Shelter Professionals

Like the mythological bird that rose from the ashes for which she is named, Phoenix -- a 1-year-old tortoiseshell cat -- managed to somehow survive being doused with charcoal lighter fluid and set ablaze allegedly by two young brothers who owned her. (Tragically, the family dog was also set on fire and did not live.) When the little cat -- who suffered second- and third-degree burns on 20 percent of her body -- returned home after three days, a family member called animal control. The veterinarians who cared for her say that despite her terrible injuries, Phoenix not only fought hard for her life, but purred and rubbed lovingly against the people trying to save her. Treatment of her severe burns was painful, lengthy and expensive, but with the help of an American Humane Second Chance Fund Grant, Phoenix has indeed risen again and is awaiting a new forever home.

The outlook for three neglected ferrets -- Blacknose, Garfield and Beethoven -- was not good when they first arrived at the Greater Chicago Ferret Association. Blacknose had spent his first five years confined to a cage in his owner’s basement before being surrendered to the shelter. The poor animal had rarely been released to play, and had also developed a dangerous and painful tumor on his tail that went untreated. Meanwhile, Garfield was found on the street with a large infected mass extending over a hind leg. He had likely been abandoned by an owner unwilling to care for him. A third ferret, Beethoven, was surrendered to the shelter with severe urinary problems, signs of adrenal disease, rashes all over his little body and an infected tooth that had broken off nearly at the root. Like his namesake, Beethoven had also succumbed to complete deafness.

Fortunately, a Second Chance Fund grant from American Humane was awarded to treat and rehabilitate these sweet little pets. All three have regained their health -- and rediscovered their playful natures. Beethoven and Garfield have already been adopted into new, loving homes, and Blacknose is safe in a foster home, where he awaits permanent placement.

When a Williams County, Ohio, humane officer received a call reporting a very skinny dog that appeared to be a greyhound on a rural property, she could not have imagined the horror she would actually find: Izzy, a starving 7-month-old female Great Dane who weighed an appalling 53 pounds. The skeleton-like dog -- who was being kept in a trash- and feces-filled garage with no ventilation, sunlight, food or water -- collapsed as she was greeted by the officer, who immediately called for backup to remove Izzy, two other emaciated dogs and three kittens. After the animals were taken to The Williams County Humane Society, Izzy was transferred to a nearby veterinary clinic for emergency medical care. A Second Chance Fund Grant from American Humane helped subsidize treatment for her extensive medical problems, including malnutrition, dehydration, fleas, and multiple open wounds on her face and legs. Today, Izzy is slowly putting on weight and being treated like a queen while she continues to recover back at the shelter. According to the humane officer who rescued Izzy, “Her eyes say it all now: Thank you.”

As if the life of a breeding female dog isn’t grueling enough, the right front leg of 3-year-old Italian greyhound Athena had been badly broken for months while she continued to deliver and wean puppies. A friend of the backyard breeder who owned Athena surrendered her to Lost Paws Rescue of Texas, and she was immediately taken to a veterinarian. The vet determined that her leg was so seriously damaged that it had to be re-broken and set -- a procedure paid for in part by a Second Chance Fund Grant from American Humane. Throughout her ordeal, Athena made new friends and played with everyone she met, displaying the indomitable spirit that has already helped her find a permanent home with a loving couple and another dog who has become her constant companion.

If cats really do have nine lives, Caesar -- a 4-year-old Himalayan -- used up several of his during the spring of 2009. Normally an indoor cat, Caesar sustained multiple fractures and wounds to his right rear leg when he escaped from home and got caught in a car engine. Caesar’s owner took him to a veterinarian, who offered to amputate the leg for free and re-home the cat after his recovery; however, the owner refused and asked that Caesar be euthanized instead. Upon the vet’s refusal to do so, the owner took Caesar to an overcrowded shelter, where chances were high that he would be euthanized. Defying fate once again, the still-injured cat was adopted shortly thereafter by a good Samaritan, who unfortunately couldn’t afford the necessary medical care, so Caesar remained in pain for several more days before being relinquished to Helping Persian Cats. With assistance from a Second Chance Fund Grant, surgery was performed to save Caesar’s leg. Since then, he has become a favorite at the animal hospital, where his outgoing, affectionate personality and amazing resiliency have given the staff high hopes for his recovery and eventual adoption.

