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The Washington Animal Rescue League's Love Fund provides funding support for emergency care for seriously injured animals who are abandoned or live with low-income residents in our community who cannot afford the costs of major surgery. Established in 1996, the Love Fund has provided direct financial support for medical care for thousands of dogs and cats within the Washington, DC area. The Love Fund helps the League first consider how best to relieve the suffering and make the animal as healthy as possible, regardless of the cost. This funding is in addition to the several hundreds of dollars the League spends on individual animals for their basic care throughout their stay at our shelter. In some cases, the League has spent as much as $8,000 per individual case to save animals with dire medical needs.
Meet Some Success Stories
Monica: A Happy Ending
Monica, a four-year-old domestic shorthaired cat, came to the League in February 2004 with a severe open wound on her back. Outdoor cats get injuries like these all the time, sometimes caused by fighting with another cat, or even cruelly inflicted by humans. In most cases, they aren't fortunate enough to end up at our Medical Center--Monica was one of the lucky ones.
She underwent four surgeries to repair this large wound. Three of the procedures were performed here at the League's Medical Center. In each case, the wound closed well, but the tension in Monica's back would open it up again within a week.
Cultures showed she had a deep, resistant bacterial infection that prevented her from healing, so we started a course of two antibiotics and allowed the injury to heal as an open wound, requiring daily dressing changes. This can be uncomfortable and most cats would only tolerate this for only a short time, if at all.
Monica, however, was a real trooper, and purred through the entire process -- a process that took over 2 months. When her injury was finally clean and healthy, it was closed by a specialist using elaborate plastic surgery techniques.
The Love Fund covered the cost of this specialized--and expensive--surgery, which had to be performed at an outside hospital. Including the consultation, Monica's medical bills amounted to over $1,000.
Sweet Monica was a model patient who recovered completely and was adopted into a wonderful forever home, where she has a view of the Marina and the Washington Monument.
Carmen: A Sweetheart Despite Beatings
Carmen is a four-month-old German Shepherd puppy who came to us through the ShARE program. He was seized by the Animal Control office of one of our partner organizations after enduring severe beatings at the hands of his guardian (who is currently being prosecuted).
Carmen arrived suffering from head trauma, eye hemorrhages, neck bruises and a severely fractured left femur. We immediately took x-rays and stabilized his condition, then sent him to a specialist to have the fracture repaired. Despite everyone's best efforts, the leg was irreparable, and we were forced to amputate it in order to give him better and less painful mobility.
With his other beating injuries healing nicely, Carmen will soon be ready for a loving new home. Incredibly, throughout his ordeal - even on the day he arrived in such bad condition - Carmen has been a happy, tail-wagging companion.
Carmen's specialized medical care alone was valued at over $7,000.
Given the horrific environment that Carmen was exposed to almost from the moment he was born, this little guy deserved the very best we could offer and we will find him the best home we can!
To support the Love Fund, click here.
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