Only a very small number of dogs and cats remain in one home their whole life. When they lose their homes, they must cope with the confusion, fear and loneliness that follow.
“My little boy and I have no choice but to move into a homeless shelter today and cannot take our puppy, Peanut, with us.”
An appointment was made for the woman to come in to surrender her dog. When she and her 7-year- old son arrived they had all of their belongings crammed in plastic bags and suitcases.
Peanut was 10 months old, deeply loved, extremely sweet and well-mannered. The woman showed us that Peanut could sit, stay and shake, and was already housebroken.
It was one of the hardest and most difficult choices for this young mother to have to make, but the home they were living in was no longer an option for them. Her son was crying and trembling the whole time. The mother was holding back her tears as she picked him up and quietly spoke to him.
“We have to go somewhere else to live today, but the important thing is that we’ll be able to stay together. We talked about this, remember? Peanut can’t come with us but these nice people are going to take extra good care of her.” Her son kept saying, “No, no, no! I just want to go back home! Please, Mommy, she’s my puppy! I just want to go home!” His face was so pained and he was so upset that he couldn’t form words anymore. He just shook and cried.
When all of the paperwork was done, it was time for them to leave.
“It’s time to say goodbye. Now be brave for mama, it’s time to say goodbye.”
The boy knelt down and hugged and kissed Peanut, who was now soaked from the little boy’s tears.
When he finally let go, Peanut held out her paw and the boy grabbed it and wouldn’t let go. He hugged her again and his mom had to gently separate them. This day will be one of the saddest memories of his life. We guided Peanut away so she wouldn’t see them walk out the door.
When animals are taken away from their home, they can’t know that it is the last time they will be there.
Recently surrendered animals don’t know where they are or why they’re here. The dog or cat is waiting for their people to come back for them. But they never come back. They’re often scared and confused, and we have to earn their trust and take the time they need to adjust.
After a week or so our pretty Husky-mix, Peanut, knew that she was safe with us, and she is one of the best-behaved puppies we have ever met. She loves to play with her toys, enjoys walks and fresh air, likes adults, kids and dogs, and has really adjusted beautifully. As with all of the animals that we take in for adoption, Peanut got a thorough medical checkup. Other than needing to be spayed and gain a little weight, she was in good health. Our vet prescribed a high- quality diet to build her up.
We are grateful that the mother and son brought their beloved dog to us and trusted us to do right by her. We hope that life will do right by them.
How life can change in an instant.
HSNY has been awarded the coveted Independent Charities Seal of Excellence, recognizing exceptional program and cost effectiveness. Supporters should know that efficient management (by a superior staff of professionals working with a non-salaried President and Board of Directors) has earned HSNY a Charity Navigator rating of 4 stars, citing an impressive 100% for accountability and finance.
Kitkat was sent to us from another hospital as her owners could not afford the operation they were told was necessary.
When she arrived she was limp and unresponsive. The critically ill and dehydrated 2-year-old cat had been sick for days, not eating and throwing up. Her owners had taken her to their local vet, who gave her an appetite stimulant which helped for 24 hours. When she began to throw up again, they returned to the vet. This time, the owners were told as she was never spayed, she needed an emergency spay surgery. As their cost was far beyond the owners’ means, it was suggested that they contact us. Our fees were more in line with their budget.
Kitkat’s vital signs, including blood pressure and temperature, were dangerously low and her bloodwork and electrolytes were abnormal. Her owners reported that when she tried to walk she collapsed, and when we examined her she was so weak she was unable to stand. Her abdomen was bloated and extremely painful to the touch.
Our vets inserted a catheter so medicines could be administered. X-rays and an abdominal ultrasound did not show concerns for an immediate spay, but we were able to detect a very small object in her stomach. Time was of the essence as she was failing.
Delicate emergency surgery was performed to remove a tiny piece of rubber tubing. We were hopeful that Kitkat would pull through and fully recover in a few days, but the surgical team was surprised and delighted to see just how bright and alert she was the very next morning. She was sitting up, drinking water and keeping it down, and even tasted a few of the plates of different foods that we offered her.
After carefully observing her for a few days, Kitkat was discharged to complete her recovery at home. When she is fully healed, KitKat will return to the Society and we will underwrite the cost of her spay through our Willis Fund.
People assume that the Humane Society of New York’s clinic provides only vaccinations and spay/neuter services. We are actually a low-cost, full-service hospital, with procedures ranging from foreign-body surgeries to dentals, and diagnostics such as X-rays, echocardiograms, abdominal ultrasounds, and just recently introduced, CT scans. We try to be a lifeline when there is no lifeline to grab hold of.
Jack had not eaten in a week; he couldn’t even keep down water. The young dog was barely able to walk. His family reached out to the Society for help because they didn’t know where else to turn.
Jack’s family tried for days to get him to eat but he refused. They cooked for him and tried to hand-feed him but nothing worked. They knew he should see a doctor but they didn’t have a lot of resources and they were afraid. Finally, in desperation, they took him to an emergency vet.
The doctor told them that Jack had swallowed something that got stuck in his intestines. The owners said that even as a puppy Jack would eat odd and random things but they had always passed through his system. Until now.
The family was informed that Jack needed immediate exploratory surgery. The estimate for the procedure far exceeded what they could afford.
This was the news they dreaded hearing. They had no choice but to take Jack back home, knowing that he might die if they couldn’t find another solution. That’s when the family contacted us, and we told them to get the dog to us right away.
The family drove in from New Jersey to get to the Society for Jack to be seen. After being evaluated, our surgeon performed a very intricate, risky surgery to remove a sock and repair a large tear in his intestines that resulted from the sock being lodged inside him for a week.
Jack’s prognosis was guarded, but our medical staff nursed him through his long recovery. His vital signs were carefully monitored, and he was on several IV and oral medications. As he was very weak, we carried him outside for quick bathroom breaks and to get some fresh air. After two weeks he was still wobbly but able to walk with assistance from our vet techs. After four weeks, Jack was finally strong enough to go home to further recuperate.
Our team saved Jack’s life, and the family, who visited him every day, was extremely grateful. Please keep a watchful eye on your pets so you don’t have an emergency waiting to happen.
These are just a few stories, but we could write an Appeal every day, as many do not have as generous an income as others. Some people live from paycheck to paycheck, and sometimes there is no paycheck at all. The Society is here to help when we can. Your gift makes that possible.
Displaced animals, whether young or old, have no control over their own lives.
When they come to us, we must build their trust as we rehabilitate them emotionally and medically, which takes time, funds and patience.
A dog or cat can typically have five or more homes in its relatively short life. It’s a revolving door that so many poor animals have to deal with. In an attempt to stop this turnover, we look to find the home where the animal will be able to safely spend the rest of its life.
Each donation helps underwrite the care of a new beginning.
Sincerely,
Virginia Chipurnoi
President