Truman's family had both died within
months of each other and a friend did the best he could to care
for him, but he finally decided it was in Truman's best interest
to bring him to RVHS. When he arrived he weighed only 117 pounds
when he should have weighed between 160 and 180 pounds. His paws
were pus-filled and bleeding with embedded foxtails. The pain
was so severe that he continually shifted his weight from one
paw to another. He also had an acute case of mange. His eyes
were irritated and swollen and will require corrective surgeries
in the future. After he arrived he had to have emergency surgery
for bloat, a life-threatening condition where the intestines
start to twist.
His medical bills were over $3,000
and that was before he was in good enough health to have the
eye surgery.
Fast forward: Truman was adopted
by a wonderful family who are knowledgeable about Danes and he
can now look forward to a great life in his new forever home.
The Truman Fund was established to provide emergency funds to
help other dogs and cats who have significant medical problems
and need care above and beyond the normal high quality care provided
to every animal that is taken care of in our shelter.
Truman update: Thanks to those who so
generously donated to the Truman Fund and the American Humane's
Second Chance Fund grant on 11/17/09 Truman was well enough to
finally have his eye operated on and to get neutered. His new
home is working out just dandy and he wants to let all his fans
know that finally life is good.
More at Special
Case Files
Fight for Freedom
Then there is the case of Freedom.
On Saturday 11-07-09 a couple dropped off a 
white female pit bull mix they said they'd
found in a ditch in the Sanitarium Road area near Merlin, Oregon.
The poor dog was severely emaciated. Her ribs were sticking out,
and she weighed less than 40 pounds. All of her teeth had been
filed down to the gum line so that her teeth roots are exposed.
She had pressure sores where the bones rubbed against the skin
and caused sores. And, she had also given birth to nine puppies
earlier that day. One puppy later died.
"The puppies still had umbilical
cords attached and were wet," said shelter manager Margaret
Varner. "It just broke my heart. I couldn't sleep because
I kept thinking about what she had been through. And she is still
a love. She just wants to snuggle up to you and be petted."
Freedom was taken to a veterinarian
on Sunday for emergency treatment. Varner estimates that Freedom
is between 2 and 4 years old. Without teeth, it's hard to determine
a dog's age.
She was also full of tapeworms
and had to be treated. She was tested for heartworm later that
week and she tested positive. The shelter had to hold off treating
her until her puppies were weaned. It took several weeks to treat
Freedom for the heartworms but like the trooper she is, she made
it through the painful process.
Margaret Varner
sits with Freedom and her nine puppies at the Rogue Valley Humane
Society.
The puppies were dewormed as
well when they were a few days older. The white and brown litter
had one female and seven males. "We're hoping people will
call in and give us suggestions for names. We're trying to keep
them all patriotic, though," she said.
Currently, Freedom is being fed
a mixture of boneless-skinless chicken breasts and puppy chow
to give her more nutrients for feeding the puppies and to help
her safely put on weight.
Freedom was just one victim helped
by the Truman's Fund. "We can't save them all, but with
community and corporate support we can help most of them,"
Varner said.
The RVHS shelter staff continues
to work on educating the community and children about animal
abuse, hoping to prevent more cases like Freedom.
"The way some people treat animals is just not acceptable,"
she said.
"Freedom already has so many strikes against her. She's
a pit bull and they get a bad rap," Varner continued. "She
will be a special needs dog because of her teeth. I just wonder
how much more this dog has to endure. It is just heartbreaking."
12-02-09 - In
a little less than one month after her trauma Freedom was becoming
a new dog and her puppys are healthy and active. The care and
attention they received was incredible. They have all been placed
in loving homes and we can only hope that Freedom will find one
as well.
01/30/10: The newest member of
the RVHS Truman Fund team was present and got a ton of attention.
On 01/27/10 Ace was thrown over the fence at the RVHS with a
badly broken leg. He was rushed to the Vet where the leg was
set and put into a cast. Ace will be in recovery for about 8
weeks at which time he will be ready for a good home. This guy
is a REAL sweetheart in spite of what he's been through. Ace
is yet another example of this fund at work.
NEW - 2010
Reilly (Ace) Update (in his own words)
Please send your donation to:
Rogue Valley Humane Society PO Box 951, Grants Pass, OR 97528.
On check put "For" Truman Fund. Your donation
will go directly to this restricted fund to help other cats and
dogs with special medical problems.
Or, use our PayPal donation option
and just put "Truman Fund" in the comment box.
RVHS Membership Application (pdf file)