On January 7th, 2016, a woman walked into our lobby holding a shih tzu she had found alone outside. She had named him "Burt" and had been searching diligently for his family for about two weeks. Within that time, she had managed to remove most of his fleas and painful mats covering his body, but she soon turned to us for help. When he arrived, Burt was so weak he could barely hold himself up, which was one of his finder's main concerns. Relieved that he was in good hands as he relaxed quietly on our examination table, Burt's finder left a contribution towards his care before saying her goodbyes.
Several severe issues were quickly apparent. When scanned for a microchip, we learned that Burt had an unregistered microchip from a place that no longer exists in Missouri in 2001. Based on this information and his condition, we have estimated his age to be around 12-14 years old. Much too old to be alone in a shelter without a family. The small senior had not seen a groomer in some time, and several areas of his body still had small painful mats that needed to be removed. His eyes are slightly cloudy. The worst part, however, are his teeth.
Most of Burt's teeth are missing. The remaining few are severely infected, making it almost impossible for Burt to eat. He will need a full dental exam and surgery is an absolute must. However, we will not know if there are underlying medical conditions that will prevent this surgery from being a possibility until he is examined by a veterinarian within the next couple of days.
To relieve some of his suffering, Burt was groomed by Precious Paws Grooming today and he's already feeling a little better. Although we've taken one step in the right direction, Burt is nowhere near being in the clear yet. We are currently asking for donations to help with his vet costs so we can discover his medical issues and treat them accordingly.
Even if Burt's medical issues are too severe for us to completely eliminate, his life matters. He deserves to live out the rest of his days in comfort and without pain. With your help, we can make that happen for this beautiful, sweet boy. Contributions can be made online, by phone at 517-263-3463, or in person during our normal business hours. Any funds received over and above the cost of Burt's care will be used to begin helping the next animal in need. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to those who need you most.
Before grooming:
After grooming:
Update – January 29th, 2016
