An update on Tom: he went home after two days in the animal hospital. He'll have to go back this week to have the one staple in his side removed; other than that, he's been on twice-a-day painkillers and once-a-day antibiotics. He's been drinking water, but not eating yet, though today he did take a few bites. He's a BIG boy, though, which the vet said probably helped, as his girth was added protection. For now, my husband and I have been taking turns driving out to my mother's to give Tom his meds. Tom spends his time behind the living room chairs, or under the dining room table, and Mom can't get down there to reach him. Hence our trips. His breathing is slower, which means his lungs must be healing; the ribs will heal on their own, the vet says, in time.
As to the situation with the neighbors, we're quite hopeful, at this point, that at least one of them will help with the vet bill (which came to $1150). That's neighbor B, the one who has lived across the street for 50 years. His wife has already been over to bring some groceries for Mom, and he has asked who he should make the check payable to. He also said that he'd talk to Neighbor C, the other dog owner, and we're hoping that between the two of them, that at least half of the bill will be covered, though no dollar amount has been mentioned. (Neighbor B did see the bill, though, so he knows what the total was.)
I think that Neighbor C is going to be difficult, though; Mom talked to him and his comment was "Well, cats are aggressive"... I don't know too many cats that would choose to get into it with black Labs. And Tom, for all his size, is rather a timid soul.
The town animal officer did come by to talk to Mom, and she now has his number, with instructions to call anytime she sees a black dog in her yard. Disturbingly, she did see Neighbor C's dog in her driveway again the day before yesterday. He has one patch of white, which is his distinguishing mark. I believe the animal officer told Mom that he would be talking to both dog owners, and I hope he does!