Hello Lifesavers 💛

We don’t know about you, but February felt like it would never end. Between the freezing temperatures and nonstop gray skies, it was a hard month all around. We truly hope you and your families stayed safe and warm during all that wild weather.

For us, the weather wasn’t the only storm we faced.

In February, Flash and his six sbilings came into our care. Within days, five of them broke with parvo. As many of you know, parvo is fast, brutal, and often deadly without immediate, aggressive treatment. There is no “wait and see.” There is only rush to the hospital and fight.

We fought.

Those five tiny puppies were hospitalized, placed on IV fluids, given around-the-clock care, and monitored constantly. And because of that, they lived. Every single one of them survived.

But survival comes at a cost — and their hospitalization bills remain.

Then there was sweet Tic Tac. At just four months old, he was moments away from euthanasia when we stepped in. When he arrived, we couldn’t believe how loving he was. Gentle. Trusting. Just a baby. Within 24 hours, it was clear something was very wrong. We rushed him to the emergency hospital — parvo.

For a week, he fought so hard. We watched for every tiny sign of improvement. We celebrated small wins. We believed he was turning the corner. And then suddenly, he crashed. His little body just couldn’t take any more.

We lost him.

Even when rescue ends in heartbreak, the medical bills do not disappear. We would make the same choice again to give him that chance.

And then there is Honey, our precious Frenchie. If you’re familiar with French Bulldogs, you know their adorable smooshy faces can come with serious breathing challenges. Honey’s nasal passages were so severely restricted she could barely breathe properly. She needed reconstructive airway surgery — not cosmetic, not optional — necessary so she could live comfortably. It’s very likely this medical need is why she was surrendered.

Parvo cannot be tested for until symptoms appear. It strikes fast. Shelters don’t always have veterinary staff to diagnose complex surgical needs before dogs are surrendered or transferred. In rescue, there are no guarantees about how a dog will arrive. We say yes first — and figure out the rest after.

Right now, “the rest” is $30,000 in outstanding veterinary bills.

Thirty thousand dollars from emergency hospitalizations, life-saving treatment, and critical surgery. Thirty thousand dollars that stands between us and the next emergency call we know is coming. We are so grateful for every life saved. Those five parvo survivors were worth it. Honey being able to breathe freely is worth it. Tic Tac’s chance — even though we lost him — was worth it.

But we cannot carry this alone.

We are once again turning to our incredible K-9 family. If you have ever celebrated one of our rescue stories, shared a post, fostered, adopted, donated, or cheered us on from afar — we are asking for your help now. Any amount helps. Truly. If many give a little, we can climb out of this hole together. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser means more than you know.

Rescue is unpredictable. It is exhausting. It is heartbreaking. It is beautiful. And it is only possible because of you.

February Fundraiser

By Canine Lifesavers, Inc.

February Fundraiser