Prepping Pets For Placement
From the routine to the extraordinary

When the cute little mixed breed named Dolly arrived at St. Hubert's she was bright eyed and energetic.  She loved playing with her littermates - adored a god game of tug of war - and appeared to be a healthy eight week old puppy.  But a routine medical exam told a different story:  the Miniature Pinscher/Fox Terrier mix had a severe heart defect that could claim her tender life at any moment.  Emergency heart surgery was recommended, but could the shelter afford such an expensive procedure?

People are usually surprised to learn that St. Hubert's doesn't have a veterinarian on staff or a modern surgical suite to handle its routine and emergency medical needs.  The organization devotes approximately $143,000 each year to animal health care.  Antibiotics, vaccines, rabies shots, and spay and neuter procedures are all paid for out of this fund as well as simple necessities like grooming supplies, special shampoos and cotton swabs.

"With almost 4,500 animals coming through our shelters in Madison and North Branch each year, affording much more than routine veterinary care for any one pet can be difficult.  But we always try to find the money to do what is necessary," said Elizabeth McCorkle, President.

According to Jackie Fahey, Manager of St. Hubert's North Branch shelter, the staff had become especially  attached to the pint-sized black dog with rust-colored markings.  "When I learned about Dolly's heart condition, I was heartbroken.  We had all come to love her so much and we wanted to do whatever it took to save her."

The critical care Dolly needed would normally be cost prohibitive.  Fortunately, a new fund at St. Hubert's dedicated to assisting pets with extraordinary medical needs made her surgery possible.  Named the "Rocket Fund," after a dog who underwent lengthy and expensive treatment to cure life-threatening heartworm disease, many pets have now been the recipients of life-saving care.

Dolly received a diagnostic ultrasound which confirmed that she had a hole in her heart.  The puppy was operated on immediately by a veterinary cardiac specialist who repaired the defect.  Dolly came through with flying colors.

While not all the homeless animals that come to St. Hubert's require the level of medical attention that Dolly needed, all receive routine vaccinations and are checked for internal and external parasites and are appropriately medicated.  Many suffer from common but highly treatable ailments that require a lengthy regimen of prescription medication.  Once additional screenings rule out any serious medical conditions, the animals are transported to a local veterinary hospital for their spay/neuter surgeries.  While most of the routine screenings and treatments can be performed by our trained staff, there is always the unexpected that requires a veterinarian to diagnose, treat and/or monitor.

Some of the other animals that have directly benefited from The Rocket Fund include:

Leela, a beautiful adult cat, was found at a Quik Chek convenience store.  One eye was missing and the socket was badly infected.  Our animal control officer took her to the local veterinarian who treated her eye and prescribed medication.  After a short recovery in St. Hubert's foster care program, she was adopted by a kind gentleman who has a cat with a similar disability.

After receiving a routine vaccination at the shelter, Freddie, a six-year-old Poodle, suffered a rare reaction and went into anaphylactic shock.  He was rushed to the veterinarian where life saving treatment was administered.  He recuperated with round-the-clock care in the hospital and was returned to the shelter and placed with a loving family who is aware of his condition.

Belle, a three-year-old smokey gray cat arrived at St. Hubert's with a deformed leg that stuck straight up in the air.  After consulting with the veterinarian, it was determined that the leg needed to be amputated.  Fortunately Belle adjusted to life with three legs quickly and was adopted shortly thereafter.

An entire litter of puppies who contracted a virus from their mother during birth at the shelter needed acute care during their first two months of life.  All suffered from serious eye infections caused by the virus, some so badly that surgery was needed.  Luckily all recovered completely and were able to be offered for adoption without further incident.

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