SANGRE DE CRISTO ANIMAL HOSPITAL

3015 Cielo Court

Santa Fe NM 87507

505-471-6594

fax 471-7217

THE ANGEL FUND NEWS

Winter 2009

 

The doctors and staff of Sangre de Cristo Animal Hospital thank our generous Angel Fund supporters for helping many animals this past year who for financial reasons might otherwise have gone without the medical care they needed. Here are a few of their stories:

THRUPPENCE. This sleek brown tabby stray was brought in after she was caught in a car engine. One back leg was badly broken and infected, and the most humane way to deal with her injuries was to amputate the leg. She recovered amazingly well and, after a week of rest, was running around the clinic like nothing terrible had ever happened to her. Once she healed she was spayed, and then she found a home with a young artist.

CHIQUITA.  We don’t often see Chihuahuas as sweet as Chiquita. She was a stray who arrived at the home of some caring people with a softball-sized hernia strangling her intestines and uterus. She went into surgery straightaway, the hernia was repaired, she was spayed, and everything was put back in its proper place. A few days of rest, pain medication, antibiotics, and IV fluids, and she was ready to go home with her new family.  Our thanks to Animal Alliance for also contributing to Chiquita’s care.

YODI is a heeler mix who came to us skeletally thin and vomiting. We suspected he had an internal obstruction when he did not get better after a day of fluids and antibiotics. Sure enough, he had eaten the nipple from a baby bottle and it had become stuck. Surgery was the only answer, and with that, handfeeding every hour to make up for the time with no food, and several days of rest, he was ready to be adopted to his new home. 

LUCY. This rat terrier (who is also the mother of two of Dr. Joy’s dogs) was adopted from a local rescue organization several years ago. She was born with bad hips and the condition deteriorated to where she needed a femoral head osteotomy, a surgery that removes the head of the thigh bone and relieves pain. Angel Fund and the Animal Alliance both contributed to the cost of this surgery.

TONKS. We named this tiny calico kitten Nymphadora Tonks (Harry Potter fans take note) after she was relinquished to us with a bad respiratory infection and general poor health. A course of antibiotics, de-worming, and all the food she could eat soon put Tonks on the road to vibrant health. We miss her antics around the hospital, but are happy she has a good home in Pecos.  

DAISY.  Daisy is a white miniature poodle whose diabetes became dangerously unregulated when she developed pancreatitis. She had to be hospitalized for several days and underwent tests each day to monitor her blood glucose levels. Finally things were stabilized and she could go home, where she has been doing quite well ever since.  

BUGLY (now named JAKE). This young dachshund mix decided to dash across Agua Fria in traffic, which was a bad idea. A good Samaritan saw him get clipped by a car and brought him to us for treatment. He arrived in shock but luckily was only scraped and bruised. He had no tags or microchip, and there were no responses to our advertisements in the newspaper or inquiries at the Shelter for him. So after a few weeks here at Sangre and foster care by staffers, we found Bugly a new home, where he is perfecting his considerable skills at hugging people around the neck. 
 
 

WHO ELSE DID THE ANGEL FUND HELP THIS YEAR? 

Your contributions paid for neutering for Yogi Pooh, a border collie in foster care; IV fluids for Bo, a Chihuahua with gastroenteritis; anesthesia for Romeo the Pekingese so we could repair his cherry eye, remove several infected teeth, and take off a tumor; bloodwork for Tessa, an elderly Chihuahua; surgery for Holly, an older Labrador with a life-threatening infected uterus; emergency treatment for Spike, a chow who was hit by a car; an exam and medications for a stray heeler brought in by a good Samaritan; surgery for Kitty, a Siamese mix who was attacked by a dog; teeth cleaning for Mr. Whiskers, a cocker spaniel mix; medication to help Lefty the Chihuahua breathe better; and a urinalysis for Buddha, a Persian cat. 

Sadly, there are still animals who need medical attention and have nowhere to turn. Thank you from all of us here at Sangre de Cristo Animal Hospital for giving us the ability to treat these cats and dogs with the dignity, respect, and care they deserve. We are working towards the day when all animals are treated with compassion. If you would like to contribute to the Angel Fund, please send a check to Sangre de Cristo Animal Hospital (attn: Angel Fund), 3015 Cielo Court, Santa Fe, NM 87507. Donations are not tax-deductible.