Popcorn Park/AHS-Forked River: Shelter Challenge Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
The money was used towards our Res-Q-Fund to help injured animals with surgeries, medications etc.
This money helped our organization to pay for the medical needs of Trinity.
How many pets did this grant help?
1
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
An East Orange backyard breeder brought in a 4-month-old Rottweiler from the litter he had raised. All had been sold, but Trinity had been born with a congenital handicap. There was no question as to why he was turning her in — obviously this pup would not bring in any money on the puppy market since she had a deformity. Little Trinity has a severely deformed front paw. Her other front leg is also deformed, and is just a tiny stub. Trinity was immediately taken to our medical department for evaluation and x-rays, and was then sent down to us at Popcorn Park for round-the-clock care.
We immediately fell in love with the playful and lovable little girl. Trinity has such a warm and loving personality, and is such a fun-loving little girl that you wouldn’t know there was anything wrong with her. We found out quickly that even with a deformity, she doesn’t let anything slow her down. She is a huge fan of squeaky toys and will take off after any that you throw for her. She also loves other animals and is always up for playing with one. She is our new office mascot by day, and at night, she goes home with our kennel supervisor — who spoils her silly.
A consultation was done with Dr. Russell Howe-Smith, surgeon and owner of Pet PT in Cherry Hill, who has done some amazing work on several of our other handicapped and injured animals in the past. He has taken dogs and cats who would have been left paralyzed due to various conditions, including abuse, and took the time to work with them and get them up on all fours again. Trinity took a trip to Pet PT and as Dr. Howe-Smith was finishing up with a patient and walking by, Trinity took one look at him and began following him around! It was as if she knew this was the person that could help her.
After a thorough evaluation by Dr. Howe-Smith, we are just thrilled to report that Trinity will have a long and healthy life ahead of her. She needs a procedure called a podoplasty, where her front paw will have the two appendages fused together to form one healthy, usable paw. Her other deformed leg is not causing her any pain, so she will just be without the use of that one. After the operation, Trinity will require bracing for about eight weeks and then she will be ready to start life over again in a wonderful new home!
If Trinity had been brought to any other place, who knows what would have become of her? Lucky for her, she came to us and we will do everything in our power to ensure that she gets every chance possible to live a long, full life as a happy and healthy dog.
