Wednesday, January 28, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
athletic
club to host
blood drive
English bulldog has rough recuperation
By Jodi Schneider mcNamee
Correspondent
Lola Bean, a 4-year-old
English bulldog who has
gained fame in numerous
walks for charity causes, has
recently had major surgery
for ACL tears in both legs.
Now the Sisters community is
reaching out to help with her
medical bills.
Lola’s claim to fame
started with the Feedin’ the
People Charity Walk in Bend
a few years ago. Pet par-
ent Brian Foutz of Sisters
remembers her first walk.
“Lola walked along with
my wife, Genny, and I (sic)
in the parade with a pink ban-
dana. And another time she
had a Wonder Woman cape
on. Everyone seems to gravi-
tate toward her, probably
because she loves people and
they know it,” Foutz said.
Then in 2013, Lola, along
with her pet parents, started
participating in the Walk MS
event in Bend.
“My aunt Louise, Weese
for short, has MS, so we
decided to decorate a yard
cart that said ‘Walking for
Weese’ and then we dressed
Lola up in a knock-off
orange tee shirt with iron-ons
that also said ‘Walking for
Weese,’” said Foutz. “People
started recognizing her and
would look for her at each of
the walks.”
Lola was also brave
enough to participate in a
mini ice-bucket challenge
last year while sitting in her
– We can straighten ‘em out –
kiddie pool.
“We made a donation in
her name and a video of it,”
Foutz said. “She didn’t mind
at all.”
Then five months ago, the
usually high-spirited Lola
Bean began to limp.
“We took her to the vet and
at that time she had probably
just pulled something, maybe
a muscle in her leg. But Lola
isn’t your typical bulldog, she
is very active and loves to
jump and play a lot,” Foutz
said. “She was doing better
for a while but started limp-
ing again. Then, she decided
to jump off the porch instead
of going down the few steps,
and hit the ground hard.”
During the visit to the vet-
erinarian, the Foutzs found
out that Lola’s ACL was torn
in her left leg. She needed
surgery. Their vet called Dr.
Robert Fuller, an orthopedic
surgeon from Sisters who is
experienced with ACL tears.
The Foutzs think of Lola
as a furry family member
and refer to her as their “fur
baby.” For them there was
only one decision of how to
handle the plight of Lola hav-
ing a torn ACL. They opted
for the surgery.
Then the week before sur-
gery was scheduled Lola tore
the ACL in her right leg.
“Lola was using her right
leg to compensate for her
left,” explained Foutz. “We
talked to Dr. Fuller and he
photo by JoDi schneiDeR mcnamee
lola Bean has had a rough time of late. the Sisters community is helping
out with medical bills.
agreed to do the surgery on
both at the same time.”
The surgery went well,
and the prognosis is hopeful,
but with a long recovery time
of three months or more.
Lola’s recovery hasn’t
been easy, and last week
she had to return to the vet
because she couldn’t stand up
at all.
“Lola has pins inside of
her leg that are acting like her
ACLs. The mobility in her
left leg has a little bit of play
in it and her muscle needs to
build up again over time,”
Foutz said. “Dr. Fuller told
us she might need up to six
months of recuperation, but
we are hopeful.”
Adopting a dog into the
household requires a com-
mitment to his health and
well-being. But sometimes
with medical emergencies,
there are financial hardships.
Brian and Genny Foutz are
appreciative of any help they
can get for Lola.
“We are hoping to raise
awareness that when you
have a pet, to remember that
anything can happen at any
time, just like with people,”
Foutz said.
If you would like to help
donate, go to www.gofundme.
com/helplolabean.
Sisters Athletic Club
will host a blood drive for
the American Red Cross on
Thursday, February 5.
Donors may call Sisters
Athletic Club at 541-549-
6878 to schedule an appoint-
ment between 8 a.m. and
1 p.m.
The blood drive will take
place at the club, located
just off Highway 20 at 1001
Desperado Trail. Light
refreshments will be pro-
vided and all donors will
receive a free guest pass to
the club for use in 2015.
Every two seconds some-
one in the United States
needs blood. Blood cannot
be manufactured; it must be
given by volunteer donors.
Because blood has a limited
shelf life, the community
blood supply must be con-
stantly replenished to meet
patients’ needs.
Contact Sisters Athletic
Club at 541-549-6878 for
more information.
SAVE GAS. EX
EXTEND TIRE LIFE.
Schedule your
alignment
today!
a
541-549-1026
5 541
549 1026
DAVIS TIRE
188 W. Sisters Park Dr. In Sisters Industrial Park across from SnoCap Mini Storage
Serving Sisters Since 1963.
Loaner Cars
Deductible Assistance
Windshield Replacement
p
541-549-DENT
— 541-549-3368 —
332 W. Barclay Dr., Sisters
Come In…
Relax…Enjoy!
Tim Westcott
Ronnica Westcott
Jenny Duey
Mary Morgan
541-588-6611
220 W. Cascade Ave.
Come in, Relax, Enjoy!
15
Come on in,
the water’s fi ne!
Over 50 group exercise classes per
week included with your membership.
Yoga, pilates and gentle fi tness
classes available.
541-549-6878
www.sistersathleticclub.com