It’s been awhile since we’ve ran a campaign, so … it’s time again! We’re kicking off our “Be the Change” campaign tonight for the next few weeks to share all of the ways you can help make a change in the life of a rescue dog. It ranges everything from sharing posts or voting online, to taking a dog into your home permanently. Every part you play makes a difference in the lives of our dogs, so we want to share that and encourage others to help “be the change,” too.
By Kasey Perritt Pippa came to live with us as a foster 4 days before Christmas. She was only a foster until around New Years because we knew she was supposed to be ours. She had been with mama Donna since August, battling one of the worst cases of heartworms the rescue had ever seen. […]
Dixie and Scruffy’s story is a lesson in not only giving your dog(s) monthly heartworm preventative but in making sure they are tested regularly. Tests can be negative when worms first appear. This is why your vet insists that tests must be done yearly before doses are prescribed. The earlier it is caught, the better chance they stand to overcome them completely.
By Janeen Langley
Shortly after adopting these two wonderful dogs from Donna in 2006, we learned they were both positive for heartworms. Although they had tested negative during their stay at the rescue and even though we never missed a dose of their preventative, they still came down with them. It is possible that the original test was done when the heartworms had just started and were not bad enough yet to cause a positive test. Whatever the reason, and without blaming anyone or anything, we began treatment with our vet. We loved these two and wanted to save their lives.
The hard part was keeping them relatively quiet. Our vet is excellent and advised us we could take them for their usual daily walks in the neighborhood, but said they should not extend longer than 10 minutes. They were not to run or get excited, which could increase their heart rates. This was not an easy task with two energetic Jack Russells who were used to being active.
After a series of treatments and an extended period of being somewhat quiet, we were given the okay by our vet to turn them loose to do whatever they wanted- run, jump, chase squirrels and take long walks. It was a great day and one we will never forget.
Help us spread the word about the plight of our dogs and many more. Please, feel free to share the stories in this series with others.
If you would like to help more, please feel free to donate towards our heartworm treatment fund. Just click the Donate button below and enter an amount of your choice. Please, know that every penny counts.
Happy New Year’s Day, everyone! To heck with resolutions; just learn from your dog(s) this year.
Thank you to everyone who has ever adopted a rescue or shelter dog and made a difference.
