to make it through to the end of October.
But George had other plans.
He became extremely sick, with a temperature of 40.2°C, and his cleft needed to be cleaned under sedation almost every week. As he grew, we also had to push the feeding tube further in.
The cleft was incredibly sensitive and would bleed with even the lightest touch.
We made the decision to bring the surgery forward to 30 September.
By then, his cleft had grown significantly, and the surgeon was understandably not as positive as she had been before.
It was going to be a HUGE task to close the cleft palate.
But the surgery was only the beginning.
Recovery is risky, and the chance of wound breakdown is high. But this little fighter bounced back so quickly. Almost a week later, so far, there have been no complications.
We are still far from the end.
George will need to be tube-fed for another three weeks, but we remain positive. Because this puppy is a fighter.
George has touched so many lives, but most of all, he has touched ours at Midlands Veterinary Hospital
He has taught us about resilience, hope, patience and never giving up.
And no matter what he has been through, he still gives so much love.
That is the incredible thing about animals. ! Nurse Danny and Dr Allen we commend you on all your hard work and determination to give George the best fighting chance and we can’t wait to watch him grow into a big strong little dog!
Never underestimate the will of a little fighter.
George, you are a miracle.
October 2026
