Baker County Animal Control reached out to us about 3 dogs from cruelty cases. When the Sheriff removed squatters from a large tract of land, the property owner went out a few days later after the flooding receded and found two abandoned dogs.
One pup was left to die in a small wire chicken cage that was just 18" high, zip tied closed with no food or water. He was in critical condition. He has the worst case of Demodex we've ever seen, he's lost most of his fur, and he has a raging skin infection. On top of that, he appears to have sunburn on his exposed skin. We don't know how long he was kept in this tiny cage, but he could barely walk and his back was arched like a cat. He was severely dehydrated, anemic and loaded with parasites. Terrified but sweet, we named him Cash and rushed him to Sandbridge Veterinary Center.
There were 2 other medically needy dogs, but Cash was in the worst shape and needed vet attention immediately. This is a rural shelter with no vet staff and very limited resources, so we scrambled to come up with a plan.
Our volunteer Andrea Lepianka asked her boss if she could leave work early to transport him. She raced to the shelter to pick him up, and brought him to see Dr. Cunningham at Sandbridge Veterinary Center. The animal control officer thought he was a puppy, and initially we agreed. Based on the tartar on his teeth, Dr. Cunningham thought he was older. They started running a battery of tests and began various medications, but as the afternoon wore on, they realized that he wasn't maintaining body temperature.
We decided that it wasn't safe for him to spend the night unattended so we made a quick decision to transport him to Capital Veterinary Specialists. Luckily, the amazing Dr Apolo was on duty and worked her magic to warm him up and stabilize him. One of her vet techs even got him a t-shirt to help keep him warm. While he's not out of the woods, he seemed a bit better by the morning so we are moving him back to Sandbridge. Huge thanks to Beth Graham for stepping up to transport Cash from the ER back to Sandbridge.
We don't know yet how his story will end, but we do know that we are giving him the best possible chance at a full recovery. Now our focus is shifting to coming up with a plan for the other two pups. The catch? With holiday travel in full swing, we don't have open fosters right now.
If you can help, even temporarily, please consider filling out a foster application. There are still a lot of uncertainties, but with your support, we're giving these pups their best shot at a brighter future.
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗢𝗡!
Donations are DOUBLED up to $20,000, and new Monthly Donations are TRIPLED through 12/31. Several generous donors have agreed to double all individual donations, and triple new monthly donations, through the end of the year, up to $20k.
To Donate:
— Credit Card: www.floridaurgentrescue.org/donate
— Venmo: @FloridaUrgentRescue
— PayPal: floridaurgentrescue@gmail.com
— CashApp: $FloridaUrgentRescue
— Mail: Florida Urgent Rescue
7643 Gate Parkway #104-27
Jacksonville, FL 32256
𝗙𝗨𝗥 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗟𝗬 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠
Sick and injured animals like Cash need help fast. Every donation helps, but Monthly donors give us flexibility to respond immediately when there is an emergency. When there is a hoarding case or a hurricane, a dog with a gunshot wound or a cruelty case, we have to act quickly. We don't have time to do a fundraiser, and wait for those funds to get to us. Your monthly donation can help us save lives again and again. To learn more, please visit: https://www.floridaurgentrescue.org/donatemonthly
Florida Urgent Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and FUR earned a Four-Star Rating on Charity Navigator, the highest possible rating. FUR also received a 2023 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency by Guidestar, and is a 2023 Top Rated Nonprofit on Great Nonprofits. Learn more about FUR at: www.floridaurgentrescue.org
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