Meet Farley! This beautiful, sweet boy came to Perfect Imperfections in March, when he was around 3 months old. He's a German Shepherd mix with a severely deformed back leg and twisted spine. He was a happy, otherwise healthy boy.

In April, our vet took x-rays. As you can see from the images, his back end has a lot of issues going on. His best hope was to find a family dedicated to physical therapy to strengthen his front legs so he can use a cart to get around.

Farley was fitted with a wheelie cart and began to grow and gain mobility.

After a few months with us, we determined that what Farley needed most was a foster who had experience with wheel cart dogs.

We thought that we had found him a loving foster in south Texas. Our wonderful transporter Karen from Keystone Small Animal Transport took him to his new foster home. At a rest stop he got to enjoy the view and some grass time.

Unfortunately, Farley got caught up in the now-famous S.N.A.W.L. fake rescue dog hoarding case in Chandler, AZ. You've probably seen the story by now...it's been all over the news. We had been duped! Just like many other rescues who had transferred their special needs pups in good faith to S.N.A.W.L.'s care.

Chandler police seized 55 disabled dogs from April McLaughlin's home on September 22 during an animal abuse and cruelty investigation. When the dogs were seized by the authorities, it was an excrutiatingly long and nail-biting wait to find out if Farley was one of them, and if he made it out alive. During the court hearing on October 11, we heard more details about the horrific abuse that Farley endured at the hands of April McLaughlin. His cart had been taken away from him, and he was left in the bathroom for a long period of time sitting in his own urine and feces.

On October 14, we finally got the call that Farley was being released to us!!

As happy as we were, we were taken aback when we received his medical records from Arizona Humane Society. Farley is underweight and covered in sores from sitting in his own urine and feces. Both his back and front legs are atrophied.

Before he left he could move himself around without his cart. His prognosis when removed from the horrible conditions he was in was grave. I’m so grateful the AHS gave him some time to heal, and letting him come back now so we continue his healing.

Karen from Keystone Small Animal Transport drove to AZ to pick him up and bring him back. She had transported Farley to Texas in June and they had a bond — after everything this poor boy has been through, having someone he knows pick him up is extremely important. This trip is over 5,000 miles and the transport estimate was nearly $3,000. Karen rented a special van to reduce the cost as much as she could.

At long last!! Farley is released from the AHS!!

Farley got some much needed fresh air while Karen changed his bandages on his Freedom Ride.

Finally, on Saturday, October 21, Farley made it HOME!!

The dogs all gave him a warm welcome..."We missed you, buddy!!"

Farley is now getting medicated baths every other day for his itchy dry skin and thin fur. We had to put PJ’s on him the other night he was so cold.

His wounds are healing but it will take awhile. And the emotional wounds will take even longer. He is eating and sleeping well but his separation anxiety is pretty bad.

Farley will see our vet this week and we will learn more about his near-term medical needs. In the mean time, we went to Eddie’s Wheels for Pets today and Farley was measured for a custom cart. Farley has a wide back end and his back legs are really splayed to the sides. Below is the estimate for his new cart:

I would love to also get him a Digg’s crate. They are expensive but the wide opening in the door will make it easier to get him in and out of. Currently he is pushing the pen we are using around the house which defeats him not moving all the time.

He will need diapers which we will be adding to our wishlist. We have seen great improvement using the Manuka honey patches and vet wrap to protect his open leg sores.

Once he heals up we will start physical therapy to strengthen his front legs.

Thank you to everyone who has sent messages of healing and have donated to his care.

If you would like to make a donation toward his transport fee, or for his wheelie cart, or for his care that he will need now that he is safe, we will be forever grateful.

~Trisha

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Perfect Imperfections is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue based in Watertown, Connecticut.

We take in and care for dogs who are blind, deaf, amputees, and paralyzed; as well as dogs that have rare, debilitating conditions like Megaesophagus and Cerebellar hypoplasia. When they are ready, we find loving, forever homes for as many of these dogs as we can.

Our veterinary, physical therapy, durable medical equipment (e.g., wheeliecarts), and rescue transportation costs are much, much higher than a typical animal rescue nonprofit. For this reason, we can only handle a limited number of dogs at a time, and sadly we have to turn away 1-3 dogs every single day.

Any donation that you can make, no matter how small, is very valuable to us and greatly appreciated. There are many ways to support our work — we also have wish lists on Amazon and Chewy, and even sharing our social media posts to help us find homes for our special dogs is a big, huge help!

It takes a village, and we cannot do this without you. Every dog deserves a home. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for all of your help.

Help Farley Heal! #Chandler55survivor

By Perfect Imperfections

Help Farley Heal! #Chandler55survivor