When Lucy, a 23-year-old Belgian mare, arrived at
S.T.A.R. Ranch Rescue in Waynesville, N.C., she was a bag of bones with
bad feet. In addition to being malnourished and several hundred pounds
underweight, her hooves -- which had not been trimmed for years -- were
splayed and split. Repeated, severe abscesses over too many years had
caused sections of one hoof to fall away, and all four feet were
infected with thrush. Unable to push herself up from a lying position,
Lucy was in chronic pain from standing constantly. Although Lucy had
spent her entire life with one family, they put her up for sale along
with their property when they moved. A neighbor and some friends who had
been asked to look after her became concerned for Lucy’s overall
condition and contacted S.T.A.R. Ranch for advice. Subsequently, the
owners agreed to relinquish Lucy to the horse refuge. The expensive,
multiple surgeries required to save and rebuild Lucy’s back hooves have
been paid for in part by a Second Chance Fund grant from American
Humane. Although she still has a long road ahead of her, Lucy is gaining
weight, growing healthier and winning over everyone she meets with her
stoic, friendly nature.
Under My Wing Avian Refuge
Franklin, New Jersey
Chip and Chew --
two
18-year-old blue-and-gold macaws -- were surrendered to Under My Wing
Avian Refuge by a friend of their owner due to lack of proper care. Both
birds were dirty and smelled terrible upon arrival, and both had
lameness in their feet that made standing and gripping difficult. Chew
had plucked out all the feathers on his chest, back, legs and underarms
due to anxiety, and Chip had a broken beak and puncture wounds on her
chest that were infected. A Second Chance Fund grant helped provide for
their medical care, and the rescue group reports that with the proper
care and attention, the birds should recover their sweet, loving
natures.
Longhopes Donkey Shelter
Bennett, Colorado
When Wyatt, an 8-year-old mammoth
gelding
donkey, was rescued from a slaughter plant holding pen, he was painfully
thin and had a broken ear and nose, large rope scars, bleeding cuts all
over his body, a nasal infection and overgrown hooves. After surgery
and medication paid for in part by a Second Chance Fund grant, Wyatt
made a full recovery and has been placed in a new home along with
another donkey from Longhopes. According to his rescuers, Wyatt is “a
big goofy donkey” who is extremely affectionate, gentle and easy to
handle. “It is difficult to imagine an animal so big that just wants
people to hug on him, but that is Wyatt!”
Heritage Humane Society
Williamsburg, Virginia
Penny, a 1-year-old beagle, first
arrived at a
Virginia veterinary clinic with an “accidental” skull fracture. She came
back shortly thereafter with a fractured leg, which her owner said had
gotten tangled in a leash. A metal plate was inserted in Penny’s leg,
and she was sent home with detailed care instructions. When Penny’s
owner failed to provide the necessary follow-up, the metal plate
partially erupted from the little dog’s leg, which eventually had to be
amputated. The veterinarian who performed the surgeries suspected that
abuse and neglect had caused the initial injury, and that continued
neglect was responsible for the amputation. The vet contacted animal
control, which seized Penny and brought her to Heritage Humane Society,
where a Second Chance Fund grant helped pay for her recovery. Despite
the obstacles Penny faced, she was amazingly friendly and adapted almost
instantly to her new three-legged lifestyle. Described as “one of the
sweetest dogs we have ever encountered at the shelter,” it was no
surprise that a staff member fell in love with Penny and adopted the
hardy hound.
Freedom Hill Horse Rescue
Owings, Maryland
Kendra, a 1-year-old filly, was
discovered in
the “kill pen” of a horse dealer who is known for selling horses to
slaughter plants outside the U.S. Three rescue groups raised funds to
purchase Kendra, and she was then brought to Freedom Hill Horse Rescue,
where she was given immediate medical care paid for in part by a Second
Chance Fund grant. Kendra was starved and suffering from severe
dehydration, anemia and pneumonia, but according to her rescuers, “She
had life in her eyes that said, ‘If you help me, I will survive.’” In
fact, Kendra required one week of intensive care, followed by many
months of frequent feedings, medications and monitoring. She was a
well-behaved, curious and willing filly throughout the long treatment
process, which saved her from certain death. Kendra has since been
adopted to a forever home in West Virginia and is now a happy, healthy
and wonderfully well-adjusted horse.
The Humane Society of Southern Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tethered in the back of a pick-up truck,
1-year-old pit bull mix Champ
didn’t stand a chance after falling out of the vehicle during a turn.
