We have some great news that we are excited to share with you.  While we are always passionate about the work we do here at Hearts United for Animals, there’s something else that’s got us excited.  On May 17^th, thousands of generous people are going to show their support for their favorite nonprofit organizations during Give To Lincoln Day, sponsored by the Lincoln Community Foundation. On that day, every donation we get through the Lincoln Community Foundation website will go further to help us claim our share of a challenge match pool of funds.

Your donations will double on May 17th to help dogs like Chevis, who came to us at the young age of four from a puppy mill where he was so neglected that he lost 37 teeth at his first vet visit.  Chevis is now romping around the yards at HUA having a great time and so thankful to have his health restored, as are the 6 puppies (Justin, Jonah, Selena, Jordan, Sheldon and Spencer) who were hospitalized for a week to save them from parvo.  You will also double your donation to help support Tia’s Place, HUA’s program for pets of families fleeing domestic violence and our public low cost spay/neuter clinic which has performed operations on 10,000 patients preventing one million births and countless suffering.

We need you to help us with these three things:

1.  Mark Give To Lincoln Day on your calendar for May 17^th and bookmark this giving link: www.GiveToLincoln.com.

2.  Please make an online donation to support us on May 17^th.

3.  Help us spread the word!  Forward this information to your family and friends along with a personal note as to why you believe in our work, and why they should give on Give To Lincoln Day on May 17^th.

Please get involved, make a difference and help us. Not only will all donations be increased by the challenge match funds, but nonprofits with the largest number of donors will also receive additional bonus grants.  We can’t wait to celebrate the difference your generosity will make on May 17^th.

Chevis is So Happy to Be Rescued from a Puppy Mill

Poor little Rocky had one of the roughest starts to life we’ve ever heard of.  When he was rescued by a friend and brought to HUA we were completely horrified.  Both of his eyes were badly damaged.  He fit in the palm of our hands he was so tiny.  He still had the strength to cry out in pain and hunger, begging us for help.  He was rushed immediately to the Animal Emergency Clinic in Omaha.  They said he was the worst cases of starvation and dehydration they had ever seen.  He could not blink his painful little eyes because he was so dehydrated.  They fed him his first solid meal of canned food ever and he gobbled it up so fast that he got the hiccups.  They immediately put him on warmed IV bags as make shift hot water bottles and started him on small amounts of morphine for the pain.  He was full of worms so he received medicine for that too.  Soon he was passed out, sleeping like the tiny, precious little baby that he is, with a full tummy and relief from the pain he had been experiencing since he was only 2 weeks old.

On Monday morning, after spending the weekend at the Animal Emergency Clinic, he transferred to Mobile Animal Clinic where he would spend the week receiving further tests and care.  They found that he had giardia and had only half of the red blood cells and blood proteins that he should have.  The good news came a few days later that he is capable of making red blood cells, so with continued good nutrition and care he should rebound without transfusions.  He also made a trip that Monday to Veterinary Eye Specialists of Nebraska.  Dr McIlnay said that after approximately a month he can have his badly damaged eye removed assuming he has regained his health enough to do so.  He is much too small and weak to undergo any operations right now.  His other eye, also damaged but not as badly, has no pressure, no sensitivity to light and will also likely be better off being removed.

With each passing day Rocky appears to gain strength and spunk.  Dr Jensen at Mobile Animal Clinic says that he isn’t thriving, but he isn’t failing either.  We are working hard to turn that around and help him thrive.  On Thursday he was able to transfer to foster care where he is eating every couple of hours.  He chews on his foster mom’s fingers when he is hungry.  He is eating and well on his own now but still needs to drink from a syringe.  He has antibiotic eye ointment treatments in both eyes 6 times a day.  He loves his soft bed, blankets and many toys.  He has a heating pad under his bed to make sure he is warm.  Most of all he loves to be cuddled and hugged.  It’s his favorite thing ever.  He will continue to go in once a week to be weighed and have follow up blood tests.  Weight gain will be a very good sign that he is starting to thrive.  Rocky is doing his best to study hard for his weigh in test this coming week.  He likes it when his foster mom warms up his canned food and puts a little water it in for him.  He is eating over a half a can a day now.

