They Lost they Person they Loved the Most

Now we’re praying they don’t lose each other.

Last month, we received an email that was impossible to ignore.

It came from a hospice social worker who had just lost one of her patients and was desperately trying to find help for his two beloved dogs.

Loriell explained that her patient had no family or friends who could take the dogs. His ex-wife had stepped in temporarily, but it wasn’t a long-term solution.

The dogs were:

 — Bear, approximately 12 years old

 — Maggie, approximately 8 years old

Unfortunately, we didn’t have a foster available at the time. We offered to help network them and get the word out, but with the clock ticking, they surrendered them to Animal Care & Protective Services (ACPS) in Jacksonville. Given the circumstances and the time constraints, we all agreed it was the best option.

Then something wonderful happened.

Sarah Farwell went to ACPS to meet them. As often happens with special dogs, she fell in love.

She immediately started networking with other volunteers, and Crissy expressed interest in fostering them. Sarah helped coordinate everything, and Crissy and her husband John welcomed Bear and Maggie into their home as foster dogs for the shelter.

But there was one problem. Municipal shelters are overwhelmed. As much as they try, it’s incredibly difficult to provide long-term placement for special situations like a bonded pair of senior dogs.

Crissy and her husband offered to continue fostering Bear and Maggie if Florida Urgent Rescue could take them into our program. Sarah and Erin worked behind the scenes to help make it happen, and together we coordinated a rescue transfer.

These two sweet seniors are now officially part of the Florida Urgent Rescue family.

Unfortunately, Maggie took a sudden turn for the worse.

She came from the shelter with a persistent cough and had already completed a course of doxycycline without improving. Last Friday, Crissy took both dogs to Palm Valley Veterinary Center for bloodwork and to have Maggie rechecked. An additional medication was started, and everyone hoped she would begin feeling better.

Instead, yesterday she became very lethargic.

Crissy took her temperature and was immediately alarmed when it read 104.5°.

Without hesitation, she rushed Maggie to First Coast Veterinary Emergency. By the time they arrived, Maggie’s temperature had climbed to 106.5 degrees.

The emergency team performed bloodwork and chest X-rays and diagnosed pneumonia. She was immediately hospitalized and started on two different IV antibiotics.

Thankfully, her temperature came down overnight.

Unfortunately, her white blood cell count remains dangerously low, so she will be staying in the hospital for at least another night while they continue aggressive treatment.

We’re incredibly grateful that Chrissy recognized the change so quickly and acted immediately. That kind of attentiveness may have saved Maggie’s life.

And thank you to Loriell for refusing to give up on these dogs, to Sarah Farwell for making connection after connection until a plan came together, to Chrissy and her husband for opening their hearts and home, and to the team at First Coast Veterinary Emergency for taking such good care of Maggie.

Please keep Maggie in your prayers tonight. She has already lost the person who loved her most, and she deserves every chance to recover and enjoy her golden years with Bear by her side. Update: Maggie is home from the ER and on the mend.

𝗙𝗨𝗥 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺

Sick and injured animals 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 run a fundraiser, and wait for those funds to get to us. Your monthly donation can help us save lives again and again. Learn more at: https://www.floridaurgentrescue.org/donatemonthly

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    7643 Gate Parkway #104-27

    Jacksonville, FL 32256

About FUR

Florida Urgent Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and FUR earned a Four-Star Rating on Charity Navigator with a score of 100%, the highest possible rating. FUR also received a 2025 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency by Guidestar. Less than 1/10th of 1% of all nonprofits receive these ratings.