Norma Jewell knows that Luther is a survivor. She can see it in his eyes and the way he bounced back from being critically injured.

Now the Moline woman is asking Quad-Citians to help him get the care he needs so he can live a happy life in a loving home.

After all, that’s what every German shepherd deserves.

Jewell is president of Mississippi Valley German Shepherd Dog Rescue Inc. She has rescued and fostered many dogs in the past few years.

“I used to do informal rescue with Moline Animal Control,” she said. “I used to go down there and take the dogs that were not being adopted. I would find them homes.”

One day, she saw a German shepherd at the shelter that was very ill and acted strangely. She wasn’t sure she could handle such a dog, but “he’d had a hard life, and he was not going to get adopted,” she said. “That was seven years ago.” Now, “Bear” is 8 years old and living contentedly with the Jewells.

“I’ve always gravitated toward the big dogs because they just didn’t get adopted,” she said.

The German shepherd rescue organization became incorporated in 2005. It placed 35 dogs, including a litter of puppies, in 2006 after placing 33 in its first year.

Last month, just before Christmas, Jewell received a call from Peoria, Ill., about a 6-month-old dog that  was in the emergency room after being hit by a car. Once Luther was stable, the rescue organization arranged for surgery to repair his badly fractured leg and pelvis.

“He had been running loose, and he just got nailed,” she said. “The owner couldn’t pay to have him treated.”

The puppy was in bad shape. He had blood in his abdomen and bladder, two broken bones in one leg and a broken pelvis on the opposite side.

The rescue board met and decided to help the dog.

“He’s just a nice dog,” Jewell said. “He still has pins in his leg, and there will be another surgical bill when he has his pins removed.”

Jewell urges people to visit the rescue organization Web site at www.mvgsdr.org, where you can see pictures of Luther and read “a letter” from him. Donations can be given to the rescue organization through its account at the Moline Municipal Credit Union.

The dog will be treated at Kimberly Crest Veterinary Hospital, Davenport, “and that would be the vet contact if someone wanted to help with the vet bill,” Jewell said.

Luther, who is in a splint, needs time to heal after his surgery. A second surgery to remove the pins will be done at Kimberly Crest. His adoption fee will be $250, she said.

“Nothing stops this dog,” she said. “He’s got a broken leg, but it doesn’t slow him down.

“He’s missing his owner and he’s sad and hurt. But he’s such a survivor.”

Contact the city desk at (563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.

TO HELP

The Web site of Mississippi Valley German Shepherd Dog Rescue Inc. shows pictures of Luther and “a letter” from him at www.mvgsdr.org. Donations can be given to the rescue organization account set up at Moline Municipal Credit Union.