Animal shelters do incredible work giving pets a second chance. Some animals arrive at shelters in shocking condition, but they still step up to give them the love and care they need.
That was the case for a dog named Libby, who had a tumor the size of a volleyball. But now, her story has a happy ending.
In August, the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County, in Washington state, took in a stray pit bull named Libby. They said the dog was “full of life” and had a “sweet face and kind eyes.”
However, Libby also had a serious medical concern: a 10-pound tumor the size of a volleyball, one of the largest masses they had ever seen:
Libby arrived at a hectic time for the shelter: HSTPC says Libby was just one of three urgent cases they responded to in 48 hours, and as Washington’s largest-intake shelter dozens of new animals were arriving every day.
Despite that, they resolved to give Libby the best possible care, even though they weren’t sure what the future had in store for the poor dog.
“She deserves the most compassionate care possible, but we don’t know what her outcome will be at this time,” the shelter wrote in August. “Our veterinary team is working on every possible option and will start with testing to understand what kind of tumor Libby has. For now, she is receiving pain medication to ease her discomfort and endless love from our staff.”
After giving Libby an x-ray, they discovered the tumor was in the bone of her upper right leg, and would require amputation. Reactive inflammation caused the tumor to swell to its unusual size, and was causing her agonizing pain.
Through generous donations from supporters, the shelter was able to pay for Libby’s leg amputation. The surgery, done by the vet staff at BluePearl Pet Hospital, was a success and Libby was finally free of the pain she had been living through.
Sadly, even though her tumor was gone, she was diagnosed with aggressive bone cancer, and her time on earth might be limited. But in happy news, Libby has found a home!
According to HSTPC, a vet tech fell in love with Libby and agreed to adopt her. Even though she knows that Libby might not live long, she wanted to fill her remaining days with love.
“There’s something in her eyes that begs for love and safety,” her new adopter said, according to a Facebook post. “I couldn’t turn away from that.”
Libby has now been renamed “Wiggles” and is enjoying her new home, playing with her dog brother and family and taking lots of cozy naps on the couch.
“Though we’re uncertain how much time she has left, we know she’ll spend her remaining days
Abandoned and Chained: Heartbreaking Tale of a Dog Used as Bait, Left Helpless as Infection Takes Over
Slapdash Deliverance of St. Louis received a phone call from a dog chained to a hedge near someone.
Rescuers were taken aback by the state of this canine, which might easily have been used as a bait canine.
He’d gotten enormous mouthfuls all over his torso, face, and legs, and his face was so blasted he couldn’t open his eyes. He had gotten septic after leaving the infected incision unclothed for several weeks. The unfortunate dog was chained up and allowed to die.
Saviors brought him to their facility, where he was placed on an IV and administered antibiotics for months. The nanny was summoned to assist by the round clock.
Marco, the dog, turned out to be a legionnaire. Despite the lengthy path to rehabilitation, he made it!
Despite all, he still loves, relies on, and seeks love from people.
He now lives in a loving family with numerous other dog siblings, with whom he enjoys playing. His dog-fighting days are long gone, and while the scars will remain, his history does not define him.
He presently spends his days cuddled up on the sofa with his new family or running about with the other kids in his large neighborhood.
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