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"Hi! I foster disabled/injured puppies, and the occasional kitten, out in the rural South on the Mississippi. I've managed to rehabilitate 9 animals in the past 12 months (1 in progress), --
and I'm so grateful I've had the time and resources to help them get a new start. Here are before and afters for everyone!"
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"Ripple (now River!)"
Ripple went through hell, some freak poured diesel fuel on her and tried to set her on fire. She had extensive chemical burns and needed to wear t-shirts to protect her skin. She healed up BEAUTIFULLY, and all the fur grew back over the scars! She's now living a fabulous life in Vermont backpacking with her person"
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Buttercup (now Lucy!)
"Bee was thrown out the window of a speeding car and suffered a fractured femur (amazingly nothing else!) She needed two major surgeries, complete with hardware, but she walked away with only a slight limp and notch in her tail. My ex adopted her, her leg doesn't slow her down in the slightest and she's a natural swimmer (and howler!)"
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"McKinnley/Mickey"
"Mickey holds a dear place in my heart, she was my longest foster and stayed in my home 5 months. She was severely bowlegged and needed to go through 7 weeks of leg-straightening therapy (it was an eternity for BOTH of us). Completely worth the process when she could finally RUN! She found her forever home on the east coast, you'd never know she was once handicapped"
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"Baby Bear"
This boy was a NUT, I was immediately smitten. Baby Bear was found locked in a gun cabinet with brain swelling and underwent very intense brain surgery. His seizures subsided after the surgery and medication therapy, and his goofy personality bloomed. He was a little "special," but it didn't slow him down. He was eventually adopted by one of the vet techs who assisted in his original surgery, and now he has two brothers and the biggest backyard ever"
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"Piper"
"Piper was an accidental foster! When I went to pick up Baby Bear from his first foster mom, she asked if I wanted to foster a mini dachshund too and I caved IMMEDIATELY. Never mind that I already had 3 fosters at home! Piper had nothing wrong with her, she was surrendered by her owners at only 6 weeks old because "she barked too much." She was the size of a guinea pig, and the bravest dog in the world. I fostered her until she got her last shots and could finally join a transport to her forever home in New Hampshire."
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"Ash (now Arthur!)"
"Another accidental foster! I found Ash under an ash tree while walking the dogs. He was about 7 weeks old and very sick, but walked RIGHT up to me already purring. Fostering him was a blast, he was completely fearless and joined every outing to the flood plains, dog park, brewery, no problem. My college roommate in Boston adopted him, now he wrecks havoc in her apartment and pesters the other cat"
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"Sunday"
"Sunday was the victim of extreme abuse, some sick person cracked her skull with a blunt object and kicked dents in her body. She was my second longest foster, 4 months, and you'd never know her backstory to see her now. She recently went home to a beautiful couple in PA, they kept her name and she's instant best friends with her new brother Goober"
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"Bliss (now Juneau!)"
"Juneau was a very personal foster, a gift for my parents. Our family golden retriever died last summer, and eventually, my parents reached out to me for help when their hearts were ready for another dog. I used my shelter connections to find them the right dog, Juneau. I knew immediately when I met her she was the one. She and her 3 siblings had been neglected their whole lives and were extremely emaciated, so Juneau spent a month or so in rehab with me before my parents made the drive down to get her. They are head over heels in love with her, she's goofy, high energy, and STILL growing!"
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"Elliot"
"Elliot is my current foster, I've had him one week and he's already made major strides! 9 days ago he was witnessed getting dumped out of a car on a back road, with an extremely swollen belly indicating stage 4 congestive heart failure. When I was asked to take him, it was with the assumption it was for end of life care. His gums were white and breathing labored, I was told he might not make it even a few more hours. But miraculously, with medication and lots of care, he's improving! Belly much less swollen, way more energy, and endless tail-wagging. I'm already deeply invested, I'm praying he continues to improve and make it to a forever home one day"
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"Bonus: Sashka!"
"The joy of my heart and love of my life. Sasha was in the shelter for FIVE YEARS before we met, complete nonsense because she's literally the perfect dog. She's my partner in all this rehab work, especially the socializing piece, and I couldn't do it without her.
Fostering saves lives, I highly recommend it if you're in a position to do so (quarantine has made it much easier for me!) It's been one of the most worthwhile and rewarding experiences of my life, if you have love to give this is the perfect outlet."
You can help contribute to Eilliot's medical care by donating to Imgur user thesorrycynic's shelter.
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Users share their thoughts about thoughtful comments:
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Thank you, thesorrycynic, for giving all these beautiful animals a second chance!
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