Medical Care Match Drive: new feet for Perilla

Perilla is a dear street dog who was horribly injured when hit by a car on the streets of Phuket, Thailand.  She was lucky to be saved from  a certain death on the streets  when taken in by the world famous Soi Dog Foundation, located in Thailand.  They lovingly cared for Perilla at their shelter, spent much effort and time rehabilitating her and succeeded in helping her enough that she was able to walk in a cart after recovering from her injuries.

 They then offered Perilla  for adoption, literally all over the world, thru their extensive network that covers continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.  But there was no one interested in giving Perilla a home.  

At last, after a year of networking, Soi Dog asked Home for Life to accept Perilla at our sanctuary, as they could do no more to help her, and wanted her to have a fuller life then they could  provide. As they wrote, Perilla now needed a third chance to have a happy life, and they believed Home for Life, the 3rd Door in animal welfare, could offer her that opportunity.  Perilla is the 6th dog Home for Life has accepted from the Soi Dog Rescue, and we are so proud to partner with this organization to help some of the world's most vulnerable dogs.

A year and a half ago, Perilla made the long journey to Home for Life all the way from Thailand! See her facebook album here including photos of Perilla in Thailand at Soi Dog: https://bit.ly/3kC7fvf

  Perilla is so determined to live the best life she can. She is only age 4, smart, active and curious. She doesn't like the restriction of the cart and prefers to walk as well she can. The problem is that because of the injuries Perilla suffered, she walks with her hind feet bent over, so she is walking on the tops of her feet: even with the boots she wears, this effort is painful for her and so hard on her back, the skin of the back of her feet, and prevents her from doing all she wants to do. We bought adjustable boots for Perilla to protect her feet, but her feet are still bent over , literally upside down, even in the boots, We wrap the hind feet in bandages , but her skin can't breathe- it would be like us always wearing socks and heavy boots no matter what- and walking on the tops of her feet . Even with protection of the boots or bandages the simple act of walking is a difficulty for this young and spirited, active dog because the bones of her feet had fused by the time she came to Home for LIfe and we couldn't "train" her feet in the right position so the pads were flat. The boots protected her feet, but her feet were still bent within the shoes. an improvement but we had to see if we could do more for her.

The University of Minnesota Vet Hospital's surgical team, led by the renown surgeon Dr Betty Kramek, will reconstruct Perilla's feet in a procedure set for December 15- this delicate reconstructive surgery will allow Perilla to walk with her feet in the right position with her pads on the ground as they should be, protecting her back from further strain and problems,  sores from dragging the tops of her delicate feet on the ground and allowing Perilla to have the life she is capable of: active, fun loving and safe.  Our medical care fund makes it possible for Home for Life to do MORE for the animals in our care- not just to patch them up and move them on but to safeguard them and substantially improve their quality of life so they are not only rescued but truly saved. Our $20,000 Match Challenge will enable us to do transform the lives of dogs and cats like Perilla - for Home for Life, sanctuary is more than taking them in- it's about giving them a life they long for. Thank you for your generous gift  which will go twice as far and do twice as much to help dogs and cats like Perilla.

Perilla's surgery is scheduled at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Hospital on December 15th.  Let's make sure Perilla will have new feet by the holidays . Give from the heart and give to the max to help the most vulnerable animals like Perilla who would never have a chance but for Home for Life.  

And thank you!~

see this video of Perilla and friend Blanco from this spring here: https://bit.ly/36MboYB