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Our Special Angels
These are our Special Angels, dogs that have come to us with some condition that will prevent them from being adoptable. They may be blind, in hospice care, or have doggie dementia (CCD). Whatever their illness, AMAR accepts them, and our volunteer foster homes take them in to provide love and stability for the remainder of their lives. Some call them Forever Fosters. This is a list of the Forever Fosters in our care at the current time, and their stories.
If you would like to help support the ongoing support and medical expenses for any one of these Special Angels, please click on the Donate button below each dog. You can set-up monthly payments to help them.
We thank you.
Max
Update: March 7, 2013
Max is doing remarkable well and is now ready for adoption. He loves to cuddle yet also enjoys his own space. He walks well on a leash on his frequent neighborhood walks. People encounter Max and foster mom, Bron have to be told that Max is blind.
Max is now wearing Muffin’s Halo to help him keep his head up and move faster.
Update: January 7, 2013
Max encountered some complications following his surgery with an infection in one of his corneas thus requiring another surgery to remove the infected cornea. During the last month this little guy has made great strides while recuperating in the home of Tami Karlsson while foster mom, Bronwyne is on vacation.
December 7, 2012
Max is a small 4 ½ lb. male Maltese adult approximately 8 to 10 yrs. of age. He ended up in a Southern California shelter. The shelter staff contacted Bronwyne Mirkovich as they were concerned about his vision and large, bulging eyes. Bronwyne evaluated Max, and she recommended that Max being examined by the Eye Care for Animal Clinic in Los Angeles. During this exam the doctor found that Max had extremely acute glaucoma that had caused his loss of vision. The excessively high pressure in both eyes was causing him to have acute, continuous pain. Max was immediately started on medication to reduce the pressure in his eyes. The eye specialist recommended that his bulging eyes be removed with his corneas maintained and ocular implants be inserted to give him the appearance of having eyes although his vision could not be restored.
While Max was being treated to reduce his eye pressure, his badly neglected teeth were cleaned. During this time period, Max has enjoyed love life with Bron and her husband, Steve. It is amazing to see him maneuver around her home and yard as though he had lived there for years.
On Dec 3rd Max had successful eye surgery, and he is now recuperating in Bron’s home. Half of his eye lids were temporarily closed to protect his corneas. To protect his eyes Max is sporting a cone and receiving pain medication which has altered his equilibrium and causes him to be confused at times. To help Max cope and relax, Bron carries him around her home in a pouch which allows him to nap at intervals. When Max’s stitches are removed in 10 to 14 days his new implants will be inserted, and he should be over the worst part of his care to help him live as normal a life as possible without the tremendous pain of glaucoma.
A special thanks goes out to all of the wonderful people who donated money to help cover the expenses for Max’s eye procedures and surgery. Max has received outstanding, tender loving care thanks to Bron and Steve Mirkovich.
Max is pictured with the founder
of Muffin’s Halo.
If you would like to sponsor one of our Special Angels, please use this
PayPal Donate Button to help with Max's monthly costs.
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Update: August 7, 2014
Max, an AMA Rescue, is recovering nicely from a surgery to remove his cornea and close his remaining (already blind) eye. The tiny senior who was blind with glaucoma when he was rescued appears to be aging in reverse. The more healthy and confident he became, the harder he was on his interocular prosthesis. He recently had a vet exam and his heart was murmur free and his lab work was a thing of beauty - not a surprise to me since lately he acts like Genghis Fluff. His tear production diminished making his cornea more vulnerable so we decided that the next time he headbutted something and ulcerated his cornea that we would have the surgery done while he was a healthy senior and remove any possibility of him having to go through an infection or surgery at an even older age. Max just had the stitches removed and he received a gift of Muffin's Halo For Blind Dogs butterfly wings from the creator Silvie Bordeaux. Thank you Silvie, Max is modelling his gift. Max is in great shape and loves his life with or without eyes so keep sending him the love, Genghis Fluff has an ego like no other.
Shiloh’s Story
In early March 2014, we receive a call from a Vet’s office saying, a woman wanted to euthanize her dog, because she had moved into a no pet apartment. The Vet refused. The office staff took her number. Through American Maltese Association Rescue website they found me. She asked if AMAR could take the dog. We instantly said yes. It was not a client of theirs and she gives us the cell phone number. We called and left a message saying we will take Shiloh into AMA Recue, get him any medical care he needed, and find him the perfect loving home.
After 10:30PM, we received a phone call from Miss M. She explained that she moved into an apartment 6 months ago, where they do not allow pets. Her friend agreed to take her dog, and now her friend messaged that the dog has nowhere to go. Miss M told us she was grateful the clinic found us. She was going to have to leave Shiloh at a shelter. Miss M provided Ms. D’s cell phone number.
