Senior Animals In Need Today Society (SAINTS): Shelter+ Challenge Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

The money was used for veterinary care.

This grant enabled us to provide necessary medical treatments to the animals in our care, as follows:

EastRidge Animal Hospital
January 2, 2014
Ollie (dog) – exam, bloodwork, antibiotics
$231.20

EastRidge Animal Hospital
January 16, 2014
Salty (dog) – geriatric neuter, dental (with 19 extractions), pain medication, tissue biopsy (for testicular tumour)
$784.39

Total = $1,015.59

How many pets did this grant help?

This grant helped two dogs.

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Local animal control found a senior beagle named Ollie running loose and picked him up. Sadly, his family never came to claim him, so he was brought to SAINTS. When he arrived at our shelter, Ollie was incredibly overweight – 60 pounds! – and was suffering from chronic skin and ear issues. Fortunately, relief was in sight. He was given a medicated bath and put on antibiotics, ear drops, and pain medication for his sore hips. He had his ears flushed and bloodwork done to rule out any underlying causes of his weight problem. Through it all, Ollie remained a good-natured dog and fit in well at SAINTS. With regular low-impact swimming sessions, he even began to lose some weight.

Happily, Ollie was adopted only a few months later by a veterinarian with a soft spot for hefty beagles with health issues. He has settled in well in his new home where all his medical needs are met and he can continue his weight-loss journey.

Salty, an ancient Jack Russell terrier, was transferred to SAINTS from local animal control. As an unclaimed stray, he was in rough shape – skinny with cataracts and a mouthful of rotten teeth. After settling in at SAINTS, Salty was taken to the veterinarian for assessment. Not surprisingly, his bloodwork showed a number of abnormalities, likely the result of his severe periodontal disease. Luckily, however, he was cleared for surgery.

Salty ended up having 19 extractions, as almost all of his teeth were abscessed right to the roots. He was neutered at the same time, and put on pain medication and antibiotics. With his sore, infected mouth finally healing, Salty began to perk up and put on some much-needed weight. A few months later, a woman who had previously adopted a senior dog from SAINTS stopped by to let us know that he had passed away. While visiting our shelter, she fell in love with Salty and decided to once again give a deserving senior a forever family. She reports that he is doing well in his new home.