Rocky’s breeder will go on to sell his litter mates without much of a thought of the money that should have been spent on Rocky’s care.  We know that.   We see it all the time.  But this particular case has hit us hard, really punched us in the gut.  It is one of the most tragic things we’ve ever seen.  It drives home how reckless and disgusting the dog breeding business can be, whether a full fledged puppy mill or a poor, uneducated, unkind backyard breeder as in this case.  We received word that this happened when Rocky was only two weeks old, and that it was an injury from his mother or litter mates.  We are hard pressed to believe that was the means of injury, and so is our veterinarian.  This steels our resolve to educate the public never to buy puppies from pet stores, puppy mills or backyard breeders.  Without demand breeders like this would have no reason to fill orders for the supply of sick, neglected puppies they churn out.

We would like to extend many heartfelt thanks to our wonderful veterinary clinics who always come to the rescue at moment’s notice, and to all of our supporters who have been rooting for Rocky and donating for his emergency and extended care.  He has many fans, and if love can pull him through he is certain to grow big and strong very soon!  Please visit our donation page at www.hua.org if you would like to donate toward Rocky’s care, or feel free to mail a donation to the shelter at Hearts United for Animals PO Box 286, Auburn, NE 68305.

Click here to like our Facebook page where we will post updates on Rocky.

All of the puppies survived!  They are now fat, happy, healthy and having a great time playing and enjoying themselves.  They had their photo session last weekend and are now up for adoption.  They were nicknamed “The Bathtub Puppies” at Mobile Animal Clinic, where they spent a week recovering after they left the emergency hospital.  It was touch and go, as some would rally and then slip backward but against the odds every one of them has returned to normal health.  The total expense to Hearts United for Animals, not including their routine spay neuters and vaccines, was $5,200.  Donations for their bills are still needed.  It was a leap of faith that most rescues could not take on, but we could not turn our backs on them and we knew that our wonderful supporters would come through for the sick babies.  They are growing large, with big, well fed bellies.  Their eyes are bright and happy and their coats are soft and clean.  They love snuggling in blankies and playing with each other and with all of their new toys.  Many thanks to those who contributed and continue to contribute to help us save precious lives.  Justin, Jordan, Jonah, Selena, Sheldon and Spencer thank you and are forever grateful.  We also wish to thank the Animal Emergency Clinic and Mobile Animal Clinic in Omaha who worked tirelessly to save them.  These dogs journey from being left dying in a bathtub to being saved and restored to heath is one that took many hands and hearts working together.

Donations can be made online at www.hua.org or mailed to Hearts United for Animals PO Box 286 Auburn, NE  68305.

Please enjoy their “after” photos and help us spread the word that they are looking for wonderful families to adopt them!

A call came in from Nyla, a good friend of Hearts United for Animals, and volunteer for Nebraska Dachshund Rescue.  She was very upset because she had encountered a family selling very sick puppies in the parking lot of a store in Omaha.  She begged them to turn the puppies over to her so she could get them help, but they would not.  She got their information and called HUA to see what could be done.  After a couple of days passed the people agreed to give up two of the puppies.  They came to HUA and Justin, a cute little red fellow, fell very ill with parvo.  He was rushed to the Animal Emergency Clinic in Omaha on a Friday night.  Soon after his arrival a call came in that a little pup who looked just like Justin had arrived at the Emergency Clinic with instructions to euthanize.  The clinic called us and asked if we would take over her care as they felt she could be saved.  We said yes, absolutely.  We then found out that she was rescued by a local group who could not afford her care and that she was in fact Justin’s sister.  They had one more boy who was also falling ill with parvo.  We agreed to take over his care and they brought him to the Emergency Clinic immediately.  While Justin, Selena and Jonah were being cared for Nyla and the other group were working to save two more.  The same family had been keeping a total of six puppies in their bathtub.  We had all but two of them, chocolate labs from another litter.  We convinced the family that since the others were ill the labs would soon be ill as well.  They agreed to give them up and met an HUA volunteer to hand them over.  They were lethargic and bleeding and were rushed right to the Emergency Clinic to be with the others.  As Sheldon and Spencer were arriving, Justin’s brother Jordan who had been at HUA for a few days fell ill and was rushed in as well.  That made a total of six sick puppies receiving emergency care in Omaha.  The entire isolation ward at the clinic was full with HUA pups.  They all received round the clock care with intravenous fluids and antibiotics.

