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Health & Fitness

Too many homeless dogs with special needs – too few rescues and foster homes: "Somebody should do something about that!"

Take a look – a good look -- at the size of that bladder stone, compared to the ordinary egg beside it. Now imagine a bladder stone this size inside of a tiny, twelve-pound dog . . . . A bedraggled buff-and-white Shih Tzu was brought to the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC) in May. After being checked in, this sad little dog just sat in the corner of her cage and barely stirred. Every movement seemed to cause her pain, and she didn’t even respond to the caregivers’ efforts to reach out to her. The staff realized that she needed more help than they, at a large and busy urban facility, would be able to give her. So, as part of MADACC’s increased effort to save more stray animals in Milwaukee County by transferring them to local shelters and rescues, they contacted Safe Haven Bichon & Friends Rescue in Barneveld, Wisconsin. Margaret DeSmet, founder of Safe Haven, had just recently rescued a group of puppy mill breeding dogs, two of whom were expecting new litters of their own. But Margaret welcomed the opportunity to accept this dog from MADACC, care for her, and give her the personal attention she needed. And so “Whitney,” as Margaret named the Shih Tzu, arrived at Safe Haven. Margaret has had lots of experience in caring for dogs, and as she observed Whitney, and bathed and groomed her, she could tell that the dog had problems in the abdominal area. She quickly took Whitney to her veterinarian, who recognized the dog’s listlessness and pain as symptoms of a severe bladder stone condition. An X-ray confirmed Margaret's suspicions, and surgery was recommended. The procedure wouldn’t be cheap, but, for Whitney’s sake, Margaret knew it was necessary. Surgery was soon performed, and the gigantic stone (plus some smaller ones just starting to form) was removed. Whitney was spayed at the same time, as are all the female Safe Haven dogs. The post-surgical change in Whitney was remarkable. She was soon able to trot around and function normally, and her personality blossomed as her pain lessened. Her facial features went from being downcast and dejected to bright and eager. Margaret was able to add her profile to Petfinder.com, and, before long, this now-healthy little girl was adopted into a loving family. And so one more dog was given a second chance – because MADACC and Safe Haven Bichon & Friends Rescue recognized the problem of a dog with special needs and were both eager “to do something about that.” Check out Safe Haven Bichon & Friends on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Safe.HavenBichon1?ref=hl And their adoptables on Petfinder.com: http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?location=barneveld%2C+wi&animal_type...

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