Mindy
Mindy had been abandoned in a public park along with two other littermates. All of them had sustained injuries, but Mindy was in the worst shape.
She was found with lacerations to her abdomen and what appeared to be a broken right rear leg.
All three puppies were transported to the Humane Society. As Mindy's needs were the worst, a call went out to the rescue community in hopes to find an immediate outlet for this sweet girl. We couldn't say no to a puppy in need!
We rushed her to the emergency vet immediately after picking her up from the Humane Society. There they took x-rays and concluded that the injury to her hind leg was actually an old fracture. Calcification had started to grow around the bone indicating that she has been like that for weeks...WEEKS!
Because the bones were healing normally and were somewhat aligned, surgery was not recommended. Mindy ended up having a splint put on for a few weeks and the bones did eventually heal properly.
Our vet has advised us that Mindy may walk a little “gimpy” from now on but shouldn’t affect her quality of life. After several months, Mindy is not only walking normally, but running, jumping and acting as if nothing had ever happened. Mindy was adopted and now has a Heeler friend to play with.
She was found with lacerations to her abdomen and what appeared to be a broken right rear leg.
All three puppies were transported to the Humane Society. As Mindy's needs were the worst, a call went out to the rescue community in hopes to find an immediate outlet for this sweet girl. We couldn't say no to a puppy in need!
We rushed her to the emergency vet immediately after picking her up from the Humane Society. There they took x-rays and concluded that the injury to her hind leg was actually an old fracture. Calcification had started to grow around the bone indicating that she has been like that for weeks...WEEKS!
Because the bones were healing normally and were somewhat aligned, surgery was not recommended. Mindy ended up having a splint put on for a few weeks and the bones did eventually heal properly.
Our vet has advised us that Mindy may walk a little “gimpy” from now on but shouldn’t affect her quality of life. After several months, Mindy is not only walking normally, but running, jumping and acting as if nothing had ever happened. Mindy was adopted and now has a Heeler friend to play with.
Beagle Puppies
When we were asked to help save five 6-week old beagle puppies with Parvovirus, we couldn’t say no. Working with Animal Doctors to the RESCUE, it was a team effort to help save them all.
These precious souls were brought into the vet office in critical condition. They had dangerously high temperatures and were very dehydrated. The amazing staff at Little Critters Veterinary Hospital worked tirelessly around the clock, feeding and monitoring each pup every hour. Each puppy was put on IV fluids or subQ fluids to keep them hydrated and stable. It was a huge effort by staff to give these puppies a chance to survive and each day was a rollercoaster ride of emotions as one puppy would crash and then recover.
Finally, came the day that the puppies were well enough to go into foster. They would to remain in quarantine for at least 10 more days where they got better and better!
We're happy to report that all the puppies have now been adopted! It's been a whirlwind of emotions since they first arrived at the vet office, but as you can see it was all worth it!
These precious souls were brought into the vet office in critical condition. They had dangerously high temperatures and were very dehydrated. The amazing staff at Little Critters Veterinary Hospital worked tirelessly around the clock, feeding and monitoring each pup every hour. Each puppy was put on IV fluids or subQ fluids to keep them hydrated and stable. It was a huge effort by staff to give these puppies a chance to survive and each day was a rollercoaster ride of emotions as one puppy would crash and then recover.
Finally, came the day that the puppies were well enough to go into foster. They would to remain in quarantine for at least 10 more days where they got better and better!
We're happy to report that all the puppies have now been adopted! It's been a whirlwind of emotions since they first arrived at the vet office, but as you can see it was all worth it!
Strawberry
We were so happy to be able to find the perfect home for Strawberry. Strawberry had a broken foot that required amputation after her broken bones fused together and surgery was no longer an option. After a month of rehabilitation, she was ready for adoption. Not soon after, a family that understood her special needs adopted Strawberry and was ready to help her through the next part of her journey. Congratulations to Strawberry and her new family!
