This is why we do what we do. These connections are everything.
Haley had been attacked by another dog over a french fry before arriving at VERGI, and her eye was severely damaged.
VERGI reached out to some rescues that had declined Haley because of the expense before reaching Friends For Life. In somewhat of a leap of faith, we said yes. Haley came through the surgery, healed, and went on to find an amazing forever home.
“It’s been about 3 weeks since I took Tuna (fka Hayley) home. I want to say thank you to you and the FFL staff, volunteers, and donors. FFL chose to give a partially blind, fully deaf, senior dog a second chance at life through surgery. Not everyone would make that decision. I am so grateful you did. And I am doubly grateful to your behavioral therapy team for teaching me how to communicate with Tuna.
Tuna is such a gift. She is loving, hilarious, and a pro at finding squishy spots in the house for naps with her older brother (who is smitten and happily adjusting to his new shadow). Thank you for all that you for dogs like Tuna and for the people who are lucky enough to love them.” – Tuna’s forever mom, Shelley
A Tiny Queen
Reinette started life on the streets, lounging in the sun on the sidewalk and chasing leaves with her fellow community cats. At only 6 months old, she’s seen a lot for someone so young. But she handles everything with grace and dignity. A tiny queen.
When her local community cat colony manager, trapped her and took her to be TNR’d, her whole face was swollen. As the gentleman caring for her watched the swelling reduce in her face, though, he could see that something was very wrong with her eyes. He didn’t have the resources to treat them, but over time one eye got better. The other got much, much worse.
Community cats are many times, at best, overlooked, and at worst, unwanted and despised by their human neighbors. But this man was doing everything he could to help this one tiny kitten.
When he called, we answered. And we were the only ones who didn’t reject his plea for help.
He brought her into the shelter and she saw Dr. Trevino who put together a treatment plan. Today, you can find her bouncing around the PetSmart Cattