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We went on a mission to the mid-west at the end of October and while there a breeder handed Theresa a 9 week old poodle puppy. She told Theresa that she was free (she would have been put down that night) and it was immediately obvious why. This baby had a 6 out of 6 (the worst possible) heart murmur. You could feel it where ever you touched the puppy. You could also hear it swishing just by holding her to your ear. Theresa was scared that the puppy would not even live through the trip back to Colorado. This puppy, she came to be known as Ripley, was a fighter. It was so worrisome to hear her cough as she tried to sleep at night. We had a cardiologist check her as soon as possible and it was determined that her type of heart defect was treatable with surgery.

Ripley had open-heart surgery in early Nov. but they had to close her up when she started bleeding. It was then recommended that we take her to Colorado State University Veterinary Hospital in Fort Collins, CO. Within a week after her first surgery, she had open heart surgery again. This time they were able to complete the surgery and deemed it a success. Ripley then developed pneumonia and was having congestive heart failure.

Ripley stayed with an amazing family, Millie and her husband Chris through her recuperations in Fort Collins. They nursed a very sick dog back to health and she was adopted by one of her many fans that worked at the CSU hospital. She no longer has pneumonia and loves chasing her new family dog. Her name is now Hermione and she is the little apricot poodle in the picture.

Hermione’s vet bills climbed to over $3,000. We knew that was a lot to spend but when the vets said that she had a chance at a normal life, we just couldn’t deny an attempt to give that normal life to her. We can only continue to help these dogs with the financial assistance of animal loving donors. Thanks for any tax deducible gift you can give!