Rejection Collection Boxer Rescue: Emergency Medical Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
This grant money paid for the medical treatments that Lou needed: Specifically, he had a UTI and this grant paid for analysis and treatment of that; he had a terrible case of worms; he needed surgery to remove three tumors and surgery to remove four rotten teeth. The grant also paid for all costs associated with these procedures, including anesthesia and antibiotics.
This grant helped RCBR by allowing us to pay for expensive treatments for Lou that were necessary not only to improve his quality and length of life, but also to increase his chances of adoption. Because of this grant, we were able to use the RCBR funds that would have otherwise been dedicated to Lou's needs to rescue another dog.
How many pets did this grant help?
One directly (Lou); at least one other dog indirectly (because Lou's needs were met through this grant, we were able to use the RCBR funds that would have been used for him to rescue another dog).
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Lou came to RCBR as an owner-surrender and the first intake of 2020. His owner had rescued him from an abuse situation and he had lived with her and several other dogs for about five years. Though he was deeply loved, he received minimal to no medical care during this time. His owner became terminally ill and unable to provide for Lou’s needs, including all of the medical concerns that had been building over time. For this reason, Lou was surrendered by his owner to RCBR. His owner was heartbroken, but this was a gift of a new life to Lou!
Lou’s medical needs included removal of four tumors, treatment of a significant urinary-tract infection and terrible case of worms, and significant dental work that included the extraction of four teeth. The Petfinder Foundation Emergency grant was used to meet these needs. Lou’s foster mama with RCBR remembers, “Lou was one of those fosters that you are a little afraid to take on. When he came to us, he was wetting all over the house and when they crated him he would mess and wet in his crate. With his original owners, he would consume the feces and lie in his urine.
“As we found out, he had never been to a vet. Lou had a severe UTI and his system was overwhelmed with worms. He had an odor that was so horrendous that you really had to force yourself to get close to him. Once we vetted him and treated the UTI and worms, we found out the smell was from several abscesses in his mouth and began a course of antibiotics, and everything started to fall into place. This boy had been doing the best he possibly could with the pain he was in. Surprisingly, Lou, although he was in a lot of pain, was never mean. He always was happy to greet you, had a wiggle when you spoke to him and never attempted to be nasty no matter what had to be done to take care of him.
“I think the best part was after the dental when his mouth didn’t hurt anymore. He could eat without having to move the food around in his mouth so that he could swallow it. Lou was the picture of a perfect save, this lovely boy, who hurt so bad but was still sweet, happy, and so grateful for the companionship he so desired. Lou was a success story that a rescue can accomplish: Take a sick dog, correct the problems, show him how to behave in a home situation, and watch the boy blossom. That was Lou.”
Lou had his surgeries on Feb. 17, 2020, healed nicely, and was adopted on Feb. 29, 2020! Not only did he find his forever home with the Gavin family, but he also gained a new fur brother, also from RCBR, who had been adopted by the Gavins earlier that month.
In Lou’s own words (lovingly provided by his new forever mom and dad): “Every night, Hugo and I cuddle with Dad on the couch while Mom plays with yarn and a metal stick thing. But she is making something [with] lots of colors. Anyway, I love it here. My mom and dad and bro are super cool and love me. My other humans like to pet me and give me belly rubs. Sometimes we get treats but not all the time. I really like treats but I think Mom wants to make sure we don’t eat too many at once. Sometimes we lie in the kitchen while Mom and Dad drink brown stuff and talk. Hugo and I lie on their feet to keep them warm. Mom and Dad seem to like that.
“Hey, thanks for reading my story. I sure hope that all the boxers in this world get to have families like mine.”
Thank you, Petfinder Foundation, for your help in getting Lou to his very best forever home and life.
