Latest news with #AustinPetsAlive
Washington Post
10 hours ago
- Health
- Washington Post
3-pound puppy left in trash is rescued, now thriving
In late May, a husky puppy arrived at a shelter in Austin weighing just three pounds, about half the weight she should have been. She was fished out of the bottom of a trash can — whimpering, cold and barely clinging to life. 'The animal welfare space sees these stories constantly,' said Elizabeth Ferrer, marketing and communications program manager of Austin Animal Center. Staff reached out to Austin Pets Alive, a local animal rescue that has specialized veterinary care. When the puppy arrived at the rescue on May 26, her blood sugar was too low to read, and she was too weak to pick her head up or eat. 'She was in real critical condition, not doing great at all,' said Jordana Moerbe, the medical director at Austin Pets Alive. 'She looked pretty sad; her gums were white and pale.' Staff placed an IV catheter in her leg to hydrate her and raise her blood glucose levels. They also started her on antibiotics. 'We have a really good understanding of what these pups need,' said Moerbe, who estimated the puppy was about 4 weeks old, based on the size of her teeth. Moerbe said some shelters may put dogs down who come to them in this condition, because the animals need a high level of care, or because they assume it's too late. 'People don't always understand how to care for young puppies, especially when they're so small,' she said. 'With quick critical care and some time, they bounce back really well.' That was true for this puppy, who stabilized within just two days. Staff named her Kiss — 'because everyone wanted to give her a big kiss,' Moerbe said. Moerbe said many puppies arrive at Austin Pets Alive with similar stories. 'It is something that we see often,' she said. 'It's just so sad.' While it's unclear how Kiss ended up in a trash can, Moerbe believes it's possible the person who put her there thought she had already died, as a puppy that ill is barely responsive. 'You want to think the best in people,' she said. 'I could see somebody with good intentions doing that, but, thankfully, she was pulled out.' Just a few weeks after being rescued, Kiss is thriving at her new home. Angee Cornick, who lives in Dripping Springs, Texas, had been searching for a rescue dog to adopt when she came across a Facebook post about Kiss. 'I read the post, and I was like, 'This is the one; she needs us,'' Cornick said. Cornick was one of many people online moved by Kiss's story. 'How can someone do something like that to something so precious and defenseless?' she said. 'It just tugged at my heartstrings, and I nagged my husband until he acquiesced.' On June 13, Cornick brought Kiss — whom she renamed Stevie — home. 'She's a sweetheart,' said Cornick, adding that Stevie now weighs nearly six pounds. 'She's still really tiny.' Stevie joined Pepper, Cornick's 6-year-old rescue, a black lab and Rhodesian Ridgeback mix. The dogs are adjusting to each other. 'Pepper is a little trepidatious, but every day, she's getting more accepting,' Cornick said. In only a few days, Stevie began showing her personality. 'She knows what she wants, because she has already started barking,' Cornick said. 'She has already learned to use the doggy door.' Stevie also has a favorite activity: 'She loves to chew on our toes,' Cornick said. Cornick said she is easing Stevie into home life, but she has big plans for her. 'This little girl is going to get so much love and attention and care, and all of the experiences that she deserves,' she said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Literal lifesaver': Abandoned dog hailed a hero for giving blood to anemic pup
An abandoned pup at a shelter in Texas is being hailed a hero after he stepped in as a canine blood donor for a sick pup, who needed help fast. Bronson, a one-and-a-half-year-old part terrier and part pit bull awaiting adoption at Austin Pets Alive!, a non-profit rescue shelter, saved the day - and a puppy - by becoming a canine blood donor. Nemo, a tiny month-old puppy, had just arrived at the shelter along with his mother and siblings from the Austin Animal Center. He was suffering from anemia, which meant that there were not enough red blood cells to supply oxygen to his body. "The smallest of the litter, Nemo, was dangerously anemic and needed help fast," APA said in a news release. Video footage shared by the shelter shows Bronson patiently cooperating with the shelter staff as they draw blood from him. Later, a tiny Nemo can be seen receiving the life-saving transfusion. "Thanks to Bronson and the expert care of the APA! clinic team, Nemo stabilized and is now in foster care, healing alongside his siblings and getting stronger every day," the shelter added. The pup is doing well; however, Nemo remains the smallest of his litter and has a cloudy eye, which may indicate a vision impairment, according to the group's spokesperson. Bronson, who is now up for adoption, was found abandoned and tied to a pole in APA!'s parking lot last month, the shelter said. He was taken into the shelter's care after no microchip was detected, and no one came forward to claim him. The shelter described Bronson as a "goofy, high-energy adult pup with the heart of a puppy, a love for zoomies, a talent for stealing the spotlight with his giant expressive ears, and a joyful spirit that guarantees endless fun and affection." "In his few days at the shelter, he has already won over the hearts of our staff with his playful charm and loving spirit," the nonprofit rescue said. Bronson loves being around people and other dogs, the shelter said, adding he's ready to "find a loving home." "From being left behind to becoming a literal lifesaver, Bronson's journey is a powerful reminder of how every animal has worth, and every one of them deserves a chance," the rescue said. Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Heroic dog gives blood to anemic pup at Austin shelter
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Missing Dog Reunites with His Family After More Than 4 Years — and in a Location Over 1,000 Miles Away
A paw-fect reunion! A dog that went missing in California has been reunited with his family after more than four years, and in a location over 1,000 miles away. Rome, an English Bulldog, went missing in January 2021 when he left his backyard as a puppy, according to Austin Pets Alive (APA). Per the organization, Rome's family searched all over for him — posting flyers, knocking on doors and filing police reports — to no avail. Earlier this year, in February, the animal was found tied to the gate of APA's Tarrytown location in Austin, Texas, alongside a small Chihuahua. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Related: Wiener Dog Lost on Rugged Island for 529 Days Is Safe After 1,000 Hours of Searching, Rescue Says With no identifying information, APA eventually discovered that Rome was double microchipped, and they were able to track down his original owners, who, the organization said, "were stunned and overjoyed to learn that their long-lost boy had been found alive and safe." Rome's family then made plans to travel over 1,000 miles from California to Texas and bring their beloved canine companion home. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! "We are a ball of emotion right now,' Rome's family told APA in a statement. 'We are so excited to see him." "Words cannot describe the emotion of what we felt when he was gone, so to have that void filled today is absolutely incredible," they added. According to Human Animal Support Services, pets with microchips are three times more likely to return home after they are lost. Read the original article on People
