It was a close call, but Lola, the beagle-harrier cross will live, thanks to the talented and caring team at the Shuswap Veterinary Clinic.

Young Lola is best friend and family to Frank Chouinard, who has called Salmon Arm home for only a couple of months.

While Chouinard says he kept an eye on Lola, the smaller breed dog was in heat and caught the attention of his visiting friend乌鸦传媒檚 very tall Saint Bernard-Great Pyrenees.

Chouinard wasn乌鸦传媒檛 too worried about a possible match made in hell because there is such a height difference between the two dogs and was surprised when he saw them in action.

Surprise turned to grief when he realized Monday that, after a long labour, Lola was not going to be able to birth her five large pups.

A tearful call to local radio morning man Patrick Ryley spurred the community into raising money to help cover the cost of an emergency C-section.

Despite the efforts of vet clinic staff, none of the puppies survived. But Lola乌鸦传媒檚 life was saved by the medical intervention.

乌鸦传媒淚f your pet is whelping and there乌鸦传媒檚 no progress after two hours, it乌鸦传媒檚 a good idea to call your vet,乌鸦传媒� says Dr. Jamie Foulger, who performed the operation on Lola.

Choking up, Chouinard said by noon on Monday, he had been told there was already close to $700 in a fund at the vet clinic, with another $200 at the radio station, with another $200 or so on its way.

It was a response that has touched the former Montrealer to the core.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 an enormous weight off my back and I couldn乌鸦传媒檛 have done it without the support of the whole community,乌鸦传媒� says the unemployed truck driver of avoiding having to have Lola euthanized. 乌鸦传媒淚 want people to see how these people managed my crisis; they said bring her and we will sort out something.乌鸦传媒�

Chouinard said it would have been a terrible loss to lose his beloved pet.

乌鸦传媒淚 couldn乌鸦传媒檛 just stand there and cry and I would have had a hard time forgiving myself if she had died,乌鸦传媒� he says, of his call to the radio station. 乌鸦传媒淪he乌鸦传媒檚 a rescue, but I feel more often than not she rescued me.乌鸦传媒�

Chouinard acquired Lola from his stepson in Montreal and travelled across the country, often sleeping in his Jeep.

Single now, Chouinard spent two years in Kelowna when he was growing up and had visions of coming back beautiful B.C.

As donations have poured in, Chouinard has spoken to Shuswap Vet乌鸦传媒檚 office manager Jim McEwan, asking him to put any money that goes beyond his $1,400 bill be put into a fund to save some other pet owner the awful decision of having to put their pet down because they can乌鸦传媒檛 afford treatment.

乌鸦传媒淭here are people even less fortunate than me on the streets,乌鸦传媒� he says of the immeasurable bond that can develop between human and pet. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 like love, you can乌鸦传媒檛 explain it.乌鸦传媒�

Chouinard is trying to find work as a mechanic, welder or truck driver, handing out resumes wherever he can.

乌鸦传媒淚 hope to get a job soon to give the favour back,乌鸦传媒� he says.

McEwan, meanwhile has high praise for doctors and support staff at the practice. As part of the surgery, Lola has now been spayed.

乌鸦传媒淚 find they are so passionate about what they do and so good at what they do,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淲hen they see a dog in distress, they know what to do and they just drop what they乌鸦传媒檙e doing and get down to business.乌鸦传媒