Sponsor-a-Lab

My Name is: Ozzie 10 years old

My Story: In all modesty the vet said, “Ozzie is one of the sweetest dogs that I have ever met. He is gentle, engaging and just wants to be patted and sit in your lap!” Now that I’m done blushing I can tell you my family left me at a local shelter when they could no longer care for me. For most of my life I’d been blind and now had painful cataracts. The shelter vet removed my painful sightless eyes and then Safe Harbor stepped in to help with my post-surgical care and recovery. I quickly became very bonded to my foster mom. She became very attached to me too and adopted me. Now we are living happily ever after!

My Name is: Presley, 3.5 years old

My Story: Since I hadn’t seen much of the world outside the breeding facility, everything was scary so I just sort of shut down, so I didn’t have to deal with anything. I was dirty, my skin and coat were a mess, I had ear infections, sore joints, and was 20+ pounds overweight at 100 pounds. I didn’t feel very good. I needed both medical and emotional care, and Safe Harbor provided me with both. The vets at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital prescribed medications to help me feel a lot better. My foster mom and her dogs lifted my spirits, took me swimming and on ‘pack walks’ through the horse pasture; another volunteer would just hang out with me. And do you know what? One day we were all surprised to see my tail wagging and looking rather trim. Life is looking a lot better!

My Name is: Tootsie, 2 years old

My Story:  It’s hot, humid and buggy in the middle of an Arkansas summer, but that’s where I found myself, out in a pen with my six little newborns. None of us were wanted and I wasn’t allowed inside, so no comfort was in sight. Fortunately, local rescuers heard of our plight and, partnering with Safe Harbor, got us away from there and to the safety and care of an excellent vet hospital. We were all filthy dirty, I was exhausted, and my puppies had a fungal disease. I needed care for poor nutrition, dehydration and a tick-borne disease. We remained at the hospital for several weeks with Safe Harbor’s rescue partner checking on us daily and making sure we were recuperating and thriving. My babies loved playing with her. Finally, it was time for us to board a Pilots and Paws flight to Denver where our forever homes awaited us. What a lucky mom and litter of babies we were!

My Name is: Fisher, 7-8 years old

My Story: By the time I was rescued I’d spent a good bit of time in a crowded shelter, and I was looking thin. The chow may not have been all that great, but it was hard for me to tell the shelter workers my mouth hurt and chewing kibble was painful. Safe Harbor’s vet took one look in my mouth and said, “Good heavens, Fisher, your mouth is a mess!” In short order, I had a dental and needed not only a cleaning but 15 extractions for loose and infected  teeth! It’s taken a while for all that to heal up, but the delectable meals my foster mom serves up sure taste good now!

My Name is: Dutton, 1.5 years old

My Story: I was running around outside a Kansas town when someone started using me for target practice. A rescuer snagged me and got me to a safe place and then to Safe Harbor. During my checkup, I tested positive for heartworms (yes, they were in my heart doing damage) and had to undergo a lengthy treatment involving harsh shots. A long quiet recovery period followed while they died off so I wouldn’t have any complications like an embolism in my lungs. I also had deep cuts on my legs that required surgery, sutures and pain meds. I’m kind of a quiet, easy-going Lab and liked sleeping in my foster mom’s closet until I found my wonderful forever family.

My Name is: Nyla, 1 year old

My Story: My family bought me as a cute puppy at a pet store. As time went on, they found they were not able to keep me. Being a whirlwind of inexhaustible young Lab activity — running, jumping, twirling, you name it — one day I ended up with an ongoing limp. The orthopedic experts at Colorado Canine Orthopedics diagnosed me with a serious knee injury: a torn cranial cruciate ligament and luxating patella. I needed expensive surgery to fix both and to get me back on the road to my active self. The recovery is a tall order: I must stay calm for many weeks while the surgery site heals. My foster parents are both people nurses so I will be in good hands!

My Name is: Abbey, 5 years old

My Story: Before I knew what happened, I was pushed out of a vehicle onto a rural road alongside -25 in southern Colorado.  It sped off leaving me there all alone, bewildered, and scared. Fortunately, an animal control officer picked me up and got me to a shelter where they took one look at me and remarked, “Girl, you are a mess.” I had a skin disease that caused me to lose most of the hair on my face and also patches on my legs and body.  My ears were infected and sore.  The small shelter I was at reached out to Safe Harbor, and we were all thrilled when they said, “Yes, we’ll take this sweet and gentle young lady.” I now have meds for my skin and ears, and my foster mom gives me medicated baths.  It will be a while before my skin and ears are well, but thanks to Safe Harbor, I’m on my way!