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We often get animals at the Hillside who need expensive urgent or prolonged care.  Often, senior dogs require specialized medications that can really take a bite out of our budget.  Just one bottle of medication can cost as much as $200.  Sometimes an animal in our care needs life-saving emergency surgery or extensive veterinary care.

The Guardian Angel Program helps us provide critical care for them in their time of need.   When you sign up to be a Guardian Angel, you can select a dog or cat to help right here on this page by simply clicking on the donation button in their story.  Watch this page for updates on your Guardian Angel program animal.  Thank you for your generous support!!

Scroll down to see more animals awaiting Guardian Angels!

A few weeks ago, we were made aware of a horse in desperate need of assistance.  The report was he was blind and had been living in a stall for years with no care.  When we arrived at the home, there was poor Auggie living in a dark and dirty stall that had not been cleaned out for months.  Auggie also had not been left out of the stall in over 6 months.  He appeared to be blind in both eyes and one was badly infected.  The owners decided it was in Auggie's best interest to be signed over to our care, so a few day later Auggie arrived at his new foster farm.  Loading him was a challenge, he could not see and had not been handled in so long that when his feet touched unfamiliar turf he would just plant them and not move.  With alot of coaxing (and the help of sweet feed) we eventually got him on the trailer and to his new foster home.  Although he was terrified he never tried to hurt us, he would just freeze.  We knew in time he would come around.  After only two days of coaxing and alot of patience we were able to lead auggie around without a problem.  Once he realized he would no longer be a prisoner of a dark stall and we would be there to guide him, he began to enjoy his walks.  At the same time we started treating him for his eye infection.  Once his coggins came back negative he was able to go out in a small pasture next to his buddy "Sparky" (rescued with 18 other animals back in September) and begin to be a horse for the first time in so long.  He has truely blossomed into a remarkable animal full of resilience and a deep desire to trust.  Had his owners only been willing to spend a few minutes with him instead of determining he was useless they would have seen this. Although Auggie is now doing spectacular he needs help!  We are currently medicating both eyes, but the vet has recommended that the worst of the two be removed.  This may be a costly procedure, but after all that Auggie has endured in his 6 years we believe we owe it to him to give him the best chance at life possible!  If you can donate even a few dollars to help with Auggie's surgery it would be much appreciated!  Please help us provide Auggie with the comfort and care he deserves!
Other wish list items for our rescued horses:
Purina Strategy horse feed, good quality timothy hay, wood shaving or pellets.

To donate to Auggie simply click the button below.  Thank you!
 

Shawn and Sammy are  - ADOPTED!!

Left to right pictured) Shawn, Pippin (Shawn's puppy) and Sammy (a pit bull mix) came to us as a result of an investigation off a cruelty case. Shawn is a gentle, mild-mannered pit bull mix that is good with other dogs. He spent the past 8 years of his life on a chain with only Pippin and Sammy to keep him company. In fact, for Shawn's "peace of mind," he should probably go to a home with another dog. Prior to coming to Hillside, these three had NO name, no life, not a chance of being loved. They were chained to a ram-shackled "house," with no water and nothing to eat but old, cut up, rotten potatoes!

Almost immediately upon picking Shawn and the other dogs up, we realized they had a serious problem, especially Shawn. He was coughing, almost continuously. We took him to the vet where it was determined that not only does Shawn have Lyme Disease, but he is also Heartworm positive. These two conditions are very serious . It was then determined that all THREE dogs have Heartworm and their futures hang in the balance until it can be determined if treatment will be successful.

We will have to do chest x-rays to determine what damage has already been done to their hearts. The cost of the x-rays are several hundred dollars EACH and the cost of the actual drug treatment for each dog is likey to run a MINIMUM of $750. Add to this the office visits and veterinary fees and the cost for caring for these three dogs will be well over $2,500, more likely $3,000 or more.

We are hoping that a kind person will step up to adopt or FOSTER Shawn, Sammy or Pippin (or all three), as heartworm treatment can be very tricky. Dogs must be kept calm and free of stress afterwards so that the drug used to treat the heartworm does not cause addition harm to the dog.

If you want to help any of these dogs, a donation to Joe's Fund could literally be a life-saver. Simply CLICK BELOW to do so safely and quickly. You do not need a PayPal account to do so. Joe's Fund is for exactly what these dogs need now - emergency life-saving treatment and because of your generous donations to Joe's Fund, we can give them what they need.

If you are interested in fostering or adopting one of all of these dogs, PLEASE contact the shelter directly at 570-622-7769 ASAP.
 

On December 22 a caring person brought a stray cat to Hillside in search of medical care.  Only Brooklyn knows the story of what happened that resulted in part of his front leg missing.  Rushed to the vet, it was determined he would eventually need amputation of the remaining portion but first, he was given antibiotics to fight the infection which had set in.  Since he is underweight, it was decided the surgery should be postponed until he gains weight. Brooklyn is now in foster care awaiting the infection to heal and his impending surgery.  Brooklyn could use some guardian angels to help with the extensive costs for his treatment and recovery.  If you would like to be a Guardian Angel to him, simply click below to donate easily and securely.  Thank you all so very much.

