While almost every dog and cat comes to us with battlescars - some on the outside, some on the inside - there are those few who got dealt a pretty unfair hand! And sometimes their medical needs are so much more than we are prepared for. But once an animal is part of the Joyrides family, we will do everything we can to make sure they get all of the medical care they need to get healthy and live joyful, pain-free lives! Below are some of those stories!
GATSBY (2022)Gatsby was found on the side of the road after being hit by a car. His sweet, loyal brother Gus (who Joyrides also saved and has been adopted!) refused to leave his side. The pair were taken to the city pound and Gatsby was saved by his foster dad who stepped up! After an FHO surgery and extensive rehab, this loving boy figured out his foster home was now his forever home!
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CAROLINE (2022)Caroline was found on the streets of Houston and taken to the city pound. She had multiple masses along her abdomen including one that had burst open. Two surgeries and multiple tests and biopsy we learned that sweet Caroline has cancer. She also has extreme degenerative hip disease that was untreated and left her in extreme pain. But the day Caroline went to the vet is the day her life changed. Her fospice mom (and also her vet!) fell instantly in love! We don't know how much time she has left but her fospice family will make sure she lives every day to the fullest! She has soft beds, is on a great pain regiment that has significantly improved her mobility, and she is loving life!
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YOSHI (2022)Yoshi was adopted from the city pound in 2016. In 2022, he was found laying in a ditch, unable to move. He was picked up by animal control and thankfully a foster stepped up to save his life! Yoshi was having a tough time getting around and after alot of tests and a consult with a specialist we have learned that Yoshi has arthritis, hip dysplasia, a luxating patella and a torn CCL. In December 2022 we will do surgery on his "bad" knee to try to make him more comfortable. In January 2023, he will have surgery on his other leg! We can't fix everything but we are hopeful surgery will give him a better quality of life!
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FRIDA (2022)Frida came to us from the shelter after we got a plea about a senior with mammary tumors. Turns out Frida is NOT a senior, she's only about 3 yrs old and she didn't have mammary tumors (that would be very rare in a dog as young as 3) but she had TWO inguinal hernias. Sadly, she also had Grade 4 luxating patellas in both of her back legs. This condition made it very difficult for her to walk. She couldn't run, jump and play, she couldn't get in and out of dog beds comfortably, she avoided motion whenever possible and she was in constant discomfort. Frida had her first surgery (left leg) in October 2022 and is doing well. She will have her right leg done in November 2022!
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PENNY LANE (2022)Penny Lane came to us as a "senior" with an extremely distended abdomen. We *thought* she was suffering from Caval syndrome which is caused by heartworms (she is heartworm positive.) But Penny Lane isn't a senior at all, she is probably around 5 years old. However, she is also our most complex medical case we have ever had. She had pyometra which is an infection of the uterus that requires immediate emergency surgery. She then developed a uterine stump prolapse which required another emergency surgery to tack the stump back inside. Her labs continued to baffle vets as we battled chronic, severe anemia that has required multiple blood transfusions. She has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder that requires daily medications, a special diet and regular lab checks. And THEN we found out she also has a TVT which is a cancer tumor that is spread through sexual contact. Penny Lane went thru multiple rounds of chemo and more pills than we can count. Unfortunately, Penny Lane lost her battle with cancer in 2022. She left us surrounded by her tribe of volunteers who fought so hard to save her life and we loved her fiercely. RIP Penny Lane
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BETTY (2022)Betty is a senior kitty who came to us with a condition called stomatitis. This condition creates chronic inflammation and infection in her mouth. After consulting with the vet, Betty underwent surgery to remove all of her teeth. Since surgery, Betty thrives! She is such a lovebug who loves cuddles and naps in the sun. Betty is currently looking for a forever home!
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MAX (2021)Max's story came from a plea from the shelter where he had been taken after his owner INTENTIONALLY ran him over with a car! After his vet visit we learned he had a broken front leg, a significant soft tissue wound on his hip and a back leg femur fracture that had healed without proper care. Because he already has a leg that isn't 100% we decided to try to save his front leg. We reached out to Houston PetSet who graciously offered a grant to cover a large portion of his surgery bill! Max has surgery on October 22, 2021. It was a long surgery (6 hours!) and his doctor finally opted for an external fixator because the break was so close to the joint. In addition, a healing bandage was sewn over the large open wound on his hip. After months of recovery, Max was adopted by a wonderful couple and is living the sweet life in NYC!
