Since January 2005, A Better Life - Pet Rescue has placed over 580 animals in loving, permanent homes!
Less than 20% of people who adopt animals get them from shelters or rescues.
Be a part of the solution, not the problem.
When we took Candy to the vet we found out she has dermatoid cysts on the base of her neck - something very common in Ridgebacks due to the way their hair grows on their back. The cysts will continue to grow and could become entwined in her spine, causing paralysis for life. The operation will cost between $2,800 and $3,200.
She is only 8 months old and deserves a chance. This girl is so full of life and love and we desperately want to get her this operation.
We need to get it soon before the cysts take hold of her spine.
To donate, click on the 'Make A Donation' button below.
OR you can send a check to:
A Better Life - Pet Rescue
PO Box 582
Ocoee, FL 34761
We are a 501(c)(3) charity and it's all tax deductible.
PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD SO THAT CANDY WILL HAVE A LOVELY, FULL LIFE!!
All donations will go straight to our vet.
THANK YOU!!!
Meet Boomer, a gorgeous Leonberger who was turned in to Orange County Animal Services after his owner died. We first met Boomer last Tuesday and he was standing, walking, running and taking treats in the play yard. When we went back on Thursday, he was laying down, in feces and urine with labored breathing. We convinced them to give him to us on Friday.
Boomer was rolled out on a pallet jack wrapped in a urine soaked blanket and smelling like nothing we had ever smelled before. It was clear that no effort had been made to clean him or even keep him on a clean blanket. To say he smelled like death would not be an exaggeration. The only way to tell that he was alive was to watch his chest and listen for his shallow slow breathing. His eyes were clouded and unfocused, he was hot to the touch and he was boneless. An officer and our volunteer lifted him into the car and we rushed him to Winter Garden Animal Hospital. When the vet techs came out with a stretcher, Boomer showed the first sign of life by glancing at them briefly. He was brought straight to x-ray so that radiographs could determine what he was facing.
With a precursory exam it was determined that this dog had not had any liquids for days and was going into shock from severe dehydration and a fever of 105.9. The infection on his elbows was obvious as his fur was red from blood and the smell of rotted flesh was prevalent. As a life saving measure he was given 1.5L of fluids bolus (an extremely rapid intravenous infusion). Radiographs revealed no sign of pneumonia but did show bladder stones and a stomach full of air from continuous swallowing. Further testing determined that he had a bladder infection and elevated kidney levels meaning his kidneys were in the process of shutting down. He was put on IV fluids and antibiotics and was admitted for intensive care where his fur was shaved off revealing urine burns on his skin.
Saturday Boomer was rehydrated and his fever was down. However, he was still not moving and could not walk or urinate on his own. Volunteers spent hours sitting with him and massaging his muscles. Eventually he began to stretch his back legs and propped himself up, even taking some food. His eyes were clear and his breathing regular.
By Sunday we received a report that Boomer could hold his weight for short periods of time, but that he still couldn’t urinate on his own. The main concern at this point was that the cause of his lameness and urination difficulty was neurological and may not reverse.
Boomer showed shocking improvement on Monday when he walked and urinated on his own. He also ate, drank and was able to have his IV taken out.
Boomer underwent surgery on his elbows. He is eating, drinking and walking. And he finally pooped! He was basically left to die in his cell. Shocking and so sad. But Boomer is on his way to recovery.
If you would like to help us with Boomer's vet bills, please click on the donation link below.
Thanks for thinking good thoughts for Boomer. He has a long road ahead. He is such a gentle soul who deserves a second chance at a better life.
10/15/09
Since rescuing Boomer in September, from orange county animal services, he has been going to the vet every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for numerous surgeries and re-wrappings on his elbows. All this caused by his horrible treatment at OCAS. Every other day he is transported by volunteers and his foster parents to get his elbows re-wrapped and cultured. He was on nine different medications and pain killers. It was determined that one of the infections he had was E-coli, from laying in his own feces at animal control. His left elbow began healing. His right elbow was not. Our vet could still put their fingers right down to the bone where his flesh had rotted off the muscle and bone. The skin was not healing. We changed medications, continued with surgeries and kept re-wrapping his elbows.
11/7/09
Boomer's left elbow continues to improve though his hips and rear legs are becoming unstable from lack of mobility due to having to keep his elbows laying flat. His fosters wonderful continue to massage and take him for daily walks to make him more stable. We also purchased "doggie leggs" for Boomer so that he is now always padded and has more stability on his elbows. Leonberger's are very large dogs. Boomer has a long way to go.
11/27/09
Boomer has begun seeing improvement on his right elbow! The skin has begun to close though he still has infections. His new medication made him stop eating so we took him off of it. This will slow down the process of recovery but boomer must continue to gain weight to gain strength. Small steps and small recoveries but it is still PROGRESS! Hopefully if this continues, boomer will not need skin grafts.
