Welcome to the Scarlett Room

Christina, Charley’s adopted mother, is happy to report that Charley’s acupuncture treatments seem to be helping him; she sees an improvement in his personality. He goes once a week for a half hour treatment, then its home for his physical therapy. Let’s hope all this hard work with Charley will make him pain free and able to move around easier. The veterinarian that is treating him found a sore on the inside of his leg. Christina puts a special salve on his wound daily then he has to wear a cone when she leaves for work so he won’t lick it off. Good news, Charley just turned 7 and Christina threw him a birthday party! Five of his best doggy friends were all present. She had a special doggy cake made for him. Christina said “I love him so much”. With all the time she needs to care for him, we know she loves him very much. Thank you for your support of Charley. Thank you Christina for your love of Charley.

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Marty’s foster mother reports that he is “doing just wonderfully”! Marty and his foster mother have been enjoying the warm and sunny weather. They like to sit outside in the backyard to relax. Marty loves to lie down in the sun. They have also enjoyed a few trips to the park this summer. People often stop by to comment on what a beautiful dog Marty is. When they do, his foster mother smiles and says thank you while in her head agreeing that Marty is so handsome. She thinks that Marty is a pleasure to foster and hopes that he will find a loving and permanent home soon.

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Toby is settling in to his new home nicely. He and the other megaesophagus dog, Zoe, are getting used to each other and have agreed to swap beds and toys whenever it suits them. Mostly Zoe steals from Toby (he has the best toys) but Toby steals Zoe’s precious bully sticks when she’s not looking, so they’re even. They’re not “best buds” yet, but we hope that will come. Toby is still on medication, but has not vomited as he was when he was still dealing with the stress of his move. Toby loves to go on walks. He struts around the neighborhood like he’s the king. 40 pound Zoe is afraid of toddlers, trucks and skateboarders but 9 pound Toby fears nothing. He gives all dogs fair warning that he will take no nonsense from any of them.

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NEW TO PROGRAM! Xena is a lovely and affectionate hound mix. The Animal League rescued Xena and placed her in the life-saving Sponsor Program so that she can get the extensive care she needs to be well.

Xena has a very complex and life-threatening congenital condition. In Xena’s body, an abnormal vessel is allowing blood to bypass her liver. The liver has several functions, one of which is detoxification. When the liver is bypassed, toxins build up in the body. This malformation is called a portosystemic shunt (PSS) or a liver shunt. Among many severe symptoms, this liver shunt can also cause weight loss and seizures, both of which Xena is experiencing.

To help Xena, The Animal League has already provided her with two corrective surgeries. It is very likely, however, that Xena will need a third. Xena is still in the early recovery stages from her second operation and is being monitored very closely. She will need three to four months of attentive aftercare during this difficult healing process and will soon be reevaluated for an additional surgical procedure. In addition to these surgeries, Xena will also need lifetime medications to manage this challenging condition.

Because Xena’s ailment is extensive and ongoing, most small municipal shelters would not be able to accommodate her needs. Her care would be too costly and comprehensive. Instead, it is very likely that Xena would be put down. But the Animal League is dedicated to helping her have the best life possible, and “quit” is never an option.

Your support of the Animal League’s Sponsor Program is helping to ensure that Xena and many other animals get the love and care they need to be as happy and healthy as possible. At the Animal League, they are safe, and loving care is guaranteed. Please help us continue to provide so many animals in need with this unprecedented care.

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Good news – Toby has been adopted! His new home is with a former adopter who adopted another dog with megaesopagus from us a few years ago. Toby was driven to his new home, along with all his baggage which included his highchair, bed, toys and extensive wardrobe, by two of our trainers. Toby’s new sister, Zoey, was a little territorial at first; and Toby did not like Zoey checking out his bed, but they soon settled in together. Our Training Department will always be available for any help or advice that is needed. There were tearful goodbyes as Toby left, but everyone at NSALA wishes him the best.

Before he was adopted. our little man had quite a bit of dental work done. Unfortunately, his soft diet contributed to his dental problems and he had to have several teeth pulled. After a day or two of discomfort, Toby was his old self again. Even though he is adopted, Toby will always be in the Sponsor Program. His megaespogagus is a lifelong condition, and all his medical needs will be covered by NSALA.

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Dear Friend,

North ShoreAnimal LeagueAmerica regrets to inform you of the passing of our
wide-eyed and lovely tabby cat, Cleo.

Cleo joined the Animal LeagueÊs Sponsor Program as a very young cat suffering
from chronic frontal sinusitis and other ailments. Unfortunately, this permanent
condition made it necessary for her to undergo several surgeries, take regular
medications and caused her daily discomfort.

