Walter had a Broken Jaw, and he was Slowly Starving to Death.

Alone on the streets of the Bahamas and suffering from multiple serious medical problems, Walter’s future looked bleak. Today, thanks to an incredible team of people working together across two countries, he has a chance.

Florida Urgent Rescue first started working with our partners at BAARK! in the Bahamas during Hurricane Dorian seven years ago. Since then, we’ve seen firsthand the incredible work that Lissa, Laura, and their entire team do for the animals of the Bahamas.

Sir Walter is one of those dogs.

Sir Walter was originally a street dog in the Bahamas and was neutered about two and a half years ago. Three weeks ago, he showed up again with what appeared to be a frozen jaw. We don’t know whether his jaw is broken or whether a disease is preventing him from moving it, but either way, his condition is life-threatening.

He can only open his mouth about 1 centimeter.

Not surprisingly, he was literally starving to death because he could not eat. It’s hard for him to drink, and he can’t regulate his temperature by panting. If BAARK! had not taken him in, he likely would not have survived.

In addition to being extremely emaciated, Sir Walter has lost a significant amount of fur due to long-term flea dermatitis and secondary skin infections. As if that weren’t enough, he has also tested positive for Ehrlichia, Anaplasmosis, and heartworms.

There are some amazing veterinarians in the Bahamas, but there are no board-certified orthopedic surgeons or veterinary dental specialists available there. Without access to the specialty care he desperately needed, Lissa reached out to Florida Urgent Rescue for help.

What happened next is a great example of multiple people from different organizations working together to save a dog who needs help.

— Lissa reached out to us for help, and we immediately began putting together a plan.

— Dr. Daniel at BAARK! performed radiographs, provided initial treatment, completed his health certificate, and worked closely with Lissa to prepare him for transport.

— Erin coordinated medical care and logistics with both Dr. Daniel and Lissa to ensure everything was in place for Walter’s arrival.

— Dr. Holloway at Veterinary Dental Specialties - North Florida squeezed us into the schedule for a consultation and CT scan next week, so she can determine what type of surgery Walter will need.

— Sarah offered to foster Charlotte, which opened up a foster spot for Walter when he needed it most.

— Ian Goodfellow flew Walter to Fort Lauderdale, and Brittany Stearns picked him up at the airport and provided overnight temporary foster care.

— Caroline Cozens then drove down to Fort Lauderdale to transport him back home safely.

— Sandbridge Veterinary Center also squeezed us in for a short-notice appointment with Dr. Nicks to administer a Cytopoint injection and run bloodwork, so we could continue addressing his many medical needs.

Because of this incredible teamwork and generosity, Sir Walter is now safe with Florida Urgent Rescue.

Despite everything he has endured, he remains one of the sweetest dogs you could ever meet. He is affectionate, gentle, and grateful for every bit of attention he receives. He is learning what it means to live in a home and be part of a family, and he is proving every day what an amazing dog he truly is.

We still have a long road ahead as we work to diagnose and treat the condition affecting his jaw, but for the first time in a long time, Sir Walter has hope. 6/28/26 Update: Sir Walter had his consultation and CT scan this week with Dr. Holloway at Veterinary Dental Specialties - North Florida, and we’re cautiously optimistic about what she found.

The problem isn’t a disease. It’s trauma to the left side of his jaw.

Based on the CT scan, Dr. Holloway believes Walter suffered a serious injury to the back of his jaw. While there’s no way to know for certain what happened, she feels the damage is less consistent with being hit by a car, which would likely have caused much more extensive injuries. Instead, we believe there’s a strong possibility he was kicked, struck, or hit by an object.

The abnormal piece of bone that’s fused to the back of Walter’s jaw appears to be preventing it from opening normally. Dr. Holloway plans to surgically remove that bone, along with any additional fused bone she finds during surgery.

The good news is that she believes she can fix it. At this point, she does not believe Walter will need a mandibulectomy, which is wonderful news. Walter’s surgery is scheduled for mid-July.

That gives us a little time to continue treating his other medical problems and help him regain some much-needed weight and strength before anesthesia.

Considering he arrived severely emaciated and is also battling flea dermatitis, skin infections, Ehrlichia, Anaplasmosis, and heartworms, every extra day to get him healthier is a good thing.

After everything this sweet boy has endured, we’re hopeful that he’ll finally be able to open his mouth normally, eat without struggling, and simply be a dog again.

We can’t thank Dr. Holloway enough for taking such great care of Walter, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped him get this far—from our partners at BAARK! in the Bahamas, to the transport volunteers, our veterinary teams, foster family, and every person who has donated or shared his story.

Walter has already beaten the odds once. Now we’re hoping the next update will be that he’s finally pain-free and enjoying the life he always deserved.

𝗙𝗨𝗥 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺

Sick and injured animals need help fast. Every donation helps, but Monthly donors give us flexibility to respond immediately when there is an emergency. When there is a hoarding case or a hurricane, a dog with a gunshot wound or a cruelty case, we have to act quickly. We don't have time to run a fundraiser, and wait for those funds to get to us. Your monthly donation can help us save lives again and again. Learn more at: https://www.floridaurgentrescue.org/donatemonthly

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About FUR

Florida Urgent Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and FUR earned a Four-Star Rating on Charity Navigator with a score of 100%, the highest possible rating. FUR also received a 2025 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency by Guidestar. Less than 1/10th of 1% of all nonprofits receive these ratings.