This is what I am trying to put on your site under the category of "Pets Who Inspire Us" . Please help me figure it out.
Zoey is a brave and resilient dog who's been through more than most. Her journey began in 2018 when My daughter was asked to watch a dog while somebody went away. Katie found the dog, scared, hungry, and sad looking while she cared for this dog, Katie and Zoey bonded. I had Katie go buy food, and other needs for this animal oddly did not have. Soon after that, these individuals asked her to come back to watch the dog again. Katie went over only to witness the male figure yelling and kicking Zoey with his work boots. I instructed Katie to pick the dog up and walk out once they left. She brought the dog home; we took it a vet and found the obvious. She was under nourished, abuse, terrified of men, dehydrated and so on. When the individuals returned home, they asked where the dog was, we replayed it will remain with us, we had a veterinary checkup, which confirmed the neglect the animal has endured. I told them to walk away, and no charges would be pressed. After that we raised Zoey and nurtured her back to a healthy dog. However, Zoey has and remains scared of men since she has the haunting memories.
Now, an even more tragedy strikes. Zoey is a brave and resilient dog, who has gone through more than most. Her next journey began with access weight gain as some of the attached photos show. Doctors' diagnosis her with Kidney Cancer, which led to a month-long course of strong antibiotics to clear an infection before undergoing surgery to remove the affected kidney. It took a couple of rounds before the antibiotics kicked the infection. The recovery was tough. Zoey couldn't walk on her own and had to be carried outside to go to the bathroom. Keeping in mind Zoey currently weighed 57 pounds due to the illness. Her surgical site was stapled shut, requiring daily icing and pain medication to manage her discomfort. The doctors were not sure if Zoey was going to make it thru the surgery or favor thru afterwards. We had to brace ourselves for the worse. Slowly but surely Zoey started to improve, she regained some strength and attempted to return to her loving self.
Just a few months later yet another terrible challenge struck. Zoey started limping, picking up her paw to favor it, yip when trying to use it, and began laying around. She became lethargic and depressed, obviously we took directly to the vet. Zoey developed bone cancer in one of her toes. The vet alerted us once again, Zoey has a new form of cancer, and it is spread to the foot bone. Reality is now knocking at the door. The vet introduced scenarios that Zoey has been thru a lot and may not come out of the surgery, the cancer could be spreading as we speak and offered the option of putting her down to avoid more trauma on her life and body. We just could not take option 3, we had to believe that Zoey could make it, even though we saw a lifeless dog lying there. It tore us up every day to see this, and every time the phone rang, we panicked, since Zoey spent so many nights at the vet hospital in prep for surgery's, post surgeries, and more. After the surgical removal of the cancerous toe and surrounding area to hopefully get all the cancerous cells, it left Zoey in a cast for over 3 weeks. With stiches and pain medicines, again part of her routine, she pushed through the healing process. But this time her spark was very dimmed. Zoey wasn't quite herself. Then she began losing hair, and testing revealed hypothyroidism. Just another medical condition. As lifeless as she was and discussing the words that nobody wanted to hear "put her down, she been thru so much and is so weak", when you look at her eyes, it was if she was saying "save me, don't let me go", even though the doctors weren't giving us much hope. So, we began treatment meds for this condition. It was a challenge with such an already weakened dog, who can't walk, and now trying to get her to eat and take more meds, was draining on both Zoey and us. Finally, her coat started growing back. But her spirit was still not there. No matter what we tried, we just couldn't bring her loving spirit around. Even her sister Lillian, who was rescued after being abandoned in the hurricane Irma, couldn't get Zoey moving. These two dogs are usually inseparable and always playing.
Then one day we were at a local festival, and there was a shelter there trying to get animals adopted. Keeping in mind there was a lot of music, noisy rides, people talking, and kids screaming. There sat a small black dog, that came right to us, as we reached out to her. The noise and commotion did not bother her. She had been abandoned and was found running in the streets at night. A truck almost hit her, stopped and took her to this shelter. We immediately fell in love. The next day we went to the shelter to inquire about adopting her. Went thru the paperwork, home visits etc, and passed. As we thought Zoey wasn't going to make it, and Lillian would be devastated, and this new dog would keep Lillian from being sad about Zoey. Plus, it would give the new dog a great safe home.