He was dragged for two blocks and then, when his collar came loose,
Champ was run over by the truck. His owners brought him to The Humane
Society of Southern Arizona, although they at first denied he was their
dog. Upon Champ’s arrival at the shelter’s clinic, 25 percent of his
skin had either been burned or completely removed by the scorching hot
pavement, his toes were partially scraped off and he was bleeding
profusely. In spite of his immense pain, Champ managed to wag his tail
and welcomed the help of the veterinary staff, who performed surgery
immediately. Throughout his horrific ordeal, Champ remained a loving,
friendly, good-tempered boy who loves attention. After admitting that
they were responsible for the incident, the family relinquished
ownership of Champ to the shelter, which received a Second Chance Fund
grant from American Humane. Today, Champ (now known as Rex) is safely
ensconced in a loving home where he is enjoying life with his new
family.
Chesapeake Cats & Dogs, Inc.
Stevensville, Maryland
In June 2009, seven cocker spaniels -- Callie,
Casper,
Harley, Buddy, Bree, Mickey and Abigail -- were dropped off by
their owner at a Maryland animal shelter. The dogs were covered in urine
and suffered from cuts, severe eye and ear problems, rotted teeth and
flea infestations, and it was clear that they were completely unfamiliar
with toys, leashes and even dog bowls. Since the shelter was full,
Chesapeake Cats & Dogs rescued the collection of cockers and ensured
that they received much-needed medical treatment with assistance from a
Second Chance Fund grant. All of the dogs thrived in foster care, and
six have found new homes, while the seventh is working on shyness issues
in hopes of being adopted out in the near future.
Whipstaff Ranch and Rescue
Solway, Minnesota
Life as a puppy mill breeding female couldn’t have
been easy or
pleasant for Lucy, a 5-year-old standard poodle. She
had never been groomed and had developed severe ear infections by the
time the breeder surrendered her to Whipstaff Ranch and Rescue. Ablation
of Lucy’s ear canals was performed with financial assistance from
American Humane’s Second Chance Fund. According to the volunteers at
Whipstaff, Lucy has a gentle spirit and loves people, despite the fact
that she had never known life in a home until coming to the rescue.
Stickney’s Toy Breed Rescue
Cortland, Nebraska
When Murphy, an 11-year-old
Pekinese, was
rescued from a puppy mill, he had a massive eye injury caused by a
puncture wound that had been left untreated for years, severe dental
problems, a fractured jaw and a nearly fatal infestation of hookworms
and whip worms. Although veterinarians initially believed his eye could
be saved, it was eventually removed -- with help from a Second Chance
Fund grant -- because Murphy had lost vision in it and was in
considerable pain. Throughout his recovery, Murphy was a gentle, loving
dog who rolls on his back to show his belly and wiggles his tail like a
propeller when he is picked up. Thankfully, Murphy found his forever
home when he was adopted by one of the rescue group’s volunteers.
Friends of Pets
Anchorage, Alaska
After spending the evening at a local bar, the
owner of Harley,
a 2-year-old male Rottweiler, returned home to find that the dog -- who
had been locked in a bedroom for hours -- had soiled the carpet.
Harley’s owner subsequently beat and stabbed the dog with a
muzzle-loading rifle, causing deep lacerations and massive mouth
injuries, including multiple teeth that were broken at the gum line. The
owner -- who had an extensive criminal record -- was arrested and
charged with animal cruelty. Harley was taken into custody and
subsequently went through corrective oral surgeries in which all the
teeth on one side of his mouth were pulled, paid for in part by a Second
Chance Fund grant. Friends of Pets made arrangements for Harley’s
rehabilitation with a foster family, where he loved to play and snuggle
with women and children (although he is afraid of most men), and he has
since been adopted into his forever home.
Rogue Valley Humane Society
Grant Pass, Oregon
After both owners of Truman, a
4-year-old male
Great Dane, died within two months of each other, he was given to a
homeless man who eventually brought Truman to the Rogue Valley Humane
Society, stating he would shoot the dog if the shelter didn’t take him.
Truman was emaciated and had severe mange that caused constant itching,
serious eye problems and four painful, bleeding, pus-filled paws. An
American Humane Second Chance Fund grant helped pay for Truman’s medical
care, which started the amazingly sweet and loving “gentle giant” on
the road to recovery and normalcy. Each day, Truman continues to improve
physically and is being fostered in his future permanent home.
Humane Society of Kent County
Grand Rapids, Michigan
In late June 2009, a pet cat disappeared for a few
days. His
owners weren’t alarmed at first because Hadley was a known “wanderer.”
However, when the adventurous cat finally dragged himself home, it was
clear that tragedy had struck. Hadley had been cruelly
doused in gasoline and set on fire. Third-degree burns covered his ears,
neck, legs and back, exposing raw flesh in multiple places.
