Homeless pets need your help with medical care!

Poor little Skip has had a rough go of it so far in life.  A citizen saw someone throw him from a truck, just a little puppy.  This resulted in what we thought was only a shattered leg.  Luckily that citizen got him to the humane society and they took care of him until he could be brought to animal control on Monday morning.  Animal Control quickly made arrangements for Warrick Animal Guardians (WAG) to raise the money to pay for his emergency amputation.   This surgery alone was $1400 and but we knew we had to do it!

Skip was a trooper and made it through surgery!  Now for recovery. Over the next few weeks with a veterinarian that fosters for WAG.  He even had an adoption application come in via email. However, he started to have trouble breathing and it was concerning.  So back to the vet clinic for some radiographs (x-rays) to see what could been seen. Sadly, he also had a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia.   Traumatic diaphragmatic hernias occur following blunt force trauma to the abdomen causing increased abdominal pressure.  SO, the force of hitting the ground after being thrown from the truck caused this.  It was noticed before because Skip was in so much pain and suffering from his leg he didn’t move around much.  BUT once he had the first surgery he felt better and was moving around much more.  So, Skip went for a second much more dangerous surgery to repair his hernia. While his chances were good the mean survival rate for surgery is only 79% for dogs.

Skip made it through surgery.  It has only been 24 hours we have another 48 hours to feel better about his chances. We are almost to our goal of another $600 for the second surgery.  If you can help Skip or any other animals like him, we need your donations so Warrick Animal Guardians can continue to save more animals in need.

Thank you!

Pre-Covid owner surrenders at Warrick County Animal Control were not a huge issue and could only take them as a courtesy due to the increase in strays being picked up.  One could expect 1-2 a week at the local animal control which is not bad.  Being surrounded by No-Kill facilities really helps with owners finding placement for their unwanted animals.  Then during Covid more people than ever flocked to animal controls, humane societies and rescues to adopt a pet so they would feel less alone and had plenty of time at home to give them attention.  Now that the world is pretty much back to normal people are calling on an almost daily basis to surrender these pets that they feel that they no longer have time for in their lives.

Due to the veterinarian shortage and no appointments in the previous year’s most of these pets are severely lacking in socialization.  Sadly, up to 90% are not up to date or ever had any vet care including sterilization.  Most the time one of the reasons for getting rid of their pets is due to a lack of finances so it’s left up to the rescues or shelters to pay for their lack of care.

Warrick Animal Guardians veterinarian bills have grown as well as the number of animals entering the organization.   Every veterinarian visit, vaccination, spay or neuter and testing has increased in price.  Making the number of animals we can help slightly smaller unless we get donations to cover the need of so many animals. 

According to Best Friends Animal Society nationally 7% more animals are entering shelters than are leaving.  The length of stay is also increased for these animals as homes are becoming more difficult to find. 

Take Franklin for example.  A Pot-Bellied Pig that was surrendered to Warrick County Animal Control in April 2022.  The owner had no where for the piggy to go and lied and said it was a stray. Animal control is not set up for pigs or any type of livestock.  So, Warrick Animal Guardians took him into one of their farm foster homes.  He is still looking for a home…. nine months later.

Or take Kona, a special needs Australian Shepherd.  Her owners never got her vet care and allowed her to run loose. She was picked up by the police department.  A very dangerous situation for a dog that is deaf and has sight problems.  They couldn’t reclaim her due to a lack of funds and left her at animal control.  Warrick Animal Guardians took her in August of 2022.  She was briefly adopted but through no fault of her own was brought back to her foster home.  She is still in need of a forever home that will be committed to her.    

Anytime you make a donation to Warrick Animal Guardians you help an animal! We will continue to provide for the animals in our care and those entering!  We thank you for your support!