Live Love Animal Rescue: Emergency Medical Grant Report

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

Grant funds supported femoral head ostectomy (FHO) surgery and a dental for Louie, a 5- to 6-year-old Pomeranian/terrier mix. These surgeries were necessary to heal old injuries and prepare Louie for adoption.

Louie is one of 80 dogs whom we took into our care during the first week of July as part of our Foster the 4th program, which saves dogs at risk of being euthanized for space when the shelter fills up around the 4th of July. This program has been embraced by our community, and we had a surplus of volunteers to temporarily foster dogs over the holiday period. As a result, our main barrier to further lifesaving was funding for medical care. We are committed to providing the best care for all dogs in our custody, and medical costs for this program were more than $32,000, given the number of dogs like Louie who required surgeries and other non-routine medical care. Dedicated grant funding has a major impact for dogs like Louie, allowing us to schedule his surgery without delays for fundraising. For Louie, that means less time in pain, less time until he is fully healed, and less time until he is ready for adoption. We are very grateful to the Petfinder Foundation for supporting Louie’s surgery and allowing us to give him timely care in preparation for adoption.

How many pets did this grant help?

1

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

Louie came into our local shelter as a stray and was there for almost two months. He was overlooked by adopters because he was quite fearful in the shelter and had some untreated medical problems that tend to be a financial concern for families. In particular, an untreated and unhealed leg injury was causing Louie pain and problems with mobility, and it appeared likely that Louie would require surgery.

We took Louie into our rescue’s care during the first week of July as part of our Foster the 4th program, ensuring that he would be safe over the 4th of July holiday when the shelter is full.

After our trusted veterinarian performed x-rays, we determined that Louie would indeed require a femoral head ostectomy (FHO) surgery in order to properly heal. Removing the femoral head would allow it to regrow, giving his leg an opportunity to heal properly. Louie also needed a dental, which could happen on the same day.

Louie’s surgeries took place this week, and he is currently healing in his foster home while he awaits placement with a permanent adoptive family. He is now toothless, but he’s the same playful, happy pup, and we know he will feel much better in no time. He is in loving hands with an experienced foster family who are helping to promote him for adoption into a permanent home.

Louie is currently listed for adoption here. He is smart, happy, and eager to please. We are excited to find this pup the loving, secure home that he deserves!