Animals with special needs get extra attention at area shelters
As populations soar and the demand for services provided by area pet shelters grows, some daily arrivals still merit special attention.
They come in emaciated, with broken limbs or sick from disease, but many of those animals are being nursed back to health thanks to veterinarians and shelter staff.
What’s more, these dogs, cats and other critters are finding their way into the hearts of people who foster and adopt them.
That’s what happened with Pumpkin, a 2-year-old goldendoodle who arrived in late September at South Suburban Humane Society
so emaciated he was unable to stand up. But with time, veterinary care and lots of love from the staff, his weight doubled, he got stronger and a couple recently adopted him.
The shelter in Matteson, which has taken in roughly 2,058 dogs and 2,252 cats since January 2023, has a low-cost veterinary clinic for shelter pets, as well as those from the community.
“Honestly (special-needs) adoptions aren’t that challenging, especially something like an amputation. … The dogs are really good at adapting,” said Alicia Peterson, director of foster programs at the humane society. “There are some that are a little more challenging, but I think people are always looking for something special, so that kind of helps their care too.”
Peterson said it can be harder to find homes for senior pets with heart failure, but fostering sometimes leads to a success story.
“The foster will fall in love with them and end up keeping them,” Peterson said.
Peterson often fosters these pets herself, including her current 4-month-old pit bull mix named Bunny, who came in with parvovirus and a deformed leg. Her experience with sick pets helps, as does her access to resources.
Pets with broken limbs are some of the most common special needs