Penticton man Gord Portman is thanking the community after residents rallied to raise funds for his sick dog, Zippy.

Zippy needed immediate mouth surgery to remove all of his teeth. He was previously so sick he was a shadow of his normally energetic self, Portman said. Without surgery Zippy likely would have been put down.

Zippy had surgery scheduled for Nov. 19 but Portman could not afford the procedure on his own. Because of this, Portman created a to help with Zippy鈥檚 surgery costs in October.

The page reached its goal of $1,560 just a few weeks after the fundraiser was launched and Zippy was able to get his necessary surgery.

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Five days after Zippy鈥檚 surgery, the five-year-old toy fox/rat terrier is now doing much better and appears to be getting back to his energetic self.

鈥淚t鈥檚 unbelievable, there鈥檚 a night and day difference,鈥� said Portman. 鈥淗e was so restless and in so much pain before but now he鈥檚 fine and way more relaxed. We cuddle lots鈥� he鈥檚 so happy to be back with his dad.鈥�

During the two-hour procedure Zippy had 36 teeth removed. He now is able to eat wet food on his own. Before his surgery, Zippy would not eat unless a human fed him.

Portman said he can鈥檛 fully express how grateful he is to have his dog back and healthy.

鈥淚 just want to thank everybody in the community so much for their support, if it wasn鈥檛 for them my dog might not have lived,鈥� Portman said.

Portman has been in recovery for six months since he was inspired to get sober after helping to save a family in a March house fire.

He was previously living at Discovery House Men鈥檚 Treatment Centre but recently moved into his own place with Zippy.

He plans take social work courses and eventually work at Discovery House himself helping others overcome addiction.

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jesse.day@pentictonwesternnews.com
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