North Texas Australian Shepherd Rescue: Emergency Medical Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

The Emergency Medical Grant helped go towards Frank's medical costs, which ended up being close to $2,000.

Frank was just one of several dogs with heartbreaking pasts who needed our help. Each month, we have at least one dog who needs thousands of dollars in medical care, whether for heartworm treatment, broken bones, acid burns, skin conditions -- the list is endless.

How many pets did this grant help?

1

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Frank was abandoned in a rural area and then viciously attacked by another animal. It took the local authorities two weeks to finally catch him. In that time, he developed a life-threatening infection from his wounds.

A local vet kindly decided to treat him, but could not surgically attend to his wounds until Frank was stronger and the infection had been mitigated. The first surgery required 15 staples and several sutures. A week later, the vet was able to operate on his far-larger wound that needed more than 35 staples and dozens of sutures.

The vet and local shelter were unable to care for Frank any longer and, sadly, he was scheduled to be euthanized. We were contacted along with other local rescues and we could not turn this resilient little guy away. So we scooped him up and took on his medical bills.

He was extremely weak when he arrived at his foster home, but was loved and nurtured back to health.

After about two months, we posted his bio on our website and Petfinder and someone eight hours away fell in love with him. His new name is Hardy and he is living his best life.

This is what his new family says of him: “Since Hardy, a.k.a. Frank, came home, he has had adventures! He went camping in the hill country, to the beach in Galveston, and learned how to float with his new little sister in the pool!

“He is the sweetest, most quiet little guy, but food brings out his personality! Every day he makes us smile. He is so tolerant of his sister; she is still an adolescent and wants to play all the time. Hardy was the missing piece and we love him so much. I can see him trusting us more each day. Every morning he greets me with a nuzzle, a far cry from the first night. Thank you, NTXAR, for what you do — we are so grateful for this sweet boy!”

They also wrote: “I want to update you on Hardy. He has settled into the routine here so well. Our girl has brought out his playful side. They wrestle and chase each other around, share toys, and for treats they automatically know to sit. He has started to give me nose boops, something we do with Stevie. For a while, he had a lost look in his eyes, but now he looks happy and makes eye contact with me regularly. I love when he is excited and bounces! So cute. He loves going with my husband for rides in the Jeep. Loves walking and is great on leash, better than his sister! We couldn’t love him more. He’s even started to “talk” to us! Stevie is very vocal; Hardy has been so quiet but lately talks a little when he gets excited. I think he knows he is with his forever family. Thank you so much!”