The Pet Rescue Center needed a hero today, and that need was filled by a 5-year-old Pit Bull named Spud. Relinquished by his owner who had been deployed overseas, Spud provided a blood transfusion for another dog at The Pet Rescue Center, a 2-year-old Beagle mix known as Bobby.
Bobby was saved last month by The Pet Rescue Center, after he had been brought in as a stray to the county animal shelter in Orange. Shelter officials believed he had been mauled by another dog, but after arriving at the rescue’s facility in Mission Viejo, it was determined that he had a severe skin infection. Bobby is being treated and his wounds are slowly healing, but his health declined over the weekend.
“While we are excited to watch the slow but gradual improvement with Bobby's wounds, he had become systemically ill through the weekend,” explained Dr. Matthew Wheaton, Co-Founder of The Pet Rescue Center and Hospital Director at Alicia Pet Care Center, where the rescue is housed. “We fully expect him to be much improved with the blood transfusion, providing him with needed energy to continue to improve the rest of his body systems.”
Bobby was very lethargic and not eating, and vomited what appeared to be blood clots. A re-check of his lab work today showed moderate anemia with dehydration, so it was decided that a blood transfusion would help to support him through his continued healing. He will be on additional medication now to resolve his stomach issues for the long term and Dr. Wheaton will continue to keep a close eye on his health status.
“Spud was the perfect dog to pay it forward to our little Bobby,” said Casey Oliver, Director of Operations at The Pet Rescue Center. “His owner was re-located to Afghanistan leaving Spud with us to find a new home. I know he would be very proud of Spud."
This is the third time that one of The PRC’s rescued dogs has “paid it forward” by providing a life-saving blood transfusion for another rescued pup. In April of 2012, Sammy, a former bait dog saved by the organization, gave blood to Piper, a lab mix puppy rescued by DAWG, a non-profit group associated with the Mission Viejo Animal Shelter. Just last month, another pit bull at The Pet Rescue Center, Kara, provided a much-needed blood transfusion to a 7-week-old puppy saved by Coastal German Shepherd Rescue. Kara is still available for adoption.
Blythe Wheaton, Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Pet Rescue Center explained, “Although The PRC primarily saves pets from high-kill shelters, we do have a relinquishment program for dogs and cats that are no longer able to be cared for by their owners. Spud helping Bobby in this way, demonstrates the interwoven and cooperative relationship between all of our rescues.”
Spud is currently available for adoption at The Pet Rescue Center. Bobby will continue being treated for his skin infection, and will be made available for adoption once he is healthy.
The Pet Rescue Center, located inside Alicia Pet Care Center in Mission Viejo, is a 501c3 non-profit organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and re-homes pets saved from euthanasia at high-kill shelters and other at-risk situations. These pets are provided with a veterinarian-supervised, temporary sanctuary, while The Pet Rescue Center works to find an adopting family for them. They have successfully saved and adopted out more than 600 dogs and cats in the past five years. To view their adoptable cats and dogs, to volunteer, or to make a donation, please visit them online at www.thepetrescuecenter.org or call 877.277.7938. You can also "like" and follow them on Facebook.
The Pet Rescue Center…Rescuing Pets, Creating Families, Saving Lives.