We contacted Ms D, and she tells us they had talked about leaving Shiloh on a street corner, feeling someone would pick him up, listing him on Craigslist and/or taking him to the shelter. We asked about his health, she said, once in a while he would cough a little and stopped when he ate. Shiloh had been living in her basement for 6 months. Ms D said, the dog probably needed shots and she would not take him to a Vet. She was not going to pay for it. We attempted to make arrangements to pick him up the next day. Ms. D said, that was not good for her, and the earliest w could get him would be 2 weeks out. We asked if Shiloh was healthy, eating, drinking, playing and going to the bathroom. She said, ‘Yes.” to everything, and that he was perfectly fine and safe with her. We asked Ms. D, if she could find some spare time for us to pick him up earlier to please call us.
Two days later we received and emergency phone call, Ms D is frantic. She says, “I thinks Shiloh is dying.” and once again, she refused to take him to a Vet. Within 20 minutes our foster mom had her SUV packed with water, crate, blankets, and anything else she might need for Shiloh. With Saturday traffic driving through NYC, the drive to Shiloh was expected to be 2.5 to 3 hours. Ms D promised to wait for me. We called her when we were on the road and gave her our ETA. When we were within 30 minutes we called twice with no answer. She finally called back and told us there is another problem… she couldn’t see his eye; then says, “I think it’s pus.” She offered to give the dog a bath, but we asked her not to. We had already spoken with the Veterinary hospital, so they knew to be prepared for an emergency visit. We arrive at the house to see the little wet dog wrapped in a damp towel. Within a few minutes, I’m back on the road heading toward home.
After over 5 hours on the road, we quickly evaluated Shiloh. Seeing the Vet could not wait until morning. After a quick call and short ride they were at the animal hospital. It was obvious Shiloh had been neglected for the entire 6 months. He had also been sick for a very long time.
Shiloh couldn’t stand, eat or drink on his own. When placed on his feet, he fell over. Dr. H felt Shiloh would not have survived another night without medical treatment. Over the next 2 weeks, Shiloh spent 13 days in the animal hospital receiving IV fluids and medication. Shiloh was unable to eat on his own. He was force feed 3 times a day. Our foster mom visited Shiloh twice a day. He went through a battery of tests. There were many diseases ruled out, with still no idea what was wrong with Shiloh. An Internal Medicine specialist, from a renowned east coast specialty hospital, was consulted. No conclusive findings, no diagnosis. Two weeks later, the decision was made for Shiloh to move into foster care, where he was cared for 24/7. Leaving the hospital, Shiloh could stand just long enough to potty. He still needed to be force feed.
His foster mom says, “I was determined this little guy would live. Four times a day I would feed Shiloh with a tongue depressor, placing the food on his palate. I’d carry him everywhere. We visited the Vet weekly for blood work and a checkup. It was a roller coaster of good and bad days with lots of tears and fears. I wasn’t giving up and continued the feeding and caring. Shiloh was on a verity of medications, which were altered as needed. Finally after a couple of months, the perfect mix of medications was found and we started noticing improvements with fewer setbacks. By May, Shiloh was able to walk and stand on his own. My Mother’s Day gift was Shiloh coming up the 6 deck steps. Though this was not something I would see again for a few weeks. By the end of June, he had gained enough weight that his feeding was reduced to 3 times a day. He was now able to go up and down those steps. Many more improvements were enjoyed, he was walking on his own easily, he was barking and doing the Maltese spin.”
In early July, after 4 months of being force fed Shiloh finally eats on his own for the first time. From this day forward we have not seen one tiny set back. On July 8th, Shiloh surprises the Veterinary hospital by walking in. One of the Vet techs who had cared for Shiloh during his 13 days was in tears. She said, they never expected him to live. They dubbed him the “Miracle Dog.” The blood work comes back showing the improvements.
By August. Shiloh is running, not fast, but fast for this little man. He can pull his front legs up to place them on your leg, saying, “Please pick me up.” His blood work came back showing many more normal levels. His red and white blood cells are still off, but they closer to normal than ever before. We are able to take him off 2 of his 5 meds and reduced his eye drops to once a day.
As of early September, we are to reduce the eye drops to every other day. If Shiloh’s red and white cell count improves enough, he will be taken him off another antibiotic. Once this is accomplished and Shiloh remains stable, we will attempt to wean him off the prednisone. Shiloh will be monitored very closely during this time. There is the possibility he many have to stay on the eye drops and prednisone for life. We are not taking any chances. Shiloh, the Miracle Dog, has come a very long way.
♥ Thank you, Shiloh, for fighting to survive and never giving up! ♥
By Monica Woodhead (Shiloh’s foster mom)
February 2016 - GREAT NEWS!!! Shiloh’s Foster Mom became a Foster Failure when she adopted Shiloh to be her very own dog!!! Hooray for Shiloh and Monica!
Shiloh
Jazz’s Story
We were contacted by one of our partner shelters that they had a 5-year old female Maltese/Shih Tzu cross, and we agreed to take her. One of the first actions we take as a rescue is to have a Vet exam, which includes a blood panel, to see if there are any physical issues. Jazz was diagnosed with a liver shunt.