Yet with all of her challenges and uncomfortable remedies,Cleo remained a sweet
and loving cat and was truly happy. She enjoyed the finer feline things in life like
knocking things off shelves, snoozing in warm places and gazing out of windows.
Smart and independent,Cleo chose her human suitors discriminately.When Cleo
showed you her love, you knew you were special.

Cleo had recently taken ill, and unfortunately, could not recover. She had lost a
lot of weight and her breathing grew increasingly strained. She came to theAnimal
League for a veterinary exam when she had gone into respiratory arrest.

On April 22, 2011, at 7:58 pm, our Cleo was gone.

The Animal League is heartbroken at the loss of our feline friend, and would like
to thank her foster family for taking such incredible care of her all these years. It
was their patience and dedication that gave Cleo the happiest years of her life.
Cleo is dearly missed and will never be forgotten.

Sincerely,
The Sponsor Team

2011 has proven to be Sara’s year! Her adoption is at the top of the list and thanks to the Animal League’s Sponsor Program for special-needs pets like Sara, she will continue to receive quality medical care for the rest of her life. Sara seems happy in her loving home and she gets along with housemate cats Evie and Crumbs. They share water bowls, toys and alternate the best spots for napping on the couch. She continues to get her eye drop medication and that’s usually followed by one of her favorite treats (Beggin’ Strips or Frosty Paws). Did you know that Sara snores? Her family is getting used to it! Sara has also quickly become the unofficial greeter at the local dog park. She’s the first at the entrance to welcome every single dog.

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Cleo’s family went away for a week at the beginning of April and “Grandma” watched the kitties (Cleo and Jules). Cleo, of course, was never far from her and was her charming hostess self. She curled around legs to insure people went where they were supposed to, climbed into laps to make sure they were not cold and reminded her Grandma “on the dot” when it was time to be fed. More recently, Cleo took a spill off of her bed on top of a desk at home. She’s always been clumsy but usually bounces right back. Cleo’s mother said she heard a ruckus, came into the room and found Cleo with her leg sticking out and hissing ferociously. She seemed to recover shortly thereafter and was even walking but her leg was sliding out from under her a bit. Later that evening and the whole next day she didn’t seem to want to move much but was still trying to eat and drink. Littermate cat Jules, with one or two exceptions (he tried to play with her the next day but learned how bad things were when she cried out in pain), was very well behaved and left her alone other than to help give her a few good grooming licks on her head. By the time Cleo was brought in to the Animal League, a day later, she was not interested in food or water and just seemed to want to sleep. The doctors found nothing in the x-rays or during their examination so they diagnosed a bad soft tissue injury and she is now on pain medication. It does seem to help and this morning, for the first time in several days, she took a couple of licks of her food (we hand fed her a very small bit last night). Because she has to be confined to a small space, her mother had to actually carry her to the litter box, where she would immediately do her business and then meow to be taken back to her bed. They had gotten her a small litter box for the space but it seems to have been rejected, probably for being too small since Cleo likes to treat her little box like a sandbox.

Ron, Sasha’s foster father, says her medical condition has stayed the same. He sent new photos of her and says she seems to have overcome her shyness of the camera. She is a beautiful German shepherd. Her medication hasn’t changed and that’s the good news we want to hear. Next month Sasha is due for her semi-annual summer hair cut. Her hair is so thick that he has her shaved down to her body. He also said right after she is clipped she looks like an Egyptian Pharaoh dog. Ron often worries about her happiness; he feels she gets embarrassed when she leaks and thinks that is why she spends so much time outdoors. Ron can’t let her up on the furniture – unlike the other dogs. She always lies at his feet in the evening when he is working at the computer or watching television. She plays ball with Ron and Jack (another foster dog) every day. And when Ron runs his daily errands, Sasha and Jack join him for the ride in the car.

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Dear Friend,

North Shore Animal League America regrets to inform you of the passing of our sweet and spotted canine friend, Lucky.

Lucky joined the Animal League’s Sponsor Program in 2006. He was suffering from urinary tract stones, liver inflammation and lower intestinal issues, which required lifelong care. He was also hearing impaired.

Though Lucky faced many health challenges, he always maintained a pleasant and happy attitude. His tail was always wagging and he never passed up love and affection. His inherently joyful nature made every day a beautiful day.

Only a short time ago, Lucky started developing large stage IV tumors, which required to be surgically removed. He had several surgeries, but had difficulty healing. He spent much of his time in and out of the Animal League’s Medical Center, but treated them more like social visits than doctor appointments, as he had many friends who were always happy to see him. Even in his final days, his tail never stopped happily wagging.

On February 19, 2011, Lucky passed away at home peacefully in his sleep.

The Animal League is forever grateful for Lucky’s family, friends and sponsors. Their love and support gave Lucky a very happy and full life. I know we all agree that having Lucky in our lives was a blessing. And though we will miss him deeply, we feel so very “lucky” to have known him.

Sincerely,
The Sponsor Team