Skyler
Skyler was one of a litter of 3 month old kittens who were brought into the shelter. Everyone in the litter was healthy, except little Skyler. He had very red and swollen eyes and was unable to see. He saw a doctor, but the medicine he was prescribed was not working at all, and it was feared he may lose both eyes. Skyler's foster mom is a vet tech at Best Friends Animal Hospital and she came into see Dr. Brady for a second opinion. Dr. Brady immediately placed Skyler on a special anti-viral medication. After just 2 doses of the anti-viral medication, the swelling in his eyes started to subside. Skyler was adopted and I hear she is giving purrs of gratitude and affection to her new owner.
Kiwi
The shelter received a call about a female puppy in distress. She was reported as a stray, found on the front lawn of a residence in the Arizona heat. Parvovirus was suspected right away as this poor baby lay lethargic and dehydrated. Within an hour she was transported to safety. Normally, dogs like Kiwi are put to sleep right away at the shelter as not to spread this highly contagious disease to others. Thankfully, CARE's partner vet at VCA Apache Junction Animal Hospital has a 'parvo ward' to help dogs like Kiwi. Kiwi spent two weeks in quarantine. Not easy for an active puppy! Kiwi then suffered another setback as she contracted an upper respitory infection. Most likely her body's immune system was too weak when she returned to the adoption floor. Kiwi, being the fighter that she was, got over her nasty doggie cold and was able to be adopted. We're so glad she finally found her forever home!
Murphy
We found Murphy at the county shelter where he sat waiting to be adopted. He was a good dog, that played well with others and was friendly and outgoing. There was only one thing that was holding him back from finding a forever family. Murphy had entropion in both eyes. This is a very painful condition where the eyelids turn inward causing much discomfort and pain. If you can imagine having your eyelashes constantly irritating and poking your cornea so that you can barely see, that was what poor Murphy had been experiencing for a very long time. We wanted to give Murphy a better chance for adoption, but we knew it wasn't going to be easy. The corrective surgery was going to be one that needed time to heal, and that meant he was going to have to be in foster for a few weeks. It took some time to get this handsome boy adopted, but he finally made it to his forever home!
Angelica
ADOPTED!
When Angelica was found in the desert, she was in very bad shape. This 125 lb. girl had several deep and horrific wounds. It's believed that she had been attacked by a pack of coyotes and we can only imagine what she must have gone through. She had a lacerated ear that was so damaged, half of it had to be removed. Her foreleg had been so badly torn up, it developed septic arthritis. Although Angelica was a very large and strong dog, it was apparent that she was no match for her attackers. Angelica received the medical treatment she needed, and recovered at the shelter with the help of a very caring volunteer staff. It didn't take long for someone to fall in love with her and she was adopted!
Aspen
We had seen a number of Parvo cases in 2017, and 8-month-old Aspen was one of the most severe that showed up on the shelter's doorstep. Originally brought into the shelter to be euthanized, the staff saw that she was still alert and active and deserved a fighting chance. We didn't hesitate to help and she was immediately sent to our partner vet hospital to be pumped with IV fluids and antibiotics. Aspen did fight hard and eventually beat Parvo.
Brianna
Brianna, a 10-year-old female German Shorthaired Pointer, had been found abandoned in the Arizona desert. She had been on her own for at least a week when she was spotted by a Good Samaritan. It was with his help, that Animal Control was able to catch her and brought her into the shelter where she sat unclaimed. She weighed a mere 34 lbs.
The shelter called us and we brought her immediately to the local veterinary hospital where she was put on fluids and antibiotics. We ran a gamut of tests including Heartworm, Tick Fever and Valley Fever tests. Remarkably, her bloodwork came back within normal limits. In an area of the Southwest that is very well known for Valley Fever, we were very relieved. The vet did notice a sunken eye and diagnosed her with Horner’s Syndrome, a common neurological disorder of the eye and facial muscles. Hoping that the eye issue would resolve itself, all she needed now was to gain weight slowly and carefully under hospital supervision.
