Medical Bills For Uncle Dan

The story of Uncle Dan:

When we walk into a shelter, many times we are there to see a particular dog that has been brought to our attention by either a shelter volunteer or a Facebook friend or an animal control officer. Last week it was brought to our attention that a cute yellow, fuzzy 4 month old butterball Labrador puppy was on death row. So we went down to check it out. But only two cages over was another guy. Oh he was very far from a cute fuzzy butterball puppy. At one time yes, he was:he was someone's cute little fuzzy butterball chocolate Labrador puppy, maybe he was a Christmas present or maybe he was bought to be a hunting buddy. Yes, at one time he had all the hope in the world too, all the wonderment of what life could bring, just like that fuzzy adorable guy two cages down. But not today, Today he was a grey-faced, time worn, broken dog. He was very frail, could barely get up. How could he impress a potential adopter or even a rescue person if he couldn't get up to come to the front of the cage and at least give a tail wag or two of hope? He'd given up. He was what we call in rescue; heartbroken, his spirit was gone. The animal control officer said that they were called to pick him up from a house who said that he'd wandered up to their house and that they'd been feeding him for a few days, but didn't want him, although the animal control officer said the dog looked to be "comfortable" there. It was pouring down rain, the dog was quietly sitting in it. The animal control officer called him over, the old dog limped over. No resistance at all, just did as he was told. So there he was: in the back of the animal control officer's truck on his way to a very bleak future.

When we walked over to his cage, he was laying there with a very tired, very pained look on his face. But, when we called him to come over to us, sure enough, in true Labrador form, he very slowly and painfully gets up to come see us. Because anyone who knows Labradors:knows that they will always put humans' wants and needs in front of their own. His face, scarred. His rear leg, pulled up high, limping in pain. We had already been told that there was no hope for him, the normal rescue that works that shelter would not be pulling him. The shelter information card showed him to be 11 years old and he looked every bit of that or more. He was on death row and no one was coming, no hope. Well, even if he truly was on at the very end of his twilight years, we weren't going to let him die at the shelter. So we said "We'll take him".

He has had a rough life, many scars on his face and body show dog fights, abuse, possibly even being hit by a car. It's been a very long road since he was that hopeful fuzzy butterball puppy full of life. This poor guy had to see the very bad side of humans. But through it all, he has kept his wonderful, amazing labbie temperament. He holds no ill will towards humans and wants to be with you more than anything in the world. His temporary foster Mom reported that he first day he was at her house, he very much liked laying in the sun, so she put a dog bed outside and so then he laid on the dog bed in the sun which made him even happier, but then he began to shiver so she put a blanket on him and he snuggled in even more. He didn't eat the first day and didn't move very much. But the second day he ate a whole bowl of food and began following her everywhere she went. He just wanted to be with her. His spirit had been lifted. He now had hope, he could feel it. He knew that finally someone was giving him what he has so desperately been looking for: unconditional love. He was so sweet with her other dogs and even a little puppy who she was fostering. He loved the puppy and let the puppy climb all over him and the puppy loved him and didn't want to leave him. She said that this dog had the sweetest, most gentle and kind soul that's ever seen and that he reminded her of her Uncle Dan, the sweetest, most gentle and kind soul that she'd ever known. So in Memory of him, this is the story of Uncle Dan.

As it turns out when we got Uncle Dan to the vet, he's not 11 years old, he's only 7 years old. He tested positive for Heartworms and for Ehrlichia. He has a partially torn ACL. He also has a fungal infection on his skin. He has been neutered and has received all of his normal shots. He has begun treatment for the Ehrlichia and is on pain medication for the torn ACL. However, we need your help to pay for his heartworm treatment and to care for his ACL tear. Please consider donating to help out Uncle Dan.

We are a 501(c)3. No donation is too small.

Thank you so very much, we can't do this without you! Paws up for all you do!