Lionel's Legacy: COVID-19 Operation Grant Report

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

As a result of COVID-19, we have seen an increase in senior dogs surrendered by their owners to our local shelters and directly to our organizations through our Always Home program. The grant funds provided through the Petfinder Foundation were used for necessary medical diagnostics and treatment for senior dogs entering our program, including lab work, x-rays, medications, vaccines and microchips.

All dogs joining Lionel's Legacy have had little to no medical care; many were previously cared for by senior citizens on fixed incomes. Each dog entering our care costs approximately $700 annually. Although we have been able to continue to raise a significant portion of funds for medical care, as of late we have seen a decline in donor dollars as a result of COVID-19. This grant has helped to offset the funding needed to continue our efforts. Without the Petfinder Foundation grant funds, Lionel's Legacy would have to consider reducing our intake to accommodate for the reduction in donations. This grant has allowed Lionel's Legacy to continue to meet the great and sudden need of advocating for senior dogs in our local community.

How many pets did this grant help?

10

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

Lovey, a 12-year-old shepherd (first photo), came to us because she has multiple mammary masses. Upon x-rays and labwork, we learned she in fact had metastatic spread, and surgeries to remove her masses or perform a dental were out of the question. We would never have known what our options for her would be without these basic diagnostics. For now, she is in a forever foster home, being loved for as many days as she has left!

Frazier, an 8-year-old Chihuahua mix (second photo), was confiscated from his home by Animal Xontrol after his owner passed away. Frazier was released to us due to a deformity of the eye and because of his severe dental disease. After proper lab work, x-rays, an exam and a dental, he has found his loving, forever family.

Coral, an 8-year-old Chihuahua mix (third photo), is a lovely little girl who wasn’t spayed earlier in life and developed an ulcerated mammary mass. She was surrendered to a local shelter, as her family could no longer provide care. We took her in, performed lab work, x-rays, a lumpectomy, a dental, and a spay, and even biopsied her mass. It did come back malignant, but we got good margins. Without our program and your funding, Coral would never have had this chance! Today she runs around and does zoomies with her new family.

Seymore (fourth photo) is a 9-year-old white Chihuahua/terrier mix whom we rescued from a local shelter. He was dropped off when his aging owner entered assisted living. Seymore was obese and x-rays showed an enlarged heart and some fluid. He is on the road to recovery thanks to some heart medications, a strict diet and daily exercise. We are hoping that continued weight loss will take the strain off his heart and he will be medically stable enough for a dental. His lab work was normal so we know we aren’t dealing with a thyroid condition.

Luna (fifth photo) is a 10-year-old Pomeranian who was surrendered to the shelter by her aging owners because they could no longer care for her. She needed a dental so she was not made available for public adoption. Lab work and an exam deemed her healthy and we performed a dental so she could be adopted. Today she is in her new home because medical diagnostics and treatment were afforded through our program.

The senior mom of Buddy, a 9-year-old Lab mix, and Mitch, a 12-year-old Chihuahua (sixth photo), suddenly passed away and they had nowhere to go. They were loved and adored and are the sweetest little souls. We were able to secure a foster family for them together and, so far, lab work and diagnostics show they are relatively healthy but will need dentals in the future. As a result, these dogs did not have to enter a shelter; they joined Lionel’s Legacy through our Always Home program. Meet Buddy here. Meet Mitch here.

Bubby, Mr. Brown and CeeLo (seventh photo) are all Chihuahuas. Bubby, 15; Mr. Brown, age 16; and CeeLo, 3, were beloved family pets. Their owner was a senior veteran and it was clear his little dogs loved him. Unfortunately, he was unable to care for them financially and physically. Both Bubby and Mr. Brown had bad coughs, and after completing lab work and x-rays, our vets determined they had congestive heart failure; both are now on medications to manage it. They also both have severe dental disease, so if they become medically stable in the future, we will need to explore dentals. These dogs did not have to enter a shelter — they joined Lionel’s Legacy through our Always Home program. Meet Mr. Brown here.