A year ago, Cooper had lost all interest in his normal routine.
His energy level went way down, says his owner, Amanda Read.
He was sleeping a lot and just wasn’t his normal self.
Cooper had heart disease and needed a pacemaker.
Yeah, Cooper is a dog.
The donors are people who need pacemaker upgrades but whose previous implants still work.
Pacemakers can last up to 10 years.
In just two years, the donation program has collected 41 pacemakers for dogs.
The program was created by Terri Matula, 59, a board-certified cardiovascular nurse.
I knew from my studies that devices for people could be used in dogs, she says.
Unfortunately, she was on a student’s budget, so canine cardiac care was out of reach.
But Gator’s memory later inspired her to help other ailing dogs.
Pacemakers are usually just thrown away, she notes.
As for Cooper, the human medical equipment has helped him become a normal dog again.
After about a month, his energy perked up, says Read.
He became more active and more interested in food, treats and taking walks.
He started wagging his tail again and seemed much happier.
