From The Aiken Standard
Submitted Article
Maya's story began with FOTAS' plea for temporary foster homes for 30
dogs who were scheduled to be transferred to Connecticut in July.
Typical of the FOTAS magic, Wendy saw the need and called Annette who
agreed to foster some of those dogs.
In Annette's care, the slender, withdrawn young border collie mix from the Aiken County Shelter blossomed into an alert energetic dog. So when the Connecticut transfer fell though, Annette contacted Mary, her rescue partner in New Hampshire.
In less than a week, a family in Massachusetts looking for an agility dog applied to adopt Maya. It was a perfect match, and arrangements for transport to her new family were set in motion.
In Annette's care, the slender, withdrawn young border collie mix from the Aiken County Shelter blossomed into an alert energetic dog. So when the Connecticut transfer fell though, Annette contacted Mary, her rescue partner in New Hampshire.
In less than a week, a family in Massachusetts looking for an agility dog applied to adopt Maya. It was a perfect match, and arrangements for transport to her new family were set in motion.
That was when Annette noticed the slight limp that crate rest did not
heal. Arrangements were already in place for the ride from Aiken to
Greenville where Maya would get the van to Massachusetts.
The routine veterinary appointment for her health certificate was the night before her departure. That was when everything changed.
Dr. White checked Maya's leg by radiograph and discovered an old untreated femoral neck fracture that would require immediate surgery followed by extensive physical therapy. The long-term prognosis for Maya was very good, but she would never be a performance agility dog.
The routine veterinary appointment for her health certificate was the night before her departure. That was when everything changed.
Dr. White checked Maya's leg by radiograph and discovered an old untreated femoral neck fracture that would require immediate surgery followed by extensive physical therapy. The long-term prognosis for Maya was very good, but she would never be a performance agility dog.
Although the prospective adopting family decided to withdraw their
application, the team of rescue volunteers that had formed around this
dog was determined to give Maya the second chance that she came so close
to having.
As word got out, half a dozen FOTAS members raised the estimated cost of the surgery.
Maya's surgery was performed successfully last Wednesday. She will recover in Annette's care as we pursue her physical therapy and the funds to pay for it.
You ask why so much time and money were spent on a damaged dog, when so many sound ones are being euthanized all the time?
Why? Ask Caroline or Denise, Elisa and Jennifer who walked her, Annette who fosters her or Mike who was to drive her to Greenville, Mary who was to place her and the doctors and staff at Aiken Animal Hospital who fixed her. They know this dog.
They are not thinking about the statistics in the abstract, but the one special life that connected with theirs. These are the ones we save - the ones we know, the ones whose lives have touched ours and in whose lives we can make such a big difference.
Yes, we need a new shelter, and that is a big thing. We are going to need a lot of money to do it right, and that is a huge thing.
But for now, why not help with a comparatively small thing that will make an enormous difference, one lovely life at a time? Please donate to "Maya's Recovery" for her renewed hopes for that forever home.
Send to FOTAS and any surplus will go to a FOTAS Magic Medical Fund for the next lucky dog or cat.
FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, email info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.
As word got out, half a dozen FOTAS members raised the estimated cost of the surgery.
Maya's surgery was performed successfully last Wednesday. She will recover in Annette's care as we pursue her physical therapy and the funds to pay for it.
You ask why so much time and money were spent on a damaged dog, when so many sound ones are being euthanized all the time?
Why? Ask Caroline or Denise, Elisa and Jennifer who walked her, Annette who fosters her or Mike who was to drive her to Greenville, Mary who was to place her and the doctors and staff at Aiken Animal Hospital who fixed her. They know this dog.
They are not thinking about the statistics in the abstract, but the one special life that connected with theirs. These are the ones we save - the ones we know, the ones whose lives have touched ours and in whose lives we can make such a big difference.
Yes, we need a new shelter, and that is a big thing. We are going to need a lot of money to do it right, and that is a huge thing.
But for now, why not help with a comparatively small thing that will make an enormous difference, one lovely life at a time? Please donate to "Maya's Recovery" for her renewed hopes for that forever home.
Send to FOTAS and any surplus will go to a FOTAS Magic Medical Fund for the next lucky dog or cat.
FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, email info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your comments and input are always welcome. We appreciate any suggestions or thoughts that will help FOTAS with their goal to help the Aiken County Animal Shelter become a happy, healthy place that never has to euthanize an adoptable pet.