Ramblings From The Ranch – November 2022

Although most of the dogs who come to The Ranch are ready for adoption after being neutered, vaccinated and treated for parasites, there are dogs in need of advanced medical treatment. Some have been abandoned because of their maladies while others have had accidents or been hurt living on the street. Thanks to The Ranch and the donor community that supports it these dogs are able to live long lives with adopters instead of suffering or being euthanized.

One great example is Ursula, a yellow lab that was rescued from a junkyard with a terrible case of knee dysplasia. This kept her in constant pain, leading to inactivity and obesity.  The Ranch went right to work raising funds for her surgeries. She had two knee surgeries, eight weeks apart, and spent that time healing at a loving foster home. Afterwards, she was free of pain and so excited to be able to walk.  Ursula was adopted by a local couple who are committed to keeping her at a healthy weight and a wonderful life.

Have you ever heard of a salivary gland being used to replace a tear duct? Chihuahua Luna-Moona was the lucky recipient of this surgery. She was one of six dogs surrendered by a man who left the country and had a terrible corneal ulcer. It had been caused by a a tear duct that would not work.  Instead of removing her eye, the Ranch took her to an ophthalmologist in Guadalajara who was able to place part of her salivary gland into her tear duct. An odd side effect of this surgery is that her eye waters when she sees a delicious treat of which is enjoying regularly. She is happily living Lakeside with her adopter.

Many of these connections to specialists in Guadalajara came about through Ranch veterinarian Dr. Laura Medina Gómez. She is a former student of many of these specialists, advocates for our dogs, and often assists with the surgeries.

A disease that the Ranch has treated successfully is TVT, a sexually-transmitted cancer. Without treatment, the dogs will die. Over the past six years, we have had several dogs requiring a six-series arduous treatment of chemotherapy for TVT. Unfortunately, the dogs have to be isolated to prevent disease transmission which makes them very lonely. One poor girl, Coffee, was almost finished with her treatments when a worldwide shortage of chemo drugs delayed her care by six months.  But she is now happily adopted.  As is, Hank, another TVT survivor, who currently lives in Pittsburgh. 

The Ranch also invested in hip surgery for dogs Candy and Greta who had been damaged by cars. Candy has been adopted but Greta is waiting for her forever home. Now that she has her chance at a pain-free life, will you be her adopter??