The Buddy Fund
Every day more and more animals needing extraordinary medical care arrive at Dakin. From orthopedic surgery to x-rays, from heartworm treatment to dental care, Dakin goes the extra mile to provide a second chance to dozens of cats and dogs who will receive life-saving medical care through the Buddy Fund. You can change lives by making a gift (please make sure to note that this is for “The Buddy Fund”) that will help with surgeries and other medical procedures.
Some animals recently helped by your contributions
lucky
A Good
Samaritan saw Lucky hit by a car, picked him up, and brought him to Shaker
Road Animal Hospital. Shaker Road generously took x-rays and tested him.
He had a broken pelvis which would require surgery. And with testing, it
was discovered that Lucky was FIV+. The hospital called Dakin to see if we
would be willing to help him out. Thanks to the Buddy Fund…and Dr. Katie
Spaulding, Lucky had the surgery he needed. He went into foster care for a
period of time. And now, Lucky enjoys naptime with his new best
friends, Paul.
tutu
Tutu
had two strikes against him: he arrived at Dakin suffering from feline
immunodeficiency virus ((FIV) and an eye infection so severe we had to remove
his eye to save his life. Once Tutu recovered from surgery, he awaited
adoption in the bright new cat colony room reserved just for cats with FIV.
Because colony rooms allow cats to climb and bask in the sun while showing
off their purr-sonality, it was no time before Tutu's new family saw what a
diamond in the rough he was and took him on to his new home.
hunter
Why
would a dog eat a needle and thread? Ask Hunter. When Dakin's
veterinary team assessed him upon arrival, they knew Hunter needed immediate
surgery to save his life. Although extensive internal damage led to
the removal of part of his intestine, this young beagle in now enjoying new
adventures with his adoptive family, which include long walks, fun in the
summer sun, and healthy snacks!
chochy
As
the June 1st tornado ripped through his apartment, Chochy, a 10-month-old
Chihuahua, was struck in the eye by flying glass. Desperately hoping
that someone would help their beloved pet, Chochy's family brought him to
Dakin. While Chochy lost his eye due to the severity of his injury,
the little guy is on the mend and back with his adoring family.
kittens
The
people that discovered the beautiful young tabby and her two newborn kittens
in their garage noticed that she seemed to be laboring in great distress.
They quickly brought her to a local emergency veterinary hospital where the
vets determined that a third kitten remained inside the small stray cat.
Fearing that the remaining kitten was dead and the poor mother cat might
require surgery, the emergency clinic sent the people and the
foundlings to Dakin for help. Our veterinary team performed surgery
and delivered the third kitten, saving the kitten and the mother cat aw
well. Good Samaritans, quick and responsive care, a kind foster
family- and the Buddy Fund- turned a potential tragedy into a story with a
very happy ending.
mischief
Mischief,
a young brown and white ferret, came to Dakin in obvious distress from a
painful persistent wound. Dr. Spaulding and team members Chrissy and
Brittany treated Mischief's wound, relieved his pain, and cared for him for
several months in the safe haven of Dakin. Today, Mischief is healthy
and enjoying his new home in Connecticut.
milk
On
January 28, 2011, Good Samaritans discovered Milk hiding in the engine of
their car and brought her to Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society. With
the support of Buddy Fund donors, Milk is now adopted and living life as a
kitten should.
gary
Gary is a 3-year-old tan and white guinea pig. When he arrived at our adoption center, we noticed a
large abscess on the right side of his face caused by a malocclusion of his
incisors. We had the abscess drained and repaired, his teeth trimmed, and
sent him off to his new home.
dover
Dover is a young Basenji mix who arrived on a transport from an overcrowded animal shelter in Alabama. When we inserted his microchip, Dover began bleeding…and bleeding…and bleeding. After a series of diagnostic tests, we discovered Dover to have a type of hemophilia. Thanks to one of our veterinary technicians, Dover has a happy new home—and his own blood supply in storage at his veterinarian’s office!
tesla
Tesla is a 1-year-old lilac point Siamese cat who arrived at Dakin exhibiting apparent discomfort in both her eyes. As she squinted through crust and goop to see our veterinary staff, they discovered that she had a condition called entropion, which is a condition where the eyelids turn inward causing the lashes and fur on the eyelid to constantly abrade the surface of the eye. Thanks to the expertise of a veterinary ophthalmologist, Tesla’s entropion was surgically corrected. Thanks to a volunteer foster parent, she recovered in a comfortable home. And thanks to the adoption center staff, Tesla now has a new life.
Samson
Samson is about three months old, but he is only the size of a two-month-old
kitten. This little guy used to suffer from a congenital disorder
known as pectus excavatum, a chest deformity that results in the depression
of the heart and lungs. So while Samson's breastbone disorder wasn't
obvious from the outside (it was covered with fur), it was impacting his
ability to develop and grow normally. Thanks to Buddy Fund donors and
surgeon Dave Thompson of Riverbend Animal Hospital, Samson is now on the
mend and living it up in his new home!
Buddy
Buddy,
the lively young German shepherd mix for whom the Buddy Fund is
named, came to Dakin with cardiac problems needing special diagnostic
treatment. Thanks to an outpouring of support, Buddy now lives
happily in his new home. And his legacy lives on…
Loverboy
Recently, Loverboy,
a magnificent tiger cat, needed eye surgery to correct a problem
that had plagued him his entire life. His surgery would have stretched
the resources of Dakin, but it was important that he leave here
with the best chance for a more comfortable life. Again, someone
stepped up to give Loverboy that chance.
Junebug
Junebug,
a 12 year-old cat, was found in the parking lot at the Greenfield
Rescue and Rehabilitation Facility with a broken back leg and a
heart murmur. He was dehydrated and in obvious pain. Dakin provided
him veterinary care, a volunteer provided a foster home…and
now Junebug is living happily on a nearby farm.
Sandy
Imagine
how our staff felt when they came to work and saw this little Yorkie
abandoned at the adoption center! Sandy's skin was raw, red, and oozing.
Lucky Sandy received the medical care he needed and was adopted by
his loving foster family. Dakin can go the extra mile for Sandy and
all the other animals who are helped by the Buddy Fund, which provides
support for the extraordinary care these animals need.
Can you help? Make a gift to Dakin’s “Buddy Fund,” named not only for the dog that you rallied to help, but for all the animals that are our “buddies.” This medical fund helps pay for diagnostic testing, surgery, medication and other extraordinary needs that place a burden on our already tight medical budget.
Having a designated medical fund makes it possible for more dogs and cats to get off to a great start in their new home. We can’t do it without you.
Make your gift with our online donation page (please make sure to note that this is for “The Buddy Fund”), or send your check to Dakin, Attention “The Buddy Fund,” PO Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101. Thank you!