After three weeks at the vet, she gained 10 pounds, became the unofficial office dog and was loved by everyone at the vet hospital. The vet staff even took it upon themselves to give her a little basic training and Brianna picked up commands very quickly. They, like us, wanted to give her the best chance at adoption.
We received several applications for Brianna, but one stood out from a woman who already owned a GSP and was very educated on the breed. She drove 50 miles and nearly an hour to meet her and immediately fell in love. These are the moments that we live for and I am very happy that C.A.R.E. Medical Fund was able to give her the second chance she deserved. She would have not been able to receive the care she needed at the shelter with space being at a premium and with their very limited resources. Working together, we made a difference in this one senior’s life.
The shelter called us and we brought her immediately to the local veterinary hospital where she was put on fluids and antibiotics. We ran a gamut of tests including Heartworm, Tick Fever and Valley Fever tests. Remarkably, her bloodwork came back within normal limits. In an area of the Southwest that is very well known for Valley Fever, we were very relieved. The vet did notice a sunken eye and diagnosed her with Horner’s Syndrome, a common neurological disorder of the eye and facial muscles. Hoping that the eye issue would resolve itself, all she needed now was to gain weight slowly and carefully under hospital supervision.
After three weeks at the vet, she gained 10 pounds, became the unofficial office dog and was loved by everyone at the vet hospital. The vet staff even took it upon themselves to give her a little basic training and Brianna picked up commands very quickly. They, like us, wanted to give her the best chance at adoption.
We received several applications for Brianna, but one stood out from a woman who already owned a GSP and was very educated on the breed. She drove 50 miles and nearly an hour to meet her and immediately fell in love. These are the moments that we live for and I am very happy that C.A.R.E. Medical Fund was able to give her the second chance she deserved. She would have not been able to receive the care she needed at the shelter with space being at a premium and with their very limited resources. Working together, we made a difference in this one senior’s life.
Newman
ADOPTED!
Newman had a golf ball sized mass on his back that we hoped was not cancerous. After it was surgically removed, we were shocked to hear what our vet had to say. As it turned out, or vet believed that Newman had suffered "severe trauma" from bite wounds to a great deal of his body. The mass turned out to be a kidney! The "severe trauma" that he had experienced to his body had made his organ shift. As remarkable as the news was, Newman seemed to take it all in stride. He found his forever home shortly afterwards.
Molly
ADOPTED!
Molly was a 3-year-old female American Bulldog. She came to the shelter as a stray and in very bad shape. She had allergies that were not properly treated and got out of control. Her head and legs had open wounds from scratching and her ears were badly infected. This very sweet and special girl was a complete luv bug! We couldn't imagine how someone could neglect such a gentle girl. CARE Medical Fund paid for her medical care that got her on the right road to being allergy free. Best of all, we found adopters for her that understood her special needs.
Hobbs
ADOPTED!
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Hobbs was an 18 month old Staffordshire Terrier mix that was found wandering the streets and brought in by Animal Control. He had a lacerated back leg and was hobbling on his back foot (hence the name "Hobbs'). Our vet believed that Hobbs must have been hit by a car since he also had contusions on his hip and side. Hobbs x-rays showed no broken bones so his wounds were cleaned out, a sugar wrap applied as well as antibiotics and pain meds. This new type of wrap did wonders, and he healed beautifully! Hobbs was adopted out shortly after!
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Amari
ADOPTED!
Little Amari, at a tiny 5 lbs., was found barely alive by Animal Control. The deep and very large puncture wounds on her body were indicative of a vicious animal attack. How Amari escaped and survived from whatever got a hold of her is nothing short of a miracle. She was dehydrated and could barely walk, much less stand. The vet pumped her little body with fluids and antibiotics and after a very scary night for all of us, she lifted her little head and smiled. Once Amari recovered, she was adopted.
Carl
ADOPTED!
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Carl is just a puppy, but even puppies need lots of care. Carl was brought into the shelter with a prolapsed rectum. This can be caused by constipation, parasites, or diarrhea and is common in puppies under 6 months old. After several tests and corrective surgery, Carl was given the green light for adoption.