Showing clear signs of a lifetime of neglect, 5-year-old hound mix Stella was found as a stray in Indiana, where she was brought to the local humane society. Due to the stress of fending for herself, Stella had accumulated a long litany of medical issues: Lyme disease, buckshot wounds to her head and chest, severe dental decay, malnutrition, and whipworm and Giardia infestations among others. Thankfully, due to her sweet expression and shy, gentle personality, Stella was selected for relocation to The Animal Welfare Society in Maine through the Paws Across America program, which transfers highly desirable dogs and puppies from overpopulated areas. Stella has now completed treatment for a number of her maladies and is gaining weight and growing healthier day by day. Currently in foster care -- where she is taking walks, playing with toys and lounging on the couch -- Stella will soon be well enough to find a forever home filled with the love and attention she lived without for so long.

In mid-February 2009, 67 small-breed dogs were rescued from a puppy mill in southern Colorado, where poor living conditions and neglect converged to create an abundance of health and behavioral problems for the animals. The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region agreed to care for the influx of mostly female dogs and -- with the help of a Second Chance Fund Grant -- provide them with much-needed medical attention, including extensive dental work and deworming. Most of the dogs have since been sent to foster homes, adopted or transferred to a dog-mill rescue organization, where they will be shielded from additional hardship until they can find loving homes.

Weak and almost lifeless with deep wounds to her face and right eye, De De -- a 7-year-old dachshund -- had been wrapped in a blanket and heartlessly tossed in a dumpster. Fortunately, the garbage truck driver on that particular route regularly checks the trash bins for fear of finding a human body or pet. On this day, his fears were realized, and after unwrapping the frail dog, he rushed her to the local animal shelter. There, all hearts and hands reached out to De De, who still craved human interaction despite her battered condition. Although it is not known whether her injuries were caused by another animal or by human abuse, a grant from the Second Chance Fund paid for the cleaning of her wounds, the removal of her ulcerated eye and the extraction of 22 teeth. Happily, De De has been adopted by the veterinary technician who fostered her during her recovery -- and who is also the “forever” mom to yet another lovable one-eyed dachshund.

Penny, a miniature horse between 6 and 9 years old, had no hay and was forced to graze in a pasture covered with several feet of snow -- a challenge magnified by the fact that her hooves had never been trimmed in her entire life. The severely overgrown hooves, combined with multiple abscesses in her feet, made it nearly impossible for the tiny mare to walk. Fortunately, Penny and nine other miniature horses were taken in by Triple H Miniature Horse Rescue when their owner advertised them as unwanted. With assistance from the Second Chance Fund, Penny is receiving corrective trimmings, and the sweet, even-tempered little horse with a big spirit is expected to make a full recovery.

When 47 Chihuahuas were removed from an Alabama puppy mill in December 2008, many of them were adopted within days. However, 12 of the dogs were in such deplorable condition -- caused by a lifetime of neglect -- that they were unadoptable due to their serious physical handicaps and medical problems. All were flea, lice and worm infested and suffered from a combination of severe malnutrition, fractured limbs, extensive dental disease with no teeth and disintegrated jaws, blindness caused by eye ulcers and cataracts, and/or severe heart murmurs. The dozen little dogs were transported to Angel’s Gate Hospice & Rehabilitation Home for Animals in New York, where they were hospitalized and given emergency treatment, paid for in part by a Second Chance Grant from American Humane. Happily ensconced in their new home, the cherished Chihuahuas will receive the love, kindness and respect they deserve for the remainder of their days.

