Kermit deserves a fresh start.

Next week, this sweet 3-year-old English Bulldog will make her way to Colorado and into the care of 4 Paws 4 Life.

When she arrived at a crowded Houston shelter, she was carrying more than most dogs should ever have to. Hair loss. A neck wound. A C-section scar from raising puppies. And heartworms.

We don't know everything Kermit has been through, but we do know she's done raising babies. She's done fighting for survival. And she's about to start a brand-new chapter where her only job is being loved.

Like many dogs coming out of the South, Kermit is heartworm positive. The good news is that heartworm disease is treatable, and once she arrives, we'll get her started on the care she needs.

Unfortunately, she's not the only one.

Right now, we have SEVEN heartworm-positive dogs in our care (Bea, Beth, Johan Creek, Kermit, Lady, Meatloaf, Reny Clark.)

Treatment for each dog typically costs between $500 and $1,000, depending on their needs.

So far this year alone, we've already spent more than $5,000 helping heartworm-positive dogs get the care they need.

We're now hoping to raise another $5,000 to help cover treatment costs for Kermit and the other heartworm-positive dogs currently in our program.

One thing many people don't realize is that heartworm-positive dogs don't have to wait until treatment is complete to find their forever homes. They can be adopted while undergoing treatment, and 4 Paws 4 Life covers the cost of that treatment through our partner veterinarians. That means dogs like Kermit don't have to wait months for a family — they can heal while already being loved.

Heartworm disease is entirely preventable, but for many dogs entering shelters across the South, prevention simply wasn't available. The good news is that with proper treatment, these dogs can go on to live long, healthy, happy lives.

No more puppies for Kermit... and soon, no more heartworms either.

If you'd like to help give Kermit and her fellow heartworm-positive rescue dogs the fresh start they deserve, please consider making a donation.

As always, sharing helps too. Thank you for helping us say "yes" to dogs who need us most.

PS - If you'd like to learn more about heartworm disease, how it's treated, and why prevention is so important, we put together a blog post awhile back that walks through everything you need to know.

Give Seven Dogs a Second Chance