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W.C. Fields
ADOPTED!
Meet W.C. Fields! This little peanut was found as a stray on the streets of Apache Junction. He was only about 6 or 7 years old, yet had a disintregated lower jaw (most likely from bad teeth), horribly matted fur and a urinary problem. W.C. Fields also only weighed 5 lbs! W.C. adapted to having a disfigured jaw by putting all his food into a big pile and eating it slowly. It's amazing how animals can overcome their disabilities! WC was adopted after winning over his new owner with that adorable smile!
Miami
ADOPTED!
Miami was one of the many dogs that are found on the streets in Arizona. After a few days, she was slated for euthanasia at an overcrowded animal shelter due to a large tumor on her neck. Miami was transferred to the Apache Junction shelter where she was spayed, had the tumor removed and subsequently also underwent a hernia repair. All that in one day! Apache Junction Shelter is fortunate to have a medical fund program that can help dogs like Miami.
Maddie
Adopted!
This poor little Lhaso Apso came into the shelter so severely matted, that she could not walk or see. Her nails were so long that they were literally digging into her pads. Diane Wunderlich from Happy Hounds Mobile Pet Salon spent FOUR HOURS grooming her just to try and free her! What she found were mats so big they created sores all over her. One leg was so bad with infection, it was cutting into her skin. Our vet believed her jaw had also been broken and set at some point. All this, and she was only about 3 years old. This baby did not have to lose her foot and after spending some time in a foster home recovering, she was adopted.
Sweet Pea
Adopted!
Sweet Pea came in with her sister, Marigold. Sweet Pea had some serious swelling in her cheek that turned out to be an abscess. The vet removed the abscess and put in a drain (the rubber tubes sticking out.) It didn't take long for her to heal and be placed back on the adoption floor. Marigold and Sweet Pea were both eventually adopted!
Kenzlee
ADOPTED!
Kenzlee had a bad bone infection in her mouth which caused a great deal of pain and swelling. We suspected her mama might have bit her inadvertently. At only three weeks old, she needed immediate medical attention. Thanks to C.A.R.E. and the vet staff at VCA Animal Hospital, she had the infected bone removed and was placed on a schedule of antibiotics.
Frankie
RESCUED!
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This is Frankie the Puggle (Pug and Beagle mix). What a happy guy despite the "cherry eye" that plagued both his eyes. Dogs like Frankie usually get adopted, but sometimes what stops an adopter from taking a shelter dog home is a condition like this. We know that Frankie was not damaged goods and the cherry eye could be easily corrected. "Cherry Eye" is when a dog's third eyelid (yes, they have three!) slips out of place. Once it happens to one eye, it usually happens to the other is well. This third eyelid protects the eye and keeps the eye moist. Frankie came through the eye surgery like a trooper and now all he is seeing is a happy future.
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Meatloaf
RESCUED!
MeatLoaf came to the shelter with a severe eye infection caused by Entropian. A condition in which the eyelashes turn inward causing a great deal of pain. If you think getting one eyelash in your eye is painful, imagine having all your eyelashes stuck directly into your eye! Despite the obvious pain he was in, this gentle giant allowed us to give him the care he needed. After his eye surgery that corrected both eyes, he was rescued and eventually adopted to a family that absolutely adore this big ol' teddy bear. Another happy ending!
Mei-Lin
ADOPTED!
Mei-Lin is a beautiful chow chow that was found as a stray in Apache Junction.
Her gorgeous fur matted and dirty and an ear that had an aural hematoma the size of a golf ball. An obvious case of neglect, we wanted to get her back to her beautiful self so that she could be adopted. With such a gentle spirit and a wonderful disposition, she still had a whole lot of years left to give. Only five days after a successful surgery, she was adopted!
Her gorgeous fur matted and dirty and an ear that had an aural hematoma the size of a golf ball. An obvious case of neglect, we wanted to get her back to her beautiful self so that she could be adopted. With such a gentle spirit and a wonderful disposition, she still had a whole lot of years left to give. Only five days after a successful surgery, she was adopted!