In October 2008, Fayette County Animal Rescue received a call from a local resident stating that there were dead and malnourished animals on the property of a person who had previously been convicted of animal cruelty. The story was all too true: The remains of four dead horses were discovered, along with three emaciated horses and multiple dogs living in raised cages or tied up without food or water. In addition, three 2-month-old kittens -- inseparable brothers Formosa and Kama, and female Berclair -- were found huddled in a dirty, dilapidated rabbit hutch with only hunks of bread and filthy water for nourishment. All of the rescued animals received veterinary care -- provided with the help of a Second Chance Grant -- and today, most have been adopted or are awaiting a new family. Happily, Formosa and Kama were adopted to the same home where they can play and snuggle together.

When Hope, a 2-year-old redbone coonhound, was dumped by her owner, she was little more than a neglected, 31-pound bag of bones and fur. Not only was Hope severely emaciated, but she also suffered from acute anemia, elevated platelets, extreme liver problems and a heavy parasite load. On top of these medical issues, buckshot remnants in Hope’s right rear leg and hip caused her to walk with a limp. Fortunately, the Texarkana Animal League rescued Hope and placed her in their new foster-care program, where she was put on a special diet and daily medications (paid for in part by a Second Chance Grant). Today, Hope weighs 50 pounds, has a glossy red coat and is still growing. Best of all, despite how she was previously treated by humans, Hope retains a sweet disposition, loves people and brings a smile to the face of everyone she meets.

Update: After many months of extensive veterinary care, Hope lost her fight for life in early June 2009. Although this Second Chance story has a sad ending, Hope was lavished with love and tenderness by all those who cared for her throughout her courageous battle.

On Christmas Eve 2008, Winnie -- a 1-year-old hound mix -- was brought to the Erie County SPCA after a neighbor complained about four dogs being kept in a small cage in a garage. Animal control officers had found the little dog dehydrated, emaciated (only 14 pounds) and very cold, with no fur and bleeding skin resulting from mange. The owner signed her over to the shelter, where -- despite her very painful and poor condition -- she continued to wag her tail and give kisses to the technicians. In addition to her other medical problems, Winnie was so weak and frail that she fractured her leg in a foster home. Nevertheless, thanks to a Second Chance Grant from American Humane that helped pay for her medical bills, Winnie left the shelter at a healthy 36 pounds and ready to start life with her new family.

Ritchie, a 4-month-old Labrador mix, did not have an easy entry into the world. Her owner threw Ritchie and her six siblings out of a speeding pickup truck on a highway near Neosho, Mo., when she was just 7 weeks old. A kind bystander brought the poor pup to a nearby veterinary clinic, where she received medical care for her injuries. (Ritchie’s littermates were not so lucky; all six perished on the highway.)

Because the person who found Ritchie was not in a position to keep her or pay her medical bills, American Humane awarded a Second Chance Grant to the Coalition for Animal Rescue and Education (C.A.R.E.) in Hillsboro, Mo., which is taking care of Ritchie. Despite her worsening bladder problems, Ritchie has a terrific personality, loves attention and enjoys playing with other dogs. “She’s a tough girl,” reports Carole Pitzer of C.A.R.E.

Authorities believe that Precious Angel, a 5-month-old tabby, was intentionally shot in the eye with an arrow and left to wander the streets with the shaft protruding from her head for several days. The wounded kitten was picked up by animal control and taken to a local shelter, where volunteers from WAG Animal Rescue were impressed by her sweet, friendly disposition, despite her distressing condition. They took her to a veterinarian who successfully removed the arrow, although the kitten lost her left eye. Nevertheless, the aptly named Precious Angel remains extremely loving and should have no problem finding a home once she has recovered from her ordeal. American Humane presented WAG Animal Rescue with a grant from the Second Chance Fund to help offset the cost of Precious Angel’s surgery and medical care.

