Dog rescued from landfill undergoes complex orthopedic surgery at UC Davis

After being found in a landfill, a border collie/Australian shepherd mix has undergone surgery to repair fractures to his femur and pelvis at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH).

The approximately 1-year-old dog, later named Fig, was spotted by workers at the Potrero Hills Landfill in Solano County, California, after emerging from a recently offloaded pile of garbage. The circumstances that led to him being in the trash remain unclear, and he has not been claimed by an owner, according to UC Davis.¹

When workers found him, Fig was unable to use his hind legs, and he retreated to a part of the site that vehicles could not reach, as it was heavily raining at the time. The crew called the Solano County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Services for help rescuing the dog. When Animal Control arrived, Heavy equipment operator Ryan Reed led the Animal Control team to the dog, and they were able to bring him to safety. Fig was subsequently taken to Solano County Animal Care.

According to UC Davis, Reed's girlfriend, Jessica Hodson, DVM, at the time a veterinary student at UC Davis, learned what happened and knew she had to help with Fig's care. "I instantly knew that we had to help however we could," she said.¹

Workup and referral

Imaging at the shelter identified two fractures: one in Fig's right femur and one in the upper left portion of his pelvis. Abdominal ultrasound showed the urinary bladder had not been compromised, despite its proximity to the injuries.

Solano County Animal Care reached out to the VMTH to determine whether Fig qualified for the UC Davis Fracture Program for Rescue Animals, an initiative under the school's Accessible Veterinary Care program that pairs complex shelter fracture cases with the hospital's Orthopedic Surgery Service. The program also serves as a hands-on training opportunity for veterinary students and surgery residents. Fig qualified, and he was able to receive care through the program.

At the VMTH, Fig was started on pain management and underwent additional imaging, which confirmed the fractures were comminuted—broken into multiple fragments—in both locations. Without surgery, meaningful recovery of limb function was considered highly unlikely.

Surgery

Ming Lu, DVM, MVM, MS, MS, DACVS (Small Animal), an orthopedic surgery faculty member, and Siobhan Rickert, DVM, a small animal surgery resident, performed the procedure. Fig's pelvic fracture was addressed with an anatomical plate positioned to protect nearby nerves and the hip joint. The femoral fracture, which had split the bone into 3 pieces, was repaired using a combination of cerclage wire, a plate, and screws. Fig was neutered and microchipped before waking from anesthesia.

Recovery and adoption

Hodson volunteered to take Fig home as a medical foster following his discharge. His recovery protocol called for strict rest, with leash walks limited to 3 to 5 minutes for bathroom breaks and passive range of motion exercises at home.

At nearly 3 weeks post-surgery, Fig was showing steady progress.

"We are grateful to be able to help these patients through the Fracture Program," Rickert said in a UC Davis report.¹ "Many arrive with severe injuries, sometimes after prolonged periods without treatment, but the combined efforts of shelters, transporters, hospital staff, students, foster families, and the broader care team give these animals a chance to regain quality of life."

According to the university, Hodson and Reed plan to become “foster fails” and officially adopt Fig once he fully recovers.

References

1. Warren R. Dog rescued from landfill recovering from surgery. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. May 27, 2026. Accessed June 2, 2026. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/dog-rescued-landfill-recovering-surgery