Kitten
ADOPTED!
This small kitten came in to the shelter as a stray found by a good Samaritan at a truck stop. She was not using her back leg at all and the leg was thought to be broken. A vet visit, paid for by C.A.R.E., revealed that the leg was in fact not broken and it could possibly be healed in time with physical therapy. At the time, the shelter had about 100 cats and kittens and this little one surely would have been a statistic if not for the generosity of one shelter volunteer who stepped up and fostered her and gave her the therapy she needed. The volunteer eventually adopted her as she could not part with this lovely and strong hearted kitten.
Grey Kitty
ADOPTED!
Grey Kitty came in with a suspected broken leg. Normally, this is the type of injury that the shelter could not afford to treat and the shelter had to consider humane euthanasia. Due to the CARE fund, he was seen by a vet and it turned out that he did not have a broken leg, but had a very large and deep puncture wound to his back leg. He was treated and placed back on the adoption floor. Grey Kitty is now adopted!
Finn
ADOPTED!
Finn came into the shelter as a stray running around a trailer park. He had what was presumed to be an injury to his eye and neck due to an animal attack. He was picked up by Animal Control and taken to the shelter. He waited for his family to come for him, but they never did. He was sent to the vet hospital and the eye injury he suffered was unable to be reversed. He also had a benign mass on the side of his body that needed to be removed. The fund paid for his eye removal surgery and mass removal. Finn has now been adopted and living his life comfortably. His new family reports he loves to play ball and gets around just fine as if he had never lost an eye at all.
Little Tyra
ADOPTED!
Little Tyra came in to the shelter as a stray in March of 2013. Her limbs were swollen, her eye was bulging and cloudy and she was very lethargic. She was diagnosed at the vet with advanced Valley Fever and was given a grim prognosis. The chances of her survival were 50-50 at best. Our medical fund paid for her medical costs as we felt she deserved a chance to live a happy and full life as she was only about a year and a half old. After months of treatment and a dedicated foster mom, Little Tyra turned the corner. She had surgery to remove her eye (which had been ravaged by Valley Fever) and fully recovered. She is now living a wonderful and full life with her new mom and dad and doggie brothers and sisters who all spoil her rotten.
Sweetie
Adopted!
Dogs like Sweetie don't normally get adopted in shelters. She came in emaciated, very scared and with what appeared to be some sort of spinal injury. Normally, the shelter would have euthanized such a pup in this condition. Through the fund, she was x-rayed and tested for Valley Fever. What at first appeared to be an old injury, was actually a birth defect. Her back patellas (kneecaps) were located just to the outside of her knee joints causing her to walk strangely, but not cause her any pain or problems getting around. There was no sign of Valley Fever and her other blood work was normal. The vet recommended joint supplements and to keep her at a good weight, but saw no reason for this lovely girl to be euthanized. Sweetie was placed back on the adoption floor and eventually found her forever home!
Redd Foxx
Adopted!
Redd Foxx was suspected of having Valley Fever. A full blood panel, paid for by the CARE Medical Fund, revealed a positive diagnosis. He was treated with meds all paid for by CARE while waiting for his forever home at the shelter. Redd Foxx was eventually adopted! His new family continue to give him his monthly medication and visits the shelter regularly to let them know how he's doing.
Jack Sparrow
Adopted!
Jack came in with a severe eye injury after spending months roaming around the shelter grounds. This poor cat must have been in quite a lot of pain. The CARE Medical Fund paid to have his eye removed and he was put up for adoption. Jack spent a few weeks recovering and was eventually adopted!
Penelope
Adopted!
Penelope was a chocolate lab puppy that had some severe skin issues. We wanted to give her the best chance at adoption by identifying what was causing her hair loss. A skin scrape revealed Demodectic mange and she was given the proper treatment including Ivomectin injections. Because we could tell her potential adopters that it was an easily treatable condition and all she needed was a little extra TLC, she was adopted shortly after.