Badly Burned to Completely Recovered

We see a lot of horrific injuries in rescue. After 10+ years and thousands of animals, this is one of the worst we’ve ever seen.

Her injuries were so severe that we couldn't even post the photos because they were too graphic.
Another urgent call. Another dog in desperate need. Another life depending on people willing to say, “We’ll help.”

We received an emergency call from our friends at Bradford County Animal Services about a badly injured dog who desperately needed medical care. When we saw her wounds, we were stunned. Much of her back was one massive open wound.

According to her owner, she had run off for four days. When she returned home, she had an injury on her back, and by the following morning, the skin had completely opened.

We don’t know exactly what happened to her during those four days. We believe she was burned, but we have no idea why or how. The burn patterns look like hot liquid or caustic chemicals. What we do know is that she is safe now, and she will never have to face something like this alone again.

As soon as Tracy Collins reached out, we immediately called Palm Valley Veterinary Center. Even though Dr. Mack wasn’t working that day, his response was simple: “Bring her in.”

On a Friday evening, he came in specifically to help her. He carefully shaved the surrounding hair, thoroughly cleaned and debrided her wounds, clipped away damaged tissue, started aggressive antibiotics and pain medication, and immediately began hyperbaric oxygen therapy to give her the best possible chance to heal.

Many of you remember Atlas and Lyra, the two puppies who survived after being poisoned with antifreeze and abandoned on a rural road. We wanted this sweet girl's name to continue that theme, so we named her Maia. In Greek mythology, Atlas is the father of the Pleiades, Lyra is the neighboring constellation, and Maia is the star daughter who survived and thrived. We prayed Maia would follow that same path—that despite everything she endured, she would heal, grow stronger every day, and eventually find the loving home she deserved.

Maia remained medically boarded at Palm Valley Veterinary Center, where she got an incredible amount of love and TLC. Part of her daily treatment included sessions in the hyperbaric chamber to speed the healing of her wounds. Dr. Mack was supposed to be off that weekend, but he came in every single day to care for her and treat her with more hyperbaric therapy. As always, he went above and beyond for our pups!

The treatment worked better than we could have ever hoped for, and little by little, her back healed.
While she was still hospitalized, we got a message from a potential adopter named Vicki. She came down to Palm Valley to meet Maia, and it was love at first sight!

It was a little complicated at first because Maia was very skittish around strangers. Normally, we’d use a harness, collar, and slip lead to walk her, but due to her extensive injuries, she couldn't wear a harness. However, our team worked out a careful plan, and everything went beautifully.

We are overjoyed to report that Maia—now named Piper—is happily adopted, completely healed, and she just went back in for her spay!

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who jumped into action to save this sweet girl:
— Thank you, Tracy Collins, for coordinating everything so quickly.
— Thank you to Renee for dropping everything to transport Maia from the shelter to Palm Valley.
— And as always, thank you to Dr. Mack, Rena, Bianca, and the entire team at Palm Valley Veterinary Center for once again opening your doors—and your hearts—to one of our most urgent cases. Her amazing recovery would not have been possible without the care and attention she received at Palm Valley Vet.

We could never do this work without our amazing community. Thank you for keeping Maia in your thoughts and prayers, and for supporting our mission to save animals in desperate need!

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

To Donate: 
— Credit Card: www.floridaurgentrescue.org/donate
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    7643 Gate Parkway #104-27
    Jacksonville, FL 32256

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Florida Urgent Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and is rated in the top 1/10th of 1% of all nonprofits nationwide. FUR earned a Four-Star Rating on Charity Navigator with a score of 100%, and a 2025 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency by Guidestar. FUR is also rated as a Top Nonprofit on Great Nonprofits.