On Monday morning they were all still quite ill.  It was touch and go as to whether they would survive.  Justin would rally and then fall again.  We were so frightened that he may succumb.  Jordan had a secondary infection causing an extremely high fever.  They were all transferred to Mobile Animal Clinic in Omaha where they would receive care for the entire week.  One by one each of them perked up and became healthy.  Expenses for this rescue were huge.  It was something most groups would not be able to handle, but we knew our supporters would rally and help to pay the nearly $5,000 that it cost for the week of care to save their lives.  Each of them are so very precious and we could not let them go without a fight.  Many pups don’t survive parvo and with the extreme lack of care they had in their 8 weeks of life so far it was truly a miracle that each and every one of the six survived.

We would like to extend our thanks to Nyla, the Animal Emergency Clinic and Mobile Animal Clinic for their tireless efforts to save them and also to our wonderful supporters.  Because of you these pups will have happy, healthy lives and be adopted to wonderful homes where they will be cherished and loved forever.

For three years Pecan crawled using only her front legs to carry her.  She was held captive in a puppy mill, forced to breed over and over, even though she had such a bad genetic defect in both legs that she could not walk.  Fortunately for Pecan she came into our care here at Hearts United for Animals.  Pecan was evaluated by a specialist at Mobile Animal Clinic in Omaha who felt that he could give her 90% improvement in function and complete reduction in pain.  Pecan is now back from her big operation and is already a new gal.  She is so happy to be free of pain and is excited to be able to stand and take steps.  Her surgery cost $3,000.  She isn’t fully recovered yet, but she is well on the way to being a happy, healthy, loved companion for a very lucky family.

Several Omaha Old Market businesses heard Pecan’s story, and about the 47 other puppy mill dogs that we have rescued since January 1st, all needing extensive medical care.  They are pulling together to hold a super fun fundrasier for the puppy mill survivors at HUA.  Please consider attending.  We would love to see you and your HUA alums.

Here is the press release put out by our good friends at Bozell:

Old Market Business Community Rallies Together for Hearts United Fundraiser

(Omaha, NE, Feb. 13, 2012)—Meet a local author, sip wine and more in support of abandoned and mistreated animals—and bring your pet! Three Old Market businesses are coming together to host a fundraiser for Hearts United for Animals, a nonprofit animal shelter specializing in the rescue and rehabilitation of puppy mill dogs.

“We are grateful to the Old Market business community for its support in helping us build our mission to care for pets who need shelter and finding new, loving homes for them,” said Lori Hook of Hearts United for Animals.

The event will run 4 to 7 p.m., on Thursday, March 8, at Soggy Paws, located at 1401 Jackson St. The event is organized by Bozell, a Hearts United supporter and marketing partner.

During the event, Soggy Paws invites dog owners to come in to give their dog a bath, buy their furry friend a toy or treat and to check out the newly completed doggy daycare center. A percentage of sales will be donated to Hearts United. Readers are also invited to meet Omaha author and rescue dog owner Robin Donovan, and purchase their own signed copy of her debut novel Is It Still Murder, Even if She was a Bitch? A percentage from book sales will go to Hearts United. Wine lovers can sip on a selection from The Zin Room for $3 a glass, with $1 per glass going to Hearts United. Anyone and everyone can stop by to mingle and enjoy coffee and light hors d’oeuvres.

And most importantly, animal lovers can donate to Hearts United, learn more about the organization’s work for abandoned and abused pets, and learn how to adopt their next forever friend.

You can RSVP here on our Facebook event page or email lori@hua.org to let us know you will be attending.  We would like to extend our deep gratitude to Bozell, Soggy Paws, Robin Donovan author of “Is It Still Murder Even If She Was A Bitch?” and The ZIN Room.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone on the 8th!

Dulcea and her pals at Hearts United for Animals would like to wish you a very Happy Valentine’s Day and thank you so much for your generous support that saved their lives and allows them to be happy as Sanctuary Sweethearts.  The Sanctuary Sweetheart program is for dogs who are not adoptable due to age, medical or behavioral condition.  Dulcea came from a horrible puppy mill in Nebraska.  Her eyes were so severely damaged that they both had to be removed to spare her further suffering.  When she came to HUA several years ago she was on death’s door, but today she is the happiest, spunkiest little ray of sunshine you could ever imagine.  She has a permanent foster home with Aunt Jean, who is Florence Nightingale and Mother Theresa wrapped into one for so many downtrodden, sick and forlorn animals who have come through our doors.  Jean talks to Dulcea all day so that she knows where to find her and feels comfort at all times.  Dulcea has surprised everyone by learning to hop into bed by herself and even do stairs.  She has been known to make special guest appearances at local events urging the public to adopt rather than buy animals from pet stores.  People say, “oh she must be tired, she is sleeping”.  When she is in her snuggle sac with Jean it looks as if her eyes are closed and she is napping.  Jean then explains that she isn’t sleeping, she just does not have eyes due to the abuse at the puppy mill.  We are sure that many people are now spreading the word to their friends about how the parents of pet store puppies are treated due to the special public appearances by our dear little Dulcea.

