Friendship Animal Protective League: Petfinder 20th Anniversary Grant Report

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

It was used to treat five dogs who had sustained severe injuries. We call those dogs the Petfinder Five.

This grant allowed us to save the lives of five dogs who may not have received a second chance without the support of this grant.

How many pets did this grant help?

The grant helped provide vet care for five dogs. We call those dogs the Petfinder Five.

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

In November of 2016, we were informed that we were one of 25 shelters being awarded a $10,000 grant. This grant had a primary objective of saving the lives of animals who might otherwise not have had an opportunity to find forever homes. That is exactly what Friendship APL did.

PENGUIN
It all began with a little dog named Penguin (first photo). Lorain police officer and Friendship APL volunteer Rick Broz found an injured dog in the city. He had been hit by a car. His leg and pelvis were left shattered. He spent several days at Lorain Animal Hospital before being transferred to our care. We took Penguin to West Park Animal Hospital. After x-rays, we knew the leg was too far gone to save. It would require amputation, followed by a month of rehabilitation in a foster home to allow the fractured pelvis to heal.

On Feb. 25, 2017, Ashley Sims drove all the way from New Jersey to meet her sister at Friendship with her two Boston terriers in tow. She had been following Penguin’s story since his arrival. After a meet-and-greet between her and her four-legged family (second photo), Penguin was on his way home to the Garden State.

LOLA
With Penguin’s story came a series of dogs who had sustained similar injuries, either by accident or inflicted on purpose, and who all had similar issues. Next up was dog number two – Lola! Nine-month-old Lola (third photo) arrived from the Mahoning County dog pound. She was intended to be an easy adoption from an overcrowded shelter needing help. Shortly after arrival, though, our volunteers and staff noticed some swelling and tenderness in her front leg. We took her to West Park for x-rays. To our disbelief, she had been walking around on a leg that had been broken most likely weeks before she’d arrived at the Mahoning County Dog Pound. It had actually begun to heal, but in such a way as to cause much discomfort for the poor girl. The leg at this point could not be saved and once again would require the leg to be amputated. Lola officially arrived at Friendship APL on Jan. 9. She found her new home on Jan. 28.

SERENDIPITY
Coincidentally, while we were sitting in the emergency clinic with Lola, the City of Cleveland dog warden walked in with a dog who had been hit by a car (fourth photo). What was wrong with the young boxer mix? You guessed it: another broken leg! The dog would be made comfortable by the West Park staff and held for three days should an owner step forward. No owner stepped forward, and Friendship agreed to help the stray dog. Dog number three would come to be known as Serendipity, because if we had not been there with Lola, would we ever have had the opportunity to help her?

Serendipity’s injury was recent. Thanks to the work of the Cleveland Kennel and the team at West Park, her leg was able to be saved. It required the placement of plates and pins, but she would be the only dog in this story able to keep her leg. Serendipity officially arrived at Friendship APL on Feb. 1 (she arrived at West Park Animal Hospital on Jan. 9). She would find her forever home on Feb. 4.

ARROW
Next up was Arrow, an 8-month-old pit bull (fifth photo). This was a direct request from a veterinarian. This sweet boy was surrendered to the vet for euthanasia following an injury to his rear leg. After seeing the multitude of stories over the past two weeks, it made sense that the staff would reach out to us to help. Arrow arrived at Friendship APL on Jan. 14. He found a loving family on Jan. 18!

AUBREY
So that made four. The final dog in the bunch (sixth photo) was very special. We had emergency call come in concerning a puppy who had been attacked by another dog. The good Samaritan was able to rescue the dog from the attack and drive him over to Friendship APL. The little beagle mix was only 4 or 5 months old. The injury was so severe, it required immediate surgery. Their were two immediate concerns. Bite wounds are more likely to become infected, and her leg had been snapped in two. This would be the hardest decision we would have to make.

We had two choices. One: We could put pins and plates in and save her leg. Or two: We could amputate. Option one seemed like the obvious choice. However, upon further discussion with her veterinarian, this could result in multiple surgeries. Given her age, her leg would continue to grow. This could result in her having to undergo multiple surgeries over several weeks. With each surgery, there would be a risk of complication. We decided to go with option two. She would only have to spend a few weeks recovering in a foster home adjusting to life on three legs before heading to a new home. And that is exactly what happened.

Aubrey arrived at the shelter on Jan. 22. She found her Valentine on Feb. 14.

One of the strangest parts of this story is that Penguin would lose his right, rear leg. Lola would lose her right, front leg. Arrow would lose his left, rear leg. Aubrey would lose her right, front leg. That means every dog who needed surgery in January would lose a different leg (except Serendipity, who did not lose a leg at all). What are the odds of that?

On behalf of our entire staff, volunteers and the Petfinder Five, we extend our most heartfelt gratitude for helping us save their lives.