Original Article: https://www.austinpetsalive.org/blog/amplifylifesaving-for-pets-like-lovebug
Feb 28, 2019
Approximately 1.5 million pets are euthanized in shelters across the country every year. This is an epidemic that APA! is on a mission to solve.
By pioneering our seven lifesaving programs, Austin Pets Alive! has provided over 60,000 pets since 2008 with a renewed lease on life. Programs such as our Dog Behavior Program and Barncat Program provide perfectly healthy animals a shot at finding their forever home; and programs such as our Parvo Puppy ICU, Ringworm Cat Adoption Center, Neonatal Kitten Program, Feline Leukemia Adoption Center, and our Medical Triage and Wellness Center provide pets who are sick or require special medical care with the same chance, regardless of their condition when they enter the shelter.
One of these special pets is Lovebug. There is a reason she was graced with a name so sweet, and her big, puppy-dog eyes only make you fall in love with her further.
For a two-year-old pup, Lovebug has already had a rough go at life. When she began experiencing hair loss, her previous family took her to a vet to get treated. Only a week after she was put on medication, though, the family surrendered her to their local shelter. Her hair loss and skin condition were so severe that her skin was dry, cracking, and bleeding. Despite all of these symptoms, the shelter deduced from the circular patches of her hair loss that she had ringworm – and though ringworm is completely treatable, they set her to be euthanized.
A rescue partner of APA! reached out to us in an attempt to save Lovebug’s life, and there were no questions asked. We knew that Lovebug’s time wasn’t meant to end just yet. So we scooped her up, and delivered her into the arms of her current foster mom, Jamison.
Once Lovebug was in APA!’s care, the APA! Medical Triage & Wellness Clinic was able to determine that Lovebug was suffering from Demodex mange, not ringworm. Demodex mange is the most common form of mange and is not contagious to other pets or to humans. While Demodex mange appears to be a severe illness, with time, care, and love, it is treatable.
Jamison has been the perfect person to offer all of these things to this loveable little lady. Lovebug, who Jamison has affectionately nicknamed SnuggleBug is currently on a few different antibiotics, pain medications, joint supplements, medicated baths, eye drops to help clear her discharge, and, of course, a good diet. Due to the hair loss and her skin cracking, she’s fighting off a few different viruses and still bleeds on her bed; but, her condition is improving daily!
Every year, thousands of pets are killed in the shelter system, with Texas euthanizing more homeless pets than any other state. While many of these pets are perfectly healthy, there is a particular population of pets who need special care. APA! believes that these pets – pets like Lovebug – shouldn’t be given up on simply because their journey to happiness is met by a few extra roadblocks. That’s why we’re calling on you to help us #AmplifyLifesaving during Amplify Austin 2019!
The lifesaving programs we’ve innovated exist because of your generous support. Lovebug is just one example of a vulnerable pet whose life would be lost without our amazing APA! community.
Source: Austin Pets Alive
