Happy Tails

Mercy received an urgent call about a dog suffering and in desperate need of help. She had been shot, attacked, and abandoned in a critical state for over a week. And, in this state, she was nursing 9 new puppies. Mercy retrieved her and her pups and took them to Animal Hospital of Marion for immediate vet care. Mama Sweetie lost one of her front legs and the other had an infected and open wound. Mercy was able to get the proper vet care for Mama Sweetie and her puppies and then place them in happy, loving homes. The happy tail ending is Mama Sweetie lives with a family that adores her today! Her siblings are two twelve-year old human, two “tripawd” rescue pups, and two rescue kitties. Her human mom says: “She has been such a blessing to us! She is our little princess and naps on our bed much of the day and also naps with our tuxedo cat. She really is the sweetest of all of our furbabies! She loves peanut butter and expects a treat anytime she comes in from outside. We will be forever grateful to Joy and Mercy for saving her and bringing her into our lives!” 

Valentine came to us on Valentine’s day. We received a call from a good Samaritan who reported her as a feral dog that was being mistreated and on the receiving end of extreme cruelty.  People were shooting her with pellet guns, kicking her, and abusing her. She was starving, and in an effort to seek food, she also got caught in a cat trap. She was extremely frightened of people and her entire facial area had Demodex Mange. Mercy took her in and brought in vet care who discovered pellets in her body and said her leg was in pretty bad shape from the abuse. The vet told Joy at Mercy that it wouldn’t be a wrong decision to put her down. But, Joy was determined to bring her to a happy, healthy state. She spent 6 months rehabilitating her skin and wounds from abuse. Today, Valentine is happy, outgoing, and confident. While she remains fearful of most people, she loves and trusts her foster mom. Valentine’s forever foster mom says: “I’m so grateful she lets me live with her today. It took many months to build trust and she is still very afraid of people, but she trusts me. She’ll lay at my feet and eat out of my hand. I let her set the tone and boundaries based on what works for her. She has the vet (Dr. Justin) come to their home to give her vet care to prevent her from becoming overwhelmed by people given her fear. Her nickname is “Valley Girl”. She LOVES to play with plush squeaker toys and to carry them in her mouth. She also loves to play with other dogs. Her favorite foods are Caesar dinners, Milk Bones, and Pup Peronis.”

Marty’s is a 12-week old puppy and his story is still unfolding. He came to Mercy late on a Sunday night. Marty was dropped at Joy’s home by someone saying the pup had been shot and attacked by a dog. The person said they’d be back and they never returned. Marty was screaming in pain and had severe injuries. Mercy worked to get him out of pain and stable that night and took

Marty to the vet the next morning. The vet’s expectation was that Marty would not walk again due to his spinal injuries. Marty’s x-rays also showed his little belly was full of rocks – as a puppy that was what he was eating. Marty received surgery, care, pain management and proper nutrition. He is now thriving! He is able to move and play and even walk! He has a road ahead of him and has just begun swim therapy with one of our volunteers to help him continue to strengthen and improve. Marty is a hoot and a trooper, and we expect him to come through this and be set-up for placement in a loving forever home!

Wobbles is a very sweet 11 year old Chihuahua who was abandoned and left suffering. Wobbles had lenticular sclerosis, abdomenal inguinal hernia, grade 4 periodontal disease (teeth needed to be removed), a heart murmur (which teeth were contributing to). The x-rays also showed bladder stones which needed to be removed. Wobbles had a good prognosis post medical work, was placed with a loving foster today who ended up falling in love and keeping her.  

Jonas is a Double Merle, and he is blind and deaf. His breeder discarded him because they couldn’t sell him. He was afraid and struggling. Mercy took him in, taught him to use a ramp, and continues to slowly help him work through his fear by using his sense of smell to learn about his environment and help make him feel happy and safe. Jonas is comfortable in his environment and is slowly working through his fear, and Mercy remains committed to helping him reach a thriving state! 

Tootsie is a senior girl. She was abandoned on the side of a country road. She is blind, was coated in fleas, skin and bones and very weak. When she was found, she was barely able to function. She also has chronic dry eye and a hole in one of her corneas, which may ultimately cause eye removal. The flea infestation caused flea anemia and her red blood cell count was so low she needed blood transfusions. Tootsie was also dealing with elevated kidney values and severe pancreatitis. Mercy took her in for immediate vet care. Tootsie has gained weight, she is stable, and her prognosis is very good. She is thriving with her foster family, and she’s sassy, happy, and safe! Mercy continues to provide care for her until we get her to full stability.  

Harvey was left in a volunteer's driveway with a mass on his neck. We took him to the vet for care, and the biopsy showed slow growing cancer. Due to the area it's in, they can't remove it. However, Harvey is enjoying his life right now, and we are going to let him continue as long as he can. We will do the recommended steroids and other treatments as long as he is comfortable. Mercy is concentrating on spoiling him. He loves Cesar dinners, Gerber baby chicken sticks, and to run around in the yard. 

Denzel was dumped in the driveway of Joy’s home in a hard, dirty crate on one of the coldest evenings of the year. He had been a bait dog in a fighting ring and suffered scarring on his face and body. He was also suffering from heart worm. His cries led Joy outside to find him in her driveway with no blankets, shivering, and suffering. She brought him in, fed him, and comforted him. She then took him to the vet the next day where they began immediate treatment. He tested positive for heart worm disease, and they began medical treatment. She then worked within her network to identify a foster care family for Denzel who would agree to take him to and from his veterinary care until he was well. Denzel recently had his second round of heart worm treatment, is thriving, and that lovely foster family has become his forever home!