Dulcea has also been an activist in pet store protests.  Twice she came out to help HUA protest the Petland at the corner of 120th and West Center Road in Omaha.  This Valentine’s Day she is proud to announce success!  The Petland store closed for good this month…an amazing gift to the puppy mill dogs.  No longer will sick puppies whose parents suffer in large commercial breeding establishments be sold here.  We thank Dulcea for her efforts to help fight for those still suffering in the puppy mills.

From our Sweethearts to yours, we wish you a wonderful Valentine’s Day.  To learn more about Dulcea and her other Sanctuary Sweetheart friends please visit their special webpage.  For just $25/mo you can sponsor a HUA Sanctuary Sweetheart.

Another Missouri puppy mill is closed for good!  The dogs had just hours to be out before they were to be killed.  Hearts United for Animals spoke for the last of the dogs who had no rescue groups speak for them.  All were saved, and just in the nick of time.  Our good friends Kent and Alma from Midwest Wheaten Rescue saved the Wheaten Terriers and transported the remaining dogs to HUA.  We thank them for their tireless efforts to save these precious souls.  The group included Chihuahuas, Papillions, a Bichon, a Poodle, a Silky Terrier, a Yorkshire Terrier and two Dachshunds.  They were filthy and the smell was horrible.  The Bichon was in especially bad shape, unable to even see from all of the overgrown, matted fur.  That didn’t stop him from doing a happy dance and flashing us a big, grateful smile upon his arrival.  They will all have baths and grooming appointments soon.  We fear that one older Chihuahua girl may be pregnant.  She will see the vet first.  A ten year old dachshund fellow is reported to have injuries to his back in three places, but he too was full of excitement and happiness to arrive at HUA.

The breeder said that she could no longer stay in business because she cannot comply with the new regulations in Missouri meant to provide comfort and care to dogs in breeding facilities.  We are hearing this from many Missouri breeders who are going out of business.  They should be going out of business if they cannot provide the most basic of care and for that we are grateful.  We are hopeful that this is just the start of many more Missouri mill closings yet to come.  For the dogs rescued yesterday it is the start of a wonderful new life that they would not have been able to imagine.  Until yesterday all they knew were cold, filthy cages.  No love.  No vet care.  Just misery.  Today is the beginning of the rest of their wonderful, precious lives.

To contribute to the care of this latest group of mill rescues please click here to access our donation page or text to donate on our Facebook app.  We could not do what we do without you.

Twenty dogs will be having a very Happy New Year thanks to the efforts of Hearts United for Animals and Almost Home Canine Rescue. In late December Julie Lavin with Almost Home delivered Havanese, a Papillion and a little Cavalier King Charles puppy to start their new lives at HUA. The little Cavalier pup had surgery on both of his knees at a specialist in Omaha just after the New Year began. He is doing remarkably well and will be off to a wonderful new home when his recovery his complete. The Havanese are having the time of their lives enjoying socialization time with the volunteers at HUA.

Shortly after the arrival of the Iowa and South Dakota dogs several very tiny Chihuahuas arrived from a Nebraska puppy mill. The dogs were much too tiny and delicate to be bred, but they were anyway. Three pups were in the group and we are thankful that they will not grow up in a wretched Nebraska mill. Pecan, an older chihuahua girl, has back legs so deformed that she can barely walk, but that didn’t stop them from breeding her. She will see a specialist in Omaha this week to see if there is anything that can be done. She crawls mostly using her front legs to get around. The muscles on her hips are weak and oddly formed, probably from years of being unable to walk correctly. Despite her problems she is one very happy girl, just so joyful to be rescued! She and all of her friends will be provided with the best care that we have to offer. In the year 2012 we resolve to do all we can to educate the public about the horrors of puppy mills and rescue many more dogs who are so desperately in need.  Please help us help the puppy mill dogs by clicking here to donate toward their care.

