Hope’s Story – HSMO 2020 Second Chances Telethon

Rescued Just in Time

In January of 2020, HSMO’s Animal Cruelty Task Force was called to a long-term hoarding situation in Hickory County. 25 dogs and one cat had been left behind after their owner passed away.

One of the dogs, a small Shih Tzu named Hope, required immediate life-saving surgery. Upon arrival at HSMO, doctors immediately operated to treat a severely infected uterus. Thankfully, the surgery was successful and Hope survived. She was very weak, however, and placed under careful observation for the days following her surgery.

A Long Road Ahead

Hope’s recovery was difficult and drawn-out because of the dangerous situation she was in prior to being rescued. In addition to the uterine infection, Hope was suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease, otherwise known as GERD, likely a result of being too weak to stand for an extended period of time.

The GERD symptoms made it very difficult for Hope to eat and keep down food. The team at HSMO tried a variety of feeding methods and foods to find the right diet for Hope. They worked diligently to make Hope comfortable during her recovery and gave her lots of TLC and special attention.

Hope Finds a Home

After months of treatment and recovery, Hope was finally ready to be made available for adoption. Through a careful selection process, a perfect match for Hope was found! Her new mom is no stranger to taking care of dogs with unique needs and Hope will get the special care she requires. Hope went to her loving forever home through curbside adoption in early April and is settling in great!

Thanks to the support of our community, the Animal Cruelty Task Force was able to rescue Hope from a horrible hoarding situation and the team at HSMO was able to save her from the brink of death and restore her to health. Because of your generosity, Hope was given a second chance.

This story is part of the Humane Society of Missouri’s 2020 Second Chances Telethon. Visit hsmo.org/telethon for more info on how you can help animals like Hope!