Humane Society of Independence County: Orvis Dog Enrichment Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
Heartworm treatment for dogs rescued during an abuse call in August 2016.
Of the 10 dogs rescued on this abuse call, five were heartworm-positive. Heartworm treatment is expensive, averaging over $200 per dog treated. This can strain the financial resources of our shelter, which is operating on a very tight budget. This grant, by offsetting some of the costs of heartworm treatment, helped free some of our limited resources to help other pets. In the past, heartworm-positive dogs were euthanized, but now there is treatment. By assisting with the treatment of these dogs, this grant helped save their lives and, when they become heartworm-free, they will be able to be adopted into loving homes.
How many pets did this grant help?
This grant provided enough funds to treat two of the five dogs rescued on that day.
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Dolly (first photo) is a Chihuahua mix who was found wandering about a property amid trash and junk. There were no food or water bowls for her even though the temperature was in the 90’s and the heat index was over 100 degrees. She was taken to the shelter, where she was found to be covered in fleas, with intestinal worms and heartworms. She was treated for her heartworms and adopted by a loving family who say that she is now the happiest dog they have ever seen.
Adam is a Lab mix who was found in a cage with three other dogs (second photo). The “floor” of the cage consisted of mud and muck. The owner fed these dogs by tossing food on the ground in the cage. Adam was found not only to have heartworms but tick fever. He had multiple seizures while at the shelter. Since being treated, his seizures have stopped, but he still requires more heartworm treatment before he can be adopted. The shelter staff say that he is a bright-eyed, happy and loving dog who will make a wonderful pet. The third photo shows Adam today.
