#GivingTuesday is a global day of doing good. Where people across the world band together to make their communities better places for everyone.
This year, Helen Woodward Animal Center is asking you to help heal hearts by giving love.
From now until 11:59 PM on December 2nd, your gift will be DOUBLED, making TWICE the impact for orphan pets in need.
Orphan pets like Gumdrop and Petunia.
Healing Gumdrop’s Broken Heart
Gumdrop came to us last year traumatized and with a broken heart. He had suffered for years at the hands of a cruel owner who abused the tuxedo kitty every day. Finally, the owner had enough of poor Gumdrop and took him to a local animal control facility to be euthanized.
But rather than needlessly kill the perfectly healthy boy, the facility called us. They asked that we give this poor heartbroken cat a second chance, and find him a home that will give him the love he missed his first few years on Earth.
Of course, Helen Woodward Animal Center said “yes.”
Thanks to donations from kind people such as yourself, we were able to fund Gumdrop’s emotional recovery. We sent him home with a foster volunteer who could give him the space and care he needed to feel safe again. Because of the community’s support, we could supply Gumdrop with all the food, toys, and litter he needed at no cost to the foster. Because of your support, we were able to heal Gumdrop’s heart.
Gumdrop returned from foster care almost a new kitty. He’s still cautious with new people, but he’s much friendlier and more trusting than he was a year and a half ago when we first met him. The now 4-and-a-half-year-old Tuxedo kitty is looking for his forever family. Your gift will help support the care of Gumdrop and pets like him until they find their happily forever after.
Petunia’s Second Chance
We met Petunia earlier this year under the direst of circumstances. The two and a half year old Bulldog had been rushed to the Center’s Companion Animal Hospital after a concerned member of her community found her outside with a massive cut in her neck. The wound carved its way around the entire underside of Petunia’s throat, nearly decapitating her. To make matters worse, the entire laceration was infected with maggots. Because of charitable gifts from the community, Helen Woodward Animal Center’s veterinary team was able to jump into action and treat the gravely injured dog. Center Veterinarian Dr. Olivia Garvey determined the wound was caused by a surgical cone being left on for far too long. The Veterinarian called Petunia’s injury one of the worst situations she’d seen in her career.
“This didn’t happen overnight.” Dr. Garvey said. “Based on the circumstances we could tell this wasn’t something that happened quickly, this was neglect.”
Over the span of hours, Garvey and her staff removed dirt, grime, and even maggots from the wound before using medical staples to close the laceration. Then, they prescribed her mild sedatives to keep her from reopening her wound.
After her surgery, the Center sent Petunia to recover in foster care. Because of donations from people like yourself, we were able to supply the Bulldog with everything she needed to heal.
It took several weeks, but Petunia recovered beautifully. Besides a scar, you would never be able to tell that the bulldog had been fighting for her life just a few weeks prior. She was made available in early June, and found her forever family within days.
Petunia’s second chance was only possible thanks to generous donors. Will you Give Now and Save Lives like Petunia’s?