The authorities attempted to find the perpetrator of
this terrible
crime but, so far, have been unable to locate him or her. Meanwhile,
Hadley’s owners couldn’t afford to pay for their pet’s expensive
rehabilitation and turned him in to a local animal shelter. Fortunately,
with support from American Humane’s Second Chance Fund, the shelter was
able to pay for Hadley’s medical treatment. The brave little cat has
almost healed, and will be adopted into a new, loving home once his long
recovery is complete.
KC Pet Program
Kansas City, Missouri
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 Greater Chicago Ferret Association
Westchester, Illinois
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.
The Williams County Humane Society
Bryan, Ohio
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.”
Lost Paws Rescue of Texas
Carrollton, Texas
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.
Helping Persian Cats
Beverly Hills, California
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.
The Animal Welfare Society, Inc.
West Kennebunk, Maine
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 whip worm 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.
Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region
Colorado Springs, Colorado
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.
These are animals that were abused, lost, neglected, rescued from hoarders, puppy mills, dog fighting and chained in back yards. But with the help of some great shelters, animals rescuers, vets and people with big hearts, they have found forever homes and great parents. 
Every year, we save thousands of animals from puppy mills, natural disasters, animal fighting, and so much more.
Doorbell dogs like Rita are found in the villages of Bulgaria and in
many other parts of the world. They survive in a chronic state of
deprivation with no companionship or shelter from the weather and only
scraps of food – typically leftover bread or rice. People use them as
living doorbells that alert them by barking at an approaching visitor.
Rita was only five weeks old when she was chained up in a backyard
and forgotten. She cried for days and then silence ensued for a very
long time. By the time we learned of her plight and intervened, Rita was
skeletal. Her whole world began to change when the owners agreed to
let us feed her daily and begin taking her for long walks.
Can you see Rita in the lower right corner, lying in the grass?
This is her new family in Germany and they love her dearly. Because
it’s not possible to bring this kind of rescue to every doorbell dog, we
ask you to help support our work to raise the standards of care for all
dogs here who wait for help.
In Texas. My husband needed a new throw away car for
work. After seeing an ad in the paper we went over to see about a car.
While there the woman said her father sold registered Miniature
Pinschers, so I had to go see them.
Ladies’
man Alfie certainly lives up to his name: He spends his days lolling
about with his Shih Tzu sister Lucy and his nights cuddled up with his
pet parent, Monica Bond; his aunt Melissa; and Melissa’s Lhasa Apso mix
Winnie.
TEDDLES: In 
JASMINE: When she was seized from Michael Vick’s compound,
Jasmine was so frightened that shelter workers constructed a little tent
inside her cage so she could hide. “Jasmine’s happy, but she’ll never
be like other dogs,” her owner Catalina Stirling told 
SWEET PEA: Sweet Pea, seen here with her owner Michael
Wilson, is believed to be Jasmine’s mother. She has a physical reminder
of her time at Vick’s compound: scars on her snout and head indicative
of combat. Still, 
Two
days later he showed no humping interest and stood outside on all
four’s to go to the bathroom… he never lifted his leg again… amazing!
The woman brought crate, food, toys and a file folder… she paid $1600
for him and he’s a Havanese! He’s now my demo dog for class, is a better retriever than the Lab
girls, knows about 10 toys by name (bear, rope, blue ball, base ball,
mouse, tiger, elephant, octopus, etc) and will always 100% find and
bring back the correct toy, and I’m in love. He’s my first little,
hairy, boy dog and isn’t going anywhere! His name is Dusty (short for
Dustmop)!
If
you’re on the front lines of animal welfare, whether it be rescue,
transport, volunteer or in any other capacity that you deal with dogs,
pets and animals, then all too often you know heartbreak and anger and
frustration. The ones that can’t be saved; not enough time or money or
places for them to go… the sad and often pathetic excuses people give
for dumping their pets; young to old, healthy to disabled and everything
in between. You’ve held the broken, battered bodies, you’ve nursed the
sick, you’ve contemplated giving up as you come to the breaking point.
You’ve dug into your own pocket again and again when donations were
non-existent to feed or vet just one more and you ask yourself “why?”
Why go on… why bother… when no one else helps or cares… 
When
Emmie, an adorable Lab mix, was just 5 weeks old, she was heartlessly
dumped over someone’s backyard fence and abandoned. Apparently, her
first owner -- who could not be traced -- had decided that the sweet,
helpless little pup was “disposable.”
Thanks to 
Emmie
is now fully healthy, and her rough start in life hasn’t stopped her
from playing, cuddling and exploring like a normal puppy. She is an
active member of a new adoptive family, which includes three young
boys. The boys are thrilled to have a dog in their lives, and Emmie is
thrilled to be receiving so much love and attention!
Second Chance People