Now, the new small dog enters Lillian, Zoeys, and our life's. Her name was Mali, a playful little puppy Rat terrier to be exact. From the moment they met, Zoey lit up. Her happy loving personality started shining thru, Mali's companionship reignited Zoey life once again. Zoey's zest for life returned to a happy, healthy dog. Zoey started to move, attempt to get up, wanted to play, and started recovering faster. Once healed up and walking, it was like Zoey became a puppy again herself. Zoey is now once again a happy healthy dog, who is inseparable from her new buddy Mali, and her sister Lillian. She fought all odds.
Zoey now only takes thyroid medication, joint supplements, and fish oils to keep her maintained. Wears a knee brace for long walks, due to the half a foot issues, she puts more stress on other leg/foot.
So, now we have 3 rescued dogs, Zoey who you have just read her story, Lillian, the blonde Florida Black mouth in the photos, who is terrified of loud noise, fire crackers etc, since she was tied to a tree in the middle of a hurricane after being abandoned, and Mali. Each dog has its own issues which we have adapted our lives, in understanding these issues, giving them a safe loving home. I have attached a number of photos for your viewing. I can go on and explain how Zoey inspired me with her issues during my hard times, and Lillian, plus Mali, but I think you get the picture. It makes you stop and think. This is nothing short of what you would do for your child/family member, going to every length to keep them on earth. Plus understand each fur babies' fears, conditions, and needs. So, we keep men away from Zoey, if loud noise will be in the area, we make sure we are with Lillian, and Mali who is always on our heels, because she thinks you are going to leave her since she was abandoned. We train her with situations where she sees we come back or return from the bathroom or different room. Yes, sometimes animals have issues or conditions, just like kids. Neither of them comes with a manual or guarantee. So, you love each one, and adapt your life to theirs, and you soon find out how happy these animals make you. When you think your life is bad - think of Zoey! She came thru!
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Terri Dakan
Secretart/treasuer PR
North Star PA Events Annual Golf Outing
PATerri Dakan
Secretart/treasuer PR
North Star PA Events Annual Golf Outing
PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-01-2025 09:51 AM
From: Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
Subject: April 2025 Giveaway: Celebrating Maddie and the Pets Who Inspire Us!
April is a special month-it's Maddie's birthday! Maddie, a beloved Miniature Schnauzer, is the heart and soul behind Maddie's Fund®. Her unconditional love and joyful spirit inspired Dave and Cheryl Duffield to make her a promise: if they ever had any money, they would use it to help companion animals and the people who love them, so they could experience the same joy they had with Maddie. The rest, as they say, is history.
That promise became Maddie's Fund, and for 30 years, her legacy has fueled a movement to create a more humane world for pets and people.
Our pets comfort us in tough times, celebrate with us in joyful moments and remind us every day why the work we do for animals matters. Whether it's a dog, cat, or another special pet companion, we'd love to hear their story! ❤️🐶🐱
🐾 Is there a pet in your life (past or present) who has inspired you?
🐾 How has their love, resilience, or companionship shaped the way you approach life or your work?
If you have a photo of them you'd like to include, click on the image icon and upload your favorite! Share your inspiration in the comments this month and you'll be entered into a giveaway for a Cuddly Prize Pack filled with goodies to support your work as part of our 30th Anniversary celebration. PLUS, your participation on this thread makes your organization eligible for a $3,000 grant to help more pets and people in your community.
Let's celebrate Maddie's legacy together by honoring the pets who've inspired us to do more. #ThanksToMaddie #Maddie'sFund30Years
Want to learn more about Maddie's Fund? Take a look at our timeline and reflect on the amazing breadth of innovative solutions created and implemented, thanks to you! https://www.maddiesfund.org/timeline.htm
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#PetSupportServices*
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Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
Maddie's Fund
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