Poisoned and Dumped— Lyra’s Amazing Recovery

Late on a Saturday night, Christin was driving home through Bradford County and saw a sight that stopped her in her tracks: four young puppies on the side of the road in an area notorious for dog dumping. One pup was lying down and appeared to have been hit by a car. Distressed and with no place at home to safely keep them, Christin called her husband in tears. She couldn't leave them behind to die. She loaded them into her car, brought them home to crates on her porch, and reached out to Florida Urgent Rescue (FUR) for a lifeline.

With the local shelter closed until Monday, there was no county resource available—even for an injured animal. Susan, Tracy Collins, and Jessica Arseneau immediately jumped into action, scrambling in the dark of night to coordinate an emergency plan.

Christin dropped everything, loaded the most critical puppy—a sweet boy we named Boone—into her car, and met us halfway to race him to Focused Pet Care in Orange Park. The ride was heartbreaking. Before even arriving, Boone threw up sticks, leaves, and what appeared to be a bird's claw. He was starving.
Initial thoughts pointed to a bowel blockage or trauma from a vehicle, but bloodwork and X-rays from Dr. LaVasser revealed a shocking reality: Ethylene Glycol (antifreeze) poisoning. There was no physical trauma from a car. Someone had intentionally poisoned him.

Panic in the Dark and a Race Against Time
While Boone was receiving care at the hospital, Christin returned home to check on the remaining three puppies on her porch. Soon after, she called with dreaded news: a second puppy, a little girl named Nova, had become sluggish and was unable to stand.

At midnight on a Saturday, finding transport or temporary shelter was nearly impossible, but this was now a full-blown medical emergency for all of them. Our team made the hour-long drive back out to Lawtey in the middle of the night, loaded up the remaining three puppies, and rushed them back to the ER.

Tragically, despite the veterinary team's immediate efforts, Boone passed away. Not long after, Nova became completely unresponsive as her kidney values deteriorated beyond recovery, and we lost her as well.
Atlas and Lyra—the two remaining puppies—were in a fight for their lives. Blood tests confirmed that both had urine crystals and had also ingested the lethal antifreeze. Someone had poisoned the entire litter and abandoned them on a desolate roadside.

Four Days in Intensive ER Care
Doctors LaVasser, Fraser, and Mizesko at Focused Pet Care immediately initiated aggressive treatment, including ethanol protocols and continuous IV fluids, to neutralize the toxin and flush their kidneys.
The next four days were nerve-wracking. We watched their monitors and held our breath through every shift change as their kidney values fluctuated. But Atlas and Lyra proved to be fighters. After four days of round-the-clock ER hospitalization, their kidney function finally stabilized, and they were cleared to leave the emergency room.

From hospital floors and IV lines, they transitioned directly into loving foster homes. Marlene & Doug Ritter and their family stepped up to foster Lyra, while Brandy & Travis Becker and their family welcomed Atlas. For the first time in their lives, these puppies experienced soft beds, safe living rooms, and true family care.

100% Recovered and Ready for Her Forever Home
Following their initial release, both puppies continued receiving follow-up care and monitoring at Palm Valley Veterinary Center to ensure their kidneys remained healthy. Atlas was soon adopted into a loving home, and now Lyra has reached that same incredible milestone: she is completely recovered, healthy, and officially ready for adoption!

Her foster family reports that Lyra is an absolute dream. She is affectionate, dog-friendly, kid-friendly, and a total cuddle bug. She has completely put her traumatic past behind her and spends her days learning how wonderful life can be as a cherished pet.

It Takes a Village
— Lyra’s survival and full recovery were made possible by a swift, coordinated effort across our rescue network:
Christin, for stopping on a dark road to help four helpless puppies when others drove past.

— Dr. LaVasser, Dr. Fraser, Dr. Mizesko, and the entire staff at Focused Pet Care, for their round-the-clock emergency medical intervention.

— Dr. Mack and the team at Palm Valley Veterinary Center, for providing follow-up care and monitoring.
Marlene & Doug Ritter, for opening their home and providing the dedicated foster care Lyra needed to thrive.

Our FUR Monthly Donors, whose ongoing support allowed us to say "do whatever it takes" the moment these puppies arrived at the ER.

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
— Venmo: @FloridaUrgentRescue
— PayPal: floridaurgentrescue@gmail.com
— Mail: Florida Urgent Rescue
    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.