Pecan – tiny Chihuahua girl with malformed legs

At first it seemed that if Lucky did not have bad luck he would have no luck at all.  He was found wandering and starving with a front leg injury.  He was clearly in distress but was happy to arrive at HUA where he was given wonderful meals and taken in for evaluation by a specialist for his leg.  Unfortunately the leg injury was old and the tendons had wrapped around, healing so poorly that they could not be repaired.  Lucky had to have a front leg amputated.  He did very well with the surgery and was a model patient.  He became a favorite at the vet clinic in Omaha where he spent several days recovering.  During that time his heartworm test came back and it was bad news.  Lucky is heartworm positive.  We were in despair over all this poor, adorable, loving boy had to go through and the tough road ahead.

When Lucky arrived at the vet he did not even have a name.  Our first concern was to get him care quickly.  Upon receiving the news about his heartworm diagnosis the vet said “well we just wanted you to know we have named him Lucky.”  We said really?  Why?  At first we thought it was a joke.  Dr Jensen then went on to explain that as the staff discussed it they decided that any dog who was in that bad of a situation, who turned out to be such a loving, happy dog in spite of all his troubles and found people who cared so deeply about him, loving him and wanting to heal him in spite of all his afflictions was actually pretty darn lucky.  We thought that was such a sweet sentiment that we decided Lucky would be his name.  All of the techs at the clinic continue to inquire about Lucky, the dog with such heart and spirit.  They want him to find a wonderful home, as they just can’t imagine a dog who deserves it more.  Lucky has had no trouble with his amputation.  When we went to pick Lucky up from the clinic he ran out to greet us, jumped up for treats and to show us his favorite bone that had been given to him as a gift by the clinic staff.  We could go on about what a great dog Lucky is, but we think the look on his face says it all.  He is happy and loved and that is all that matters to him.

Lucky will be going through his heartworm treatments and is scheduled to be done around Valentine’s Day.  He will have big piles of blankets to rest in while he recovers and people at the shelter to dote on him, which he completely adores.  Lucky is looking forward to a great New Year of happiness, healing and hopefully a home with a family of his very own.

Throughout the month of December, Hearts United for Animals will run 30-and-60-second spots on Animal Planet and Bravo in several major US markets as well as the Omaha and Lincoln area, including additional spots on the 10 pm news on KETV and WOWT.  We are so grateful to Mr James Lipton, of Inside the Actors Studio on Bravo, for delivering this powerful message.  He is an amazing talent and a kind, compassionate man of honor.  We would also like to thank Don Henley of The Eagles and co-writers, Steuart Smith and Timothy Schmit, for allowing us to use their song, “Do Something”.  Their kind words and enthusiasm for the project are so appreciated.

Another big name star of the show is Telly, a 12-year old bald, blue, paralyzed Dachshund who was rescued by HUA from a horrible Nebraska puppy mill.  Telly is in the 60-second version and also will be featured in an extended version in the works now.  We appreciate his taking time from his busy schedule to accommodate our videographer’s request.  Telly was glad to show all of his friends and fans how well he is doing with his new family, Noelle and Bob Buscher of Elkhorn, Nebraska.  If he could talk he would say “Who loves ya baby?” just like his namesake who is also a famous television star.

Without our dear HUA supporters, Riki and Jerome Shaw, these commercials would not have been possible.  Riki recognized the need to spread the word about puppy mills and the important mission of HUA.  After visiting HUA, it became her dream to inform as many people as possible about the horrors of puppy mills and to help raise funding for HUA so that we can continue our mission of mercy to save thousands more puppy mill dogs while working to end the atrocity of puppy mills forever.  Riki has traveled extensively visiting shelters and assisting with rescue efforts throughout the United States.  She says that her heart remains with HUA and it has become her life’s mission to create awareness about what an exceptional place it is both in facilities and dedication.

Our friends Matt Bross and Chad Eacker at Delinea Design in Omaha worked day and night to write the scripts and bring it all together and our friends Kevin Hutchison and Karissa Tomsen at Bozell in Omaha lent their expertise in purchasing and placement as well as final details.  We are so excited to see this project come together and are hopeful that the text to donate campaign will result in funding that will enable us to rescue and restore many, many more dogs who are living lives of misery and neglect in puppy mills.