Copper Needs Your Help
Copper, a young female Iguana, was brought to Lake Humane Society on April 16th, following an altercation at a local restaurant. Unfortunately, Copper was injured in this incident after being swung around someone’s head, thrown across the room, and then falling to the ground.
After the trauma Copper had been through, we set up an appointment for her to see a veterinarian in order to evaluate her injuries. It was discovered that Copper was suffering from a leg fracture, metabolic bone diseases, and she was also missing a portion of her tail.
Currently (as of 5/2), Copper is under protective custody and the case is being handled by the Painesville Police Department. Being that Copper is under protective custody, and not the property of Lake Humane Society, we are awaiting permission to perform the surgery Copper requires as a result of her injuries. Once we receive approval from the courts, we will get Copper the care she needs, which is estimated to cost as much as $1,600.
As soon as we are given clearance to operate on Copper we will. When that time comes, we want to be ready. For that reason, we are now fundraising to cover Copper’s surgery and continued care. We need your help to give this innocent reptile a second chance at life. All donations made to this page will be designated to our Angel Fund, which benefits animals in need of extensive medical care. These donations will go directly to the care of Copper and all gifts are tax-deductible. Any excess funds that are not used for Copper's care will remain in our Angel Fund and that balance will be used toward the next pet in need of emergency medical care.
Please make a gift today and you will be helping Copper get one step closer to a happy and healthy life. We cannot help her without you.
Thank you in advance for your compassion and support.
Update on Copper (as of 5/14/19): On May 2, 2019 our attorney received approval from Copper's owner granting LHS the ability to provide further vet care up to and including surgery if it is necessary for us to perform surgery. Copper still remains under protective custody and does not belong to LHS, so without permission from either the owner or the courts, we were not able to perform further medical intervention since her injuries were not life-threatening. Since surgery was not an option, we made sure that Copper was as comfortable as possible with pain medication, splinting, cage rest, and good quality lighting and nutrition. Thanks to donations for Copper's care, we were able to purchase the needed lighting and supplies and provide her with the medical care she needed.
Copper was seen by a local veterinarian for a re-check on May 7th. The veterinarian found that fortunately her leg is healing well with the good conservative management and she may not require surgery after all! With the continuation of care, the leg will continue to heal on it's own and Copper can maintain the use of this limb. Copper will remain under intensive care here at LHS, needing splint changes every 2 weeks along with medications and good nutrition until the leg is fully healed.
This is great news as not only may Copper's leg be salvaged, but anesthesia will likely be avoided. Anesthesia can be risky for reptiles, so we are relieved that we likely will not need to put Copper under to perform a surgery which would include the re-breaking of her limb.
Copper continues to recover thanks to donors, like YOU! We cannot provide Copper with this extensive medical care without you. While surgery is not needed, your donations will help cover visits to an outside veterinarian, x-rays, food, heat lamps, pain medication, and medical care and observation. Copper is safe in our care and will continue to recover.
**UPDATE (7/12/19): Copper was reunited with her rightful owner!** In July of 2018 Copper escaped from the home of her original and rightful owner, Jordan, and found her way into a tree in the yard next door. After hearing about the April 16th altercation, Jordan contacted the Painesville Police Department and stated that she believed that Copper was hers. Our team reviewed photos and medical records to confirm ownership. We were thrilled to have Copper's owner come forward in order to reunite her with her family! Now, Copper is back home where she belongs and is back to living with her brother.
Thank you to all of our supporters for making Copper's care possible! Thanks to you, this story has a happy ending.
All donations made toward Copper's care will cover her continued medical care/observation, veterinary examinations by both our internal medical team and outside veterinarians, x-rays, the cost of supplies (such as heat lamps), food, supplements for strong bones and pain medication, in addition to her normal daily care here at LHS. Once Copper is fully recovered, any excess funds will remain in our Angel Fund and will be put to use to help the next animal in need.