Boomer's hospital stay, when we first rescued him, was over $2000. Boomer's continuing visits to the vet and surgeries cost us up to $200 a week. Any donations would be appreciated to keep this angel safe and happy. :) You can donate by clicking on the 'Make A Donation' button below.
We rescued Boomer on September 11, 2009. Or maybe I should say that Boomer rescued us. His courage, determination and will power surpassed us all. Boomer taught us that giving up is not an option. He is one smart cookie. :)
Thank you for helping us in our journey with Boomer. He sends you a big Boomer hug and goofy smile. :)
Boomer was rolled out on a pallet jack wrapped in a urine soaked blanket and smelling like nothing we had ever smelled before. It was clear that no effort had been made to clean him or even keep him on a clean blanket. To say he smelled like death would not be an exaggeration. The only way to tell that he was alive was to watch his chest and listen for his shallow slow breathing. His eyes were clouded and unfocused, he was hot to the touch and he was boneless. An officer and our volunteer lifted him into the car and we rushed him to Winter Garden Animal Hospital. When the vet techs came out with a stretcher, Boomer showed the first sign of life by glancing at them briefly. He was brought straight to x-ray so that radiographs could determine what he was facing.
With a precursory exam it was determined that this dog had not had any liquids for days and was going into shock from severe dehydration and a fever of 105.9. The infection on his elbows was obvious as his fur was red from blood and the smell of rotted flesh was prevalent. As a life saving measure he was given 1.5L of fluids bolus (an extremely rapid intravenous infusion). Radiographs revealed no sign of pneumonia but did show bladder stones and a stomach full of air from continuous swallowing. Further testing determined that he had a bladder infection and elevated kidney levels meaning his kidneys were in the process of shutting down. He was put on IV fluids and antibiotics and was admitted for intensive care where his fur was shaved off revealing urine burns on his skin.
Saturday Boomer was rehydrated and his fever was down. However, he was still not moving and could not walk or urinate on his own. Volunteers spent hours sitting with him and massaging his muscles. Eventually he began to stretch his back legs and propped himself up, even taking some food. His eyes were clear and his breathing regular.
By Sunday we received a report that Boomer could hold his weight for short periods of time, but that he still couldn’t urinate on his own. The main concern at this point was that the cause of his lameness and urination difficulty was neurological and may not reverse.
Boomer showed shocking improvement on Monday when he walked and urinated on his own. He also ate, drank and was able to have his IV taken out.
Boomer underwent surgery on his elbows. He is eating, drinking and walking. And he finally pooped! He was basically left to die in his cell. Shocking and so sad. But Boomer is on his way to recovery.
If you would like to help us with Boomer's vet bills, please click on the donation link below.
Thanks for thinking good thoughts for Boomer. He has a long road ahead. He is such a gentle soul who deserves a second chance at a better life.
10/15/09
Since rescuing Boomer in September, from orange county animal services, he has been going to the vet every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for numerous surgeries and re-wrappings on his elbows. All this caused by his horrible treatment at OCAS. Every other day he is transported by volunteers and his foster parents to get his elbows re-wrapped and cultured. He was on nine different medications and pain killers. It was determined that one of the infections he had was E-coli, from laying in his own feces at animal control. His left elbow began healing. His right elbow was not. Our vet could still put their fingers right down to the bone where his flesh had rotted off the muscle and bone. The skin was not healing. We changed medications, continued with surgeries and kept re-wrapping his elbows.
11/7/09
Boomer's left elbow continues to improve though his hips and rear legs are becoming unstable from lack of mobility due to having to keep his elbows laying flat. His fosters wonderful continue to massage and take him for daily walks to make him more stable. We also purchased "doggie leggs" for Boomer so that he is now always padded and has more stability on his elbows. Leonberger's are very large dogs. Boomer has a long way to go.
11/27/09
Boomer has begun seeing improvement on his right elbow! The skin has begun to close though he still has infections. His new medication made him stop eating so we took him off of it. This will slow down the process of recovery but boomer must continue to gain weight to gain strength. Small steps and small recoveries but it is still PROGRESS! Hopefully if this continues, boomer will not need skin grafts.
Boomer's hospital stay, when we first rescued him, was over $2000. Boomer's continuing visits to the vet and surgeries cost us up to $200 a week. Any donations would be appreciated to keep this angel safe and happy. :) You can donate by clicking on the 'Make A Donation' button below.
We rescued Boomer on September 11, 2009. Or maybe I should say that Boomer rescued us. His courage, determination and will power surpassed us all. Boomer taught us that giving up is not an option. He is one smart cookie. :)
Thank you for helping us in our journey with Boomer. He sends you a big Boomer hug and goofy smile. :)
Go to our adoption page to view all of our current animals in need of a forever home.