The Meriden Humane Society: Emergency Medical Grant Report

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

The funds received through this grant were put toward the medical bill of $3,342.27 to perform Manny's ear ablation, removal of eight teeth, and removal of a mass near his testicle.

This grant helped support our mission and allowed us to accept Manny into our shelter, providing him with the necessary emergency medical care he needed, even with an already-strained veterinary budget in an exceptionally difficult time. Having this help had a positive ripple effect, allowing us to then say "yes" to additional pets in need.

How many pets did this grant help?

1

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

Sometime while our facility was closed during the evening of Oct. 9 or in the early morning on Oct. 10, Manny was left unattended in a small cat-sized crate outside the door of our facility and was not found until volunteers arrived to open in the morning.

We are extremely grateful that no harm came to Manny while he was left out in the elements, especially given that our facility borders both woods and the highway. We do consider ourselves “lucky” that the person who left him also left a note telling us Manny’s name; however, there was no vetting information or way to contact them to get more details.

The note said that Manny had medical issues that they could not afford to fix and that his quality of life without the medical care was not good, but that he was loved and deserved more than they could provide for him. The person stated that they had left Manny with us because we are a no-kill shelter.

We do have a safe process for surrendering an animal, and unfortunately that process was not followed with Manny, whether because of shame or a lack of understanding that there were other, safer ways. However, it was not our place to judge, only to help this poor pup in need.

Upon bringing him inside, it was clear that Manny was in need of immediate medical care. His teeth were rotting, his left ear was filled with tumors, his right ear with filthy, and his skin was in very poor shape. It was impossible to tell where the strong smell of infection was coming from, but his dire condition was evident.

Despite the pain he was clearly in and, I’m sure, his confusion over being left, he was sweet and loving to our staff and volunteers. We rushed him to our vet partner, who immediately provided him with essential vaccinations, as well as a Benadryl injection to combat any reaction, and a microchip. Blood was drawn and a full physical exam revealed what we suspected: extreme dental tarter and rot, bad skin with small wounds apparently due to itching, a mass near his testicle, and a tumor in his left ear needing immediate further attention.

The tumor was connected in multiple places and extended into the ear canal. When the vet examined and attempted to clean Manny’s ear, Manny dropped down on the table, screaming in pain, trying frantically to itch at it. He left the vet on pain meds and other medication and had to wear a cone so as to not further damage his ears.

Manny was taken to a specialist shortly thereafter, who confirmed he needed an ear ablation. This was performed on Oct. 23, 2020. He also had eight teeth removed, and the mass near his testicle was taken out. While Manny was under anesthesia, the vet also performed a neuter. Manny was also found to have a heart murmur, which will need further monitoring.

Despite this extensive surgery, Manny pulled through with flying colors and went to recover with one of our dedicated foster parents. Manny’s foster mom soon realized that they could not live without him and he has been officially adopted into their family!