A liver shunt is not a disease. It is a birth defect of the blood vessels that carry blood from the intestines to the liver. If it is caught very early in the puppy’s life surgery can change the vessels so they connect to the liver correctly. The older a dog gets, the chances of successful surgery dwindle rapidly. At age 5, Jazz was at extreme risk of not making it through the surgery, and/or recovery. The lack of adequate blood supply all these years prevented her liver from growing to normal size. Thus, it would not be able to handle normal blood flow.
Jazz is on several medications to treat her symptoms and prevent her from being in pain. No one can predict how long she will live. Right now she is at one of our loving Foster Homes where she is comfortable and content.
Jazz is the cutest little 9 lb. girl, who just loves to meet new people. She jumps around at their feet, and does zoomies when she first meets you. She tires easily, and LOVES dog beds. It is a good thing there are LOTS of dog beds all over her Foster Home.
Jazz
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Elf’s Story
Elf was plucked from South Los Angeles Shelter in October 2014. His eye had ruptured, he was senior and obese with rotten teeth and scheduled to be euthanized. A sweeter, mellower dog you would not find. He was taken straight to Eye Care for Animals and his two options were eye removal or corneal graft surgery to save his eye and his sight.
His foster called in a favor and Hope for Paws paid for Elf to have corneal graft surgery. Elf’s blood work was normal and his surgery and recovery went without a hitch.
His graft took and his eye healed beautifully. The Ophthalmologist mentioned that Elf was hard to intubate for surgery because he had been crudely debarked leaving him with scar tissue in his throat. On his first trip to the beach in February he drank salt water and threw up. Elf stopped breathing and was taken to emergency where he remained on oxygen for five days with aspiration pneumonia. It was a scramble to cover his bills but everyone chipped in and Elf made it through.
Elf recovered and was making great progress, but his weight would not shift despite a strict diet and more frequent exercise. In June Elf suddenly became ataxic in all four limbs. His liver values began to rise. We long suspected Elf was cushingoid but his previous labs did not bear it out. Something was changing.
At first Elf’s symptoms looked like disc disease but he had no pain. His MRI was quickly rerouted from his spine to his brain when the neurologist saw syringomyelia in his cervical spinal cord she went up to the brain to find the source and saw a moderate to large cyst with mild hydro. The cyst has several names but she referred to it as a quadrigeminal cyst. Elf was likely born with the cyst in his brain so she performed a spinal tap to try to find out why it flared up so suddenly causing him the intermittent loss of limb use. The results of the tap were normal. The cyst was a rare finding and a conclusive diagnosis. Elf has since been diagnosed with Cushing’s and he is in the early stages of treatment and showing hopeful signs. Perhaps the Cushing’s symptoms caused his brain cyst to grow - the specialists can’t say for sure but it certainly seems coincidental.
Elf has safely slimmed down from 9 pounds to 7.5 pounds. He will never be a normal dog, but he is a loving dog. Despite all that has gone wrong for Elf he continues to wag his tail and make everyone smile with his cheerful disposition. He loves life even though he gives Foster Mama a regular heart jolt.
Elf
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Micah’s Story
Micah means Angel of Miracles, and this girl certainly is a miracle. Brought in as a stray to Animal Care and Control in NYC, she was in deplorable condition and scheduled to be euthanized the next day. That’s when AMAR stepped in to save her.
Estimated to be as old as 14-years of age, she was taken directly to a Vet, as she was in a great deal of pain. She was found to have a seere infection in her face from her ear to her jaw and needed immediate surgery. She was also deaf and blind. Micah was then transported to her Foster Home in PA, and then under the care of Dr. Heather Westfall, DVM. Micah went through several major surgeries, including spay, mammary tumors, and then having both eyes removed.
Micah not only fought to survive on the streets, but she fought to make it through each of her surgeries. She is thriving and doing well today in her Foster Home. She even plays upon occasion.
If you look up the word “rescue” in the dictionary, Micah’s picture should be there.
Micah
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Jamie’s Story
Jamie was saved in May 2015 by AMAR on her last day at a kill shelter where she had been dumped by her owner. She came to rescue in severe pain with a major ulcerated vulva, vaginal infection and cleft deformity. She was crying in pain from the infection and was immediately taken to the Vet. It took months of antibiotics to clear the infection, but she was still leaking urine and further medical testing showed she needed ureter surgery. With generous donations, Jamie was able to undergo surgery on her left ureter, but they then discovered she had the same problem with her right one. There is scarring which prevents further surgery.
Jamie is a sweet, loveable, nearly 3-year old Maltese who loves life and people, despite her health issues. Her cleft palate is just a cosmetic issue, and it doesn’t stop her from eating, drinking or giving kisses. Her leakage means she needs to wear a belly band, but she doesn’t seem to mind it. She’s taking new medications that may help with that. Because of AMAR Jamie is able to know what it is like to live without pain, and what it means to be loved.
Jamie
If you would like to sponsor one of our Special Angels, please use this
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