PET Help Stories
2011 PET Help Cases (details to come)
2010 PET Help Cases
"Max"
Max was born to a dog whose owner, Lynda, had lost her home. Lynda turned to PAHS for help when she couldn't afford veterinary care. PAHS provided urgently needed attention for Lynda's many pets, got them spayed and neutered, and put Max and his brothers and sisters into a no-kill adoption program. All the puppies are thriving in their newfound homes. We stay in touch and continue to counsel Lynda on caring for needy dogs she finds.
Click here to see a picture of Max on the PAHS Summer Appeal card
"Mr. Pushkin"
(Surrender)
Mr. Pushkin, an older Samoyed, came to our attention when his owner needed financial assistance with a veterinary check-up appointment. The owner had been unemployed and Mr. Pushkin was being cared for by some friends. Very sadly, due to incontinence issues, the friends relegated Mr. Pushkin to live outdoors with little shelter or bedding. It soon became clear, too, that negligence was a very real issue for this dog. Fortunately, the owner was open to surrendering Mr. Pushkin simply because his personal circumstances did not allow for better care. PAHS took ownership temporarily while Mr. Pushkin received much needed veterinary care (for skin, teeth and overall health issues), and it was within days that San Francisco Samoyed Rescue (SFSR) responded with great compassion and enthusiasm. Bob Wackerman with SFSR was absolutely amazing. With work and research, he was able to find a terrific foster home almost immediately for Mr. Pushkin.
When we first met Mr. Pushkin, he was highly depressed and withdrawn. However, it only took hours of being at the vet, while being attended to by no less than four vet techs shaving off his matted fur, that his whole demeanor changed. The love and attention he so craved acted to nurture and transform this wonderful animal immediately. As the days passed, and his wellness returned, he became even happier. The photo above of Mr. Pushkin was taken after he spent two weeks with his new foster family. Ah…bliss!
2010 (Surrender)
The "Corgi-huahua" Puppies
A young male puppy came in to the PAHS office during the fall of 2010. The puppy was highly lethargic and glassy-eyed. Parvo was suspected and, after Mid-peninsula Animal Hospital, our neighbor, did a test, Parvo was indeed confirmed. The virus was advanced, and it would cost upwards of $2000 over a lengthy two-week hospitalization process to save the dog. It was the caring mother of the teen aged owner who brought the pup in to us. She was distraught about what to do and without funds to provide help. 
Her daughter had gotten the dog from a friend who was breeding, and we soon learned that there was a female sibling at home. Because Parvo is so extremely contagious and lethal, we immediately had them bring the other dog in for testing. She too was positive. Now care for both dogs would likely be upwards of $4000. Because the financial burden was too great, they agreed to surrender the dogs to us to pay for hospital care and to arrange for adoption to new homes. PAHS covered the cost to hospitalize the dogs and worked to find a rescue group to foster and adopt the pups out once healthy. Thanks to Dr. Cynthia Easton with Mid-peninsula Animal Hospital (the hospital where the dogs received care) and her connections, the San Francisco SPCA took these adorable dogs to be re-homed once they were well. After two weeks of healing, happier dogs we have not seen!