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DEE DEE (2021)Dee Dee came to us when she was turned in to the shelter by her family because she had a seizure. After lots of visits to the vet and a CT scan, we were told Dee Dee had a liver shunt and that most likely the toxins not being filtered by her liver were causing the seizures. We also learned her liver was pretty malformed and covered in fibrous tissue. Thankfully a sponsor stepped up for Dee Dee and we were able to have surgery performed to save her life. It was extremely risky for her age (6 yrs) and weight (7 lbs). Dee Dee had surgery on August 4, 2021 and did great! Soon after we learned that she also had large, inoperable kidney stones that also needed monitoring. Dee Dee lost her battle with liver disease in October 2022. Her surgery bought us 16 months of pure bliss with her and we are so grateful we had the chance to love her! Dee Dee earned her wings in her foster mom's arms and she will be forever loved. RIP Dee Dee
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NATALIE (2021)Natalie was found as a stray with a "limp." An xray showed that she had two broken back legs - right at the growth plate. It turns out Natalie had been thrown out of a car as a puppy and was severely injured. Natalie had surgery right away to wire the bones together to try to give her back her mobility. She then endured several months of laser and physiotherapy. She is now a normal, active dog who LOVES life!
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CANNOLI (2020)Cannoli was found on the streets of Houston with a very old injury to her leg. We were given the option to amputate but decided to try to save her leg - which wasn't easy because Cannoli has lots of ennergy! Her leg was set in a cast and then we waited. For months she hobbled around while her foster family did everything they could to entertain her and contain her energy. Despite some setbacks and frequent splint changes, Cannoli got her miracle! Her leg healed up beautifully! She can now run and play like a normal dog! She is now living in a wonderful forever home - she got her fairy tale ending!
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MAYA (2021)When Maya's plea from the shelter came out, it said she was a senior kitty who had been left behind when her family moved away. She suffered from cataracts but was otherwise a sweet, cuddly kitty who just wanted a place to live out her years. Well, Maya had a surprise for us! She wasn't a "senior" she was only about a year old! She suffered from congenital cataracts most likely caused by an infection in utero. We knew surgery could restore her vision and our Joyrides family rallied! Donations poured in and we were able to get her surgery done in January 2021. Maya can now see! Watching her world open up has been such a joy as she has learned to jump, stalk bugs and play. Instead of a living in a world of darkness, Maya is ready to take on the world!
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CLARA (2020)Clara was found on the streets of Houston with a broken leg and HUGE open wound as a result of being hit by a car. We knew we could not save her leg but before we could amputate it we had to get the raging infection under control. The open wound was full of gravel and dirt and her bone shards were embedded in all of the soft tissue in the area. After weeks and weeks of antibiotics, hydrotherapy and crate rest, she was finally able to have her leg removed. Several weeks later the incision had to be opened a 2nd and then a 3rd time to drain the infection and clean it out. FINALLY the incision started to heal. And oh boy, is our sweet girl grateful! She is now living in the NE with a mom who adores her! She has adapted to being a tripod and has no lingering issues from her ordeal!
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COOKIE (2020)
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Precious Cookie came to us from a rural shelter outside of Houston with a "bum" leg. We assumed she'd been hit by a car but the xrays revealed something much worse - she'd been shot! The bullet had shattered her leg into tiny pieces and there was no way to save it. But Cookie has never let it slow her down! She is now living the sweet life in the NE with a wonderful family, a huge yard, a partner her crime (her k9 sister) and is living the fairy tale life!
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BRIGID (2020)Sweet Brigid was found on the streets in a rural area outside of Houston - and she was a walking skeleton. Despite lots of good, nutritious food she continued to lose weight. Constant vomiting and diarrhea prevented her from ever gaining weight. Weeks of trial and error, ultrasounds, lab work and xrays the vet was finally able to figure out that Brigid has a pancreatic condition in which her body does not produce a specific enzyme she needs. Good news! We had a diagnosis and it could be treated! Once she started on her new medicine, she did a 180! She is now living with her forever family in the NE. She will need medicine for the rest of her life but she is healthy, happy and LOVED!
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RJ (2020)Little RJ came to us after the shelter sent out a plea about a dog that had been hit by a car and was found laying on the side of the road. We were shocked to learn that RJ had not been hit, he'd been SHOT with a .22. Thankfully the bullet missed all major organs but the inflammatory response within his body had put pressure on his spine and paralyzed him from the waist down. Months of rehabilitation, bladder expressions, acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, laser, physical therapy and water treadmill work and RJ surprised us all! Every day he got a little stronger. Every day he fought to stand up, The vet told us he'd never seen a more attitude in a dog and it's that stubborn terrier in him that not only let him survive but was gonna make him walk again! RJ was adopted by a wonderful family who, despite all of his special needs, was determined to give him the best life possible! They report that he continues to improve and can now stand up for longer periods, walk for short distances and is even starting to "trot!"
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ANGEL (2017)Angel was found on the streets of Houston in deplorable condition. Months of mange had taken its toll on her skin and her spirit. Imagine itching so relentlessly that you will scratch your skin until it is bloody and oozing. And yet the itching never stops. But Angel's luck changed when her foster mama saw her on social media and stepped up to save her life! Angel is now living the sweet life with her forever family and those days on the street are long forgotten!
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