Our mission is to help provide the financial support to get them over the finish line.
We will help offset the cost of specialty care to give them the best chance for recovery.

Lucky Paw Foundation Newsletter - March 2, 2024


GIVING THE GIFT OF A QUALITY LIFE.

Dear Friends of the Lucky Paw Foundation,


We are already hard at work in 2024. Since we last wrote, we have helped Chloe and Downey. Both of their stories are shared below. Up until now, Lucky Paw has helped animals that had committed owners. Having a family that cares for you and that is willing to do whatever they can to help is fortunate, indeed. But, what happens if you are a shelter animal with a big problem? According to Shelter Animals Count 2023, over 6.5 million dogs and cats entered US animal shelters and rescues last year. An astounding 689,000 were euthanized for various reasons. Often times, they have a health issue and because the shelters are so overcrowded, the first to be euthanized are those that are sick or injured. Shelters cannot afford to treat everyone, so they invest their valuable dollars on the healthiest, to ensure success in adopting out more of these homeless animals.

Well, this year we had the opportunity to help a shelter dog get a new start. We are happy to be part of Downey’s new, temporary big family! Together with the Eva Burrell Animal Shelter in Manistique, Michigan we were able to ensure that she will be healthy enough to find her own forever home.   


It is because of you and all of your great support to the Lucky Paw Foundation that we are able to give the gift of quality of life to both Chloe and Downey. Your support is invaluable and life-changing.

Gratefully,
Tracy Dulak
Director 

Meet Miss Downey


Downey’s story begins in Genesee county, Michigan. She was in an animal shelter in Flint that was extremely overcrowded. They are set up to support 50 dogs and they had 150! The shelter sent out an urgent message that they had 3 dogs that had significant medical issues and they did not have the resources, nor the space to keep and treat them. If they did not get adopted within 7 days they would be forced to euthanize them.

Downey had been dropped off at the shelter in Flint with such severe foreleg bite wounds that she could not even walk. The shelter did a great job giving her supportive wound treatment and one surgery to help the legs to heal. However, the wound on the right wrist area kept draining fluid and was not resolving. The shelter veterinarian did not feel that they had the money or the technology to fully understand what was wrong. They had done their best … but were unable to get her healthy enough for adoption.

The Director of the Eva Burrell Animal Shelter (EBAS) up in Manistique, Michigan saw the message and instantly knew that she wanted to help save Downey. She knew it was risky, not knowing if her wounds were fixable, but she wanted to give her a chance! So, she made arrangements to get her officially transferred to the EBAS. Her next call was to the Lucky Paw Foundation.


After hearing Downey’s story, we hatched a plan to have her evaluated at the Animal Surgical Center in Flint. (Since she was already down there). It was clear that Downey needed a specialist’s opinion and possible treatment. So, Lucky Paw paid for the critical CT scan and surgical consult. We also committed to paying for surgery if it was needed. Surprisingly, the specialist determined that the constant drainage was coming from the joint, but that it would eventually heal and that she should make a full recovery. She just needed time and nursing care!

Downey’s life was so close to being lost. But in the end, it turned out that all that was needed to save it, was a motivated shelter family and the Lucky Paw Foundation. By simply committing to be on stand-by with a small budget to help with an unknown problem, she is alive today and thriving. On February 23, she was officially adopted and has found her forever loving home in Michigan’s upper peninsula.

Introducing Chloe


Chloe was adopted as an adult dog by her family. She was a little bit of a challenge, since she was afraid of men and was fear aggressive with anyone but her family. At the veterinary clinic, you could not even touch her. She needed a muzzle with any interaction. She was not an easy keeper! However, her parent’s could see the sweet dog in her and they worked hard to win her over. Eventually, even strangers and the veterinarian could work with her without a muzzle. Finally she trusted people. 

After a couple of years, she needed her teeth cleaned which required general anesthesia. During the procedure she had a very erratic heart rate and the procedure had to be aborted. She was evaluated by a cardiologist and was found to have Subaortic stenosis - a heart condition where the outflow tract of the aorta is narrowed and the blood flow out of the heart can be obstructed. Future anesthetic procedures had to be managed carefully.

Fast forward a few years when Chloe developed a very large tumor on the inside of her back leg. It grew very quickly and started to severely impact her ability to walk well. The tumor was benign, but was still affecting her quality of life. Chloe was a relatively young dog at eight years old, so removing it was highly recommended. Unfortunately, because of her heart disease and the possible complications involved with removing the tumor, she needed a specialist’s care.

Chloe’s family has always given her great care. They took a chance on her when she was young, when no one else would. They put in the hard work to earn trust and correct her behavior issues. They planned ahead to cover all of her medical care and unexpected challenges. But, this last year, her family had some unexpected financial setbacks which made it difficult for them to afford a specialist’s care. Waiting for their finances to change would only make the situation worse. In a perfect world, they would have been able to have the tumor removed at their local veterinarian when it was smaller. But, because of her heart condition and the risks associated with anesthesia, they tried to wait. Everyone hoped that the tumor would never grow so big that it would bother her. Unfortunately, the tumor had a mind of its own and it grew like crazy. 

Medical care is not always straight forward, sometimes an educated decision does not work out the way you hoped. It became obvious that despite the risks, she needed it removed if she was going to have a good quality of life. But now she needed a specialist’s care which greatly increased the cost of the procedure. Lucky Paw was happy to make it possible for Chloe to get the surgery she needed, at the place where she would have the best chance for success! 


Chloe’s surgery went well! She came through anesthesia without any trouble. Her recovery period was slow and a little hectic since she needed confinement for a few weeks. Chloe may be eight, but she still has a LOT of energy. High activity after surgery could result in the surgery site swelling back up with fluid. Despite all of the attention, confinement and tough love, she still developed a little fluid. Luckily it wasn’t severe and she made a perfect recovery. She is back to living her very active, happy life.


Sweet success!

Thank you to everyone who contributes to our success with changing lives and making unexpected great things happen! Have a very happy spring. 

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