Medical Needs to Proceed

Once again, we had a big medical year of Fosters.

Rang in 2025 with Cadillac. He was a husky/shepherd mix from a local Native American Reservation. He was found hit by a car - a Cadillac doing 80mph. Upon xrays, not only did he have a broken front leg and broken ribs, deer bones were found in his stomach. Barely a year old and has already survived so much. After a few months of rehab and kennel rest, he was up for adoption and soon adopted. I mean - how could you not love the dual eyes?

Another one I had at the start of 2025, while waiting for transport to arrive, we get a call about a dog running loose in Osseo (just north of our NDLB main office). A small group of us immediately headed up to try and catch this "large brown boxer looking dog". Three hours later, many u-turns, myself running through a pumpkin/corn field, chasing him up Highway 169, having him cross 169, and finally cornering him into a random backyard that was missing a gate. The catch was secured. After a seven day legal stray hold, we named him Jefferson (after the street he was first spotted on) and welcomed him into rescue. His paw pads were shredded to the point he wouldn't walk. As time progressed, we realized he had something with his eyes. He would walk into walls, doors, etc. He had SARDS - or Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome. Basically meaning he would go blind and unsure when. The hunt for his forever family really kicked off as we were hoping to get him into his home before he would be totally blind - and luckily he did. That sweet boy that no one wanted, found a great home.

Mid March of 2025, we had a beagle on transport from Arkansas that had heartworm. Heartworm is easily preventable with giving a monthly preventative - but is a costly treatment to treat. It involves months of very strict restrictions and a minimum of three vet appointments to do injections. Upon the visit for the first injection, the vet noticed all of Archie's front teeth were broken. I had not noticed anything as he ate and drank just fine. However, he wouldn't be able to go under anesthesia for nearly a year once we started the heartworm injections. So emergency dental it became before doing the injection. He has since been adopted and actually is living in Canada.

Towards the end of March, our intake manager sent me a message stating our partner in Arkansas has a dog that is screaming my name. And boy, oh boy, was he. Valentino Rossi an 8 year old Great Pyrenees with heartworm. He arrived April 12th. I knew upon getting him in that I would most likely be his last home. I had very little hop he would even make it through heartworm treatment. When he came in, he was very weak, coughing, and all in all, in bad shape. I told our vetting team he needed to get seen sooner than later due to his condition. We ran bloodwork and compared it to what the results were in March that the shelter had. It was bad, really bad. Then the words came I didn't want to believe: "severe kidney failure" and "maybe two weeks left". I bawled - honestly, for a few days even. I still get emotional about it now. 9 days. He was with me for 9 days. He will never be forgotten. 

OK. Time for a happy story.

Mother's Day, the intake manager sends a group message asking if anyone, or if we know anyone who would take in a parvo puppy. At this point, I was still mourning Rossi and not really wanting another medical (let alone Parvo - another deadly illness where even if we do everything, it can still not be enough). Curiosity killed the cat, and we welcomed Cookie Dough. A little red puppy who was found in St. Paul and nearly all other rescues were asked and turned her away. Except me. Except NDLB. She survived parvo and was adopted and living with 3 little girls.

Last medical foster, Elsa. Again, the Arkansas team reached out asking if "the girl who really likes fluffies is open". I was and wasn't. But I took her in as one of my other fosters was getting adopted. She's a 6 year old Great Pyrenees who was found wandering alone and heavily matted fur. Her teeth were chipped and heavily tarred, so we got her scheduled for a dental. This poor girl ended up getting SEVENTEEN teeth removed. She loves human attention. And as of today, November 7th, 2025, she is still looking for her forever home.

Without being able to fundraise and receive donations, we wouldn't be able to help these guys or any of the other dogs in our care. Without you, there is no us. Without us, there is no one to say "yes". Cookie Dough was turned away by many due to her parvo status. She was the sweetest and calmest puppy. Cadillac was waiting for a while for a rescue to pull him. Our team in Arkansas is realizing I love the large fluff ball type dogs. 

But please help us so we can continue to help and advocate for them. They deserve a chance. They deserve to have their forever.