At just 5 months old, a helpless puppy was taken from his backyard to an abandoned home, where he was brutally beaten. Allegedly, the perpetrators, whose trial is pending, used the handle from a sledge hammer, a rock and a beer bottle to cause skull fractures, numerous cuts, a broken leg and a terrible eye injury. The puppy was surrendered to Homeward Bound and renamed Justice. He immediately received medical treatment, which American Humane helped pay for through our Second Chance Fund. The veterinarian was unable to save Justice’s eye, but the courageous little dog otherwise made a full recovery. Amazingly, even right after the attack, Justice continued to show his affection for people. He now shares his sweet nature with a new, loving family that adopted him from Homeward Bound.

It was an all-terrain vehicle that ran over the foot of Nakota, a two-year-old German Shepherd. He was brought to the vet and casted. But because Nakota wanted to chew at the healing foot, the owner made a new “cast” for the dog by removing the cast and wrapping his entire leg with layers of duct tape -- a cruel solution that within weeks produced a vile smell and infection. The vet was called in again, and immediately insisted the owner relinquish ownership. The traumatized leg was open to the bone from the middle of Nakota’s hip down. All the toes on that leg had to be amputated, and three of the pads on his foot were beyond saving. For some dogs, it would have been easier just to remove the infected foot, but taking Nakota’s leg would’ve put more pressure and stress on the other side, which ultimately would’ve given out due to an earlier injury. The dog was turned over to Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue, where volunteers worked for months to help the dog heal, and American Humane was able to offset the cost of this long and extensive treatment. Today, Nakota is back on his feet and awaiting adoption into a new, loving home.

When Myracle, a 1-year-old American pit bull, was spotted in a ravine, it was believed she was dead. She was emaciated and had been brutally wrapped in barbed wire, and part of her tongue had been cut off. A passing couple managed to lift Myracle up and bring her to the nearby Rogue Valley Humane Society, where was immediately taken into veterinary care. Her wounds were cleaned and she was put on antibiotics. Clinic workers discovered an infestation of larva in the flesh around her gashed neck. The cost of Myracle’s treatment quickly rose to more than $600. American Humane stepped in and issued a grant through the Second Chance Fund to the Rogue Valley Humane Society to help cover the expenses. The organization recently reported that Myracle has recovered from her ordeal and was adopted into a new family that cherishes her sweet spirit and ability to forgive.

Emma, the loving Beagle that was featured in an American Humane mailing, is getting stronger every day. Emma had been brutally shot and was desperately trying to pull herself out of a ditch when a fisherman found her. The man brought the dog home, where she spent three nights sleeping under his car. He contacted Tipton Treasures, which immediately sent a volunteer. When Emma saw the worker, she crawled out from under the car, amazingly full of love and wet kisses. The volunteer rushed her to a veterinary hospital to treat her many injuries. The gun shots had left her with both hind legs paralyzed and without bladder or bowel control. She was outfitted with a small cart to help her walk, and special diapers for her incontinence.

Through our Second Chance Fund, American Humane stepped in to help cover Emma’s medical expenses. Today, Emma is finding love and happiness with a new owner, who brought Emma to physical therapy twice a week and even converted her own pool to a water therapy center for Emma. This spirited, fun-loving little dog is now able to walk a mile every day on her own!

Halle and Midnight had been bred so many times, so often, that their backs were permanently swayed and their abdomens drooped unnaturally. Besides being over-bred, they were victims of pure neglect. Halle’s ears were so infected the canals were swollen shut. Midnight had mats as on her ears and face that were so bad that her ears were glued to the side of her head. They had to be cleaned and treated under anesthesia. Their breeder had surrendered Halle and Midnight, along with 21 other dogs, to the Poodle Rescue of New England when it was clear she was going out of business. The rescue took the dogs in and immediately got to work to get them the medical care and treatment they desperately needed, and American Humane helped offset the costs through the Second Chance Fund. The dogs are living in foster care now, looking for permanent homes. We are happy to report that they’re getting the love they deserve, and their “working” days are over.