SPCA Eastern Shore, Inc.: Emergency Medical Grant Report

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

The money was used for a dental on a senior dog.

The dog needing the dental was a senior and had very bad teeth, gums and breath.

How many pets did this grant help?

One

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

Missy, our senior blind poodle, had very bad breath and terrible teeth. We wrote the Petfinder Foundation for an emergency medical grant for the estimated cost of a dental, $500, which was granted very quickly. Missy was adopted just before receiving word that we had been awarded this grant; we contacted Missy’s parents and let them know about the grant award. Before the dental could be scheduled, Missy had to go in the hospital for emergency care, where it was found that she had severe infection throughout her body, probably stemming from her mouth. As soon as she was well enough for a dental, it would be scheduled.

The dental was performed on Jan. 5, 2017; X-rays showed 25 teeth already missing, leaving 17 to need removal. No surgery was needed as the teeth came out on their own with just a small amount of wiggling. Missy’s parents paid the bill in full, totaling $388.71. Our shelter will reimburse them this expense from the $500 grant from the Petfinder Foundation. Missy’s next vet appointment will be with a specialist eye doctor, with plans to remove the cataracts from both eyes, and to replace one lens; it is expected to give her back most, if not all, of her sight.