December, 2009:

Last November, our mobile veterinary clinic got an e-mail from a woman named Lisa, pleading for help.

A few days earlier, Lisa and her husband had been passing through an alley when they noticed an animal scrounging around a cluster of dumpsters.  As they drove nearer, they saw that it was a dog scratching the ground and licking it, trying desperately to find something to eat.  Getting out of the car to get a better look, they were shocked by what they saw: the dog was emaciated, and both eyes were covered with what appeared to be red lesions.  Not only was this poor dog starving, but she was completely blind.  Unable to leave such a pitiful creature to fend for herself, the couple lured her into the car and took her home.

Already struggling to make ends meet, and having four other pets, Lisa was at a loss.  She knew the shelter would euthanize a dog in such poor physical condition, so she didn’t want to take her there, but she also didn’t have the money to pay for all the medical care this dog clearly needed.  Heartbroken, she thought hard about her options as she watched this sweet dog walk into the furniture and walls, trying to adapt to her new surroundings.  Finally, she decided to take the dog to a veterinarian to see exactly what she was dealing with.

While sitting in the waiting room at her veterinarian’s clinic, she was surprised by how concerned the other clients were when they saw the miserable condition this dog was in.  Fortunately, one of these clients mentioned that The Sam Simon Foundation performs free surgeries.  Talk about divine intervention!  Putting this information in the back of her mind, Lisa took the dog into the exam room, where she was diagnosed with entropion and cherry eye in both eyes, and suspicious masses along her breasts and legs.  Unable to afford the surgeries needed to repair all of the dog’s maladies, Lisa went home and followed up on the lead she had just been given.

Finding our website online, Lisa e-mailed the Foundation a description of the dog’s ailments, along with some very compelling photographs.  However, because the dog was so malnourished, no medical procedures could be performed until after she gained a substantial amount of weight.  Incredibly, it only took “Ms. Magoo” two weeks to put on the weight necessary to go forward with the surgeries, which the Foundation then performed in immediate succession.

Three surgeries later, Ms. Magoo has been given a clean bill of health.  Not only did the masses turn out to be benign, but after the medical staff repaired the damage to her eyes, they were thrilled to discover that she still has vision in one of them!

Aside from her restored health, Ms. Magoo has been given an incredible life.  She now sleeps in the bed every night with the rest of her new family, and spends her days as a super-happy dog, running and playing with the rest of her family members.  This was definitely a dog worth saving, and the Foundation couldn’t be happier to have participated in her recovery.

(click on image to enlarge)

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