UPDATE: 

When Milo’s owner brought him to Hillside because he could no longer care for him, one look told us he needed immediate veterinary attention.  Milo’s white coat was filthy, he was totally flea infested and both eyes were so swollen and encrusted, he could not see! First thing we did was cautiously clean his eyes and what we found beneath the debris was shocking -- sunken, infected eyes the likes of which we'd never seen before. A trip to the vet confirmed our suspicion that Milo would go blind if he did not have surgery quickly. Of course, it was decided we'd proceed with treating Milo.

Because his eyes had sunken so deeply into the sockets, Milo’s eyelids needed to be reduced in size to accommodate them; in essence, they needed to be made to do what eyelids are supposed to do. The surgery was successful, and Milo now sports sets of stitches that are in sharp contrast with his now snowy white fur. For now he can only see shadows, but he maneuvers around the cat room fairly adeptly as he eats and drinks, and avoids whatever needs to be avoided. When he wants to get away from it all, he crawls into his special bed, the bottom drawer of a set of cabinets. He is so patient with everything and he is such a sweet, mellow cat, we know he would make a wonderful pet for someone.

Milo is still healing from his surgery, and will need to be vet checked several more times. He will likely take time to adjust to a new environment, and he won’t have the prettiest feline eyes on the block, but he needs to be placed in a loving and caring home soon. A foster home right now would be ideal. We presently have nobody to do that. Life in our overcrowded cat quarters is not the life we want for Milo. If you cannot foster or adopt Milo, perhaps you know someone who can. 

If you would like to be a Guardian Angel for Milo assisting with the cost of his surgery, you can do so quickly and securely by clicking the button below.  Milo, and everyone here at the Hillside, would be eternally grateful.

UPDATE:  Jan 20, 2009 Cody and Cherokee have been ADOPTED!!

Cody is a 3 year old Arabian gelding taken on cruelty when his owners weren't feeding him.  He is a very sweet boy who runs right up to you when called.  Loves attention and is easy to handle.  He is extremely smart and will be highly trainable once he has some weight back on him.  He walks well on lead and stands to be brushed and also ties.  He is on high protein grain and free choice timothy hay with a supplement of alfalfa.  When he first came in to rescue, he'd dive into his feed bowl not understanding from now on he'd have food available.  Now he gingerly takes his time and is enjoying his food much more! 

He came in with Cherokee an Arabian/ Tennesse Walker, 7 years old, who we believe to be gaited.  Absolutely gorgeous all around and a beautiful mover.  Cherokee's weight is not bad and she is available immediately for adoption.  We're still working with her to see how much she does have as far as training, but she has learned to walk on a lead and is ready to start training as soon as the perfect owner comes around!  She is 7years old.  Anyone interested in these horses can email Denise at hillside_pets@hotmail.com 

Donations and support are desperately needed to help pay our expenses for this rescue and for Cody in particular.  Their size, nutritional and housing needs and medical care requirements mean rescue is expensive for these animals.  But they need love, shelter  -- and help -- as much as any dog or cat that might come through our doors.  If you've always dreamed of caring for a horse but didn't have the space or time, here is the perfect opportunity to make a difference in the life of these majestic animals. Simply click the button below to become a Guardian Angel for Cody.  Thank you so very, very much.

Poor Sugar aka "Pinky" (because of her current skin color) was found along a busy road in this horrible condition. She is definitely suffering from a severe skin disorder. Her skin is extremely inflamed and warm to the touch. UPDATE: Pinky was to the vet who believes Pinky MAY have an autoimmune disease. She is on several medications in an effort to bring her much needed relief, and we are hoping she will improve with time. Whoever owned this sweetheart obviously didn't care for her. UPDATE: Pinky is improving tremendously, as now her skin is much less pink! 

This sweet gal could use some Guardian Angels to help with her medical care which may be extensive depending on how treatments do and do not work.  If you would like to be a Guardian Angel for Sugar/Pinky, simply click on the Donate button below.  It's safe, easy and will help an innocent animal who needs you so very much.  Thank you so very, very much!

ADOPTED!!

POLLY is an eight year old spayed German shepherd, good with people and other dogs.  She would love a home to call her own since she is entering her "golden years".  In her last home, Polly's owner suffered a stroke and had a friend watch Polly until she recovered.  Unfortunately, Polly suffers from painful recurring ear infections which wasn't cured with previous surgery.  In order to help Polly, she now needs a total ear oblation for EACH ear, which is the removal of her eardrum which will cost $1700 PER EAR.

This surgery is only way to relieve Polly's suffering and helping free her from this pain is something we believe she deserves.  Polly needs some Guardian Angels desperately.  If you can't adopt Polly at this time, won't you consider becoming a Guardian Angel for her and donating to help cover the cost of her very expensive surgery?  Polly (and all of us here at the Hillside) would appreciate it so very much.  To donate to Polly, simply click on the button below.