Thrown away. Broken. But not beyond hope.
Dabber was just a 10-month-old kitten when he was thrown from a moving car and left broken on the side of a highway. Both of his hind legs were shattered. He was bleeding, in shock, and barely clinging to life.
Thanks to compassionate rescuers and a Second Chance® Grant from American Humane Society Dabber received emergency surgery, intensive care and weeks of recovery.
Now, healed and home with a loving family, Dabber’s story shows the power of compassion and how your support gives animals like him the chance to heal, trust, and love again.
Donate now to give hope and healing to the next animal in desperate need.
Dabber was able to have a second chance because of YOU.
When rescuers found Dabber, he was lying motionless on the shoulder of a busy highway — tossed away like trash. A passerby who witnessed the act stopped immediately, rushing to his aid. They couldn’t believe what they saw: both of his back legs were shattered, and he was bleeding and in shock.
Despite his agony, this tiny kitten tried to lift his head — his wide eyes silently pleading for help.
He was rushed to the nearest veterinarian, where X-rays revealed devastating injuries: femoral fractures in both hind legs. The cost of his care was overwhelming, but a local rescue refused to give up on him and reached out to American Humane Society for help.
Through a Second Chance® Grant, Dabber received the lifesaving surgeries he so desperately needed. His right leg was rebuilt with plates and screws, and the other underwent a complex procedure to repair the bone. For hours, his rescuers waited, praying he would survive the night.
And then, against all odds, he did.
In the days that followed, Dabber began to take his first wobbly steps. His caregivers watched in awe as his strength and spirit returned. The frightened kitten who once lay broken on the roadside transformed into a playful, loving cat who purred at every gentle touch.
Months later, Dabber’s story has the ending he deserved. He’s been adopted into a forever home where he spends his days chasing toys, snuggling with his new family and soaking up every bit of love he’s given.
But for every Dabber, there are countless others still waiting — hurt, abandoned, and in desperate need of hope.
Your donation today helps save animals like Dabber — giving them the second chance they deserve. And your gift goes even further, powering all of American Humane Society’s vital programs that protect animals everywhere — from disaster response to service dog training, to ensuring humane treatment on farms, in zoos and beyond.
Please, give now to help more animals like Dabber find safety, healing and love.
The Power of a Second Chance
American Humane Society’s Second Chance grants fund emergency surgeries, life-saving treatments and recovery care for animals rescued from heartbreaking circumstances. Whether it’s a dog pulled from a neglectful home, a cat left injured on the street, or a horse starved and forgotten — this program gives them the medical support they need to survive and thrive.
But none of it is possible without the generosity of people like you.
When you donate, you help fund critical care for animals who might otherwise be lost. And your gift helps American Humane Society continue responding wherever the need is greatest — so no animal has to suffer simply because resources weren’t there.
Stories of Resilience
Willow, a one-year-old sheepdog, was found on a roadside in El Paso, Texas, a victim of severe abuse with burns and a gunshot wound. Her situation was critical, and her chances seems slim.
The intervention of a Second Chance Grant from American Humane Society marked the turning point in Willow’s life, allowing her to get the medical care and love she’s so desperately needed.
Buried alive by her owner Leialoha was found unable to stand, her fur almost entirely gone and her skin burnt by the sun. Rescuers rushed the one year old pup to an emergency clinic where she received life-saving care funded by American Humane society’s Second Chance Grant.
This grant covered the critical treatments needed for her recovery, from cleaning and treating her wounds to soothing her skin and helping her gain weight.
Abandoned on a desolate roadside, Penny was discovered bleeding and weak, suffering from a presumed gunshot wound. She was rushed to an emergency veterinary clinic, and through American Humane Society’s Second Chance grant, Penny was able to receive the critical and urgent care she desperately needed.
After suffering so much fear and cruelty in her life, Penny is learning to trust and love again. Today she is in a foster family where she continues to thrive and is finally receiving the love, care and comfort she truly deserves.
Thrown from a second-story window and left in the rain, Legend endured unimaginable cruelty. With both back legs severely damaged and non-functioning, this resilient feline was rushed to an emergency clinic. Thanks to American Humane Society’s Second Chance® grant, Legend received the life-saving care he desperately needed, including two surgeries to remove his damaged legs and ongoing treatment to help him heal. Now, Legend is learning to navigate the world with courage and hope.
Starved and abandoned, Reba was discovered in a field—emaciated, dehydrated and so weak she could barely stand. Her condition was critical, and without immediate intervention, she would not have survived. Thanks to American Humane Society’s Second Chance® grant, Reba received the intensive veterinary care and nutritional support she so urgently needed.
After enduring such prolonged neglect, Reba is finally safe. Under the care of a dedicated rescue, she is gaining strength, regaining trust and experiencing kindness for perhaps the first time. Today, Reba is on the road to recovery—proof that love and compassion can transform even the most desperate lives.
Your generosity can make a big difference for animals who have been abandoned, abused and neglected and remind them that there’s hope for a better tomorrow and support all of our impactful programs.
