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鈥檚 very tall Saint Bernard-Great Pyrenees.

Chouinard wasn鈥檛 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鈥檚 life was saved by the medical intervention.

鈥淚f your pet is whelping and there鈥檚 no progress after two hours, it鈥檚 a good idea to call your vet,鈥� 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.

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

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

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 just stand there and cry and I would have had a hard time forgiving myself if she had died,鈥� he says, of his call to the radio station. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a rescue, but I feel more often than not she rescued me.鈥�

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 琉璃神社 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鈥檚 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鈥檛 afford treatment.

鈥淭here are people even less fortunate than me on the streets,鈥� he says of the immeasurable bond that can develop between human and pet. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like love, you can鈥檛 explain it.鈥�

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

鈥淚 hope to get a job soon to give the favour back,鈥� 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.

鈥淚 find they are so passionate about what they do and so good at what they do,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen they see a dog in distress, they know what to do and they just drop what they鈥檙e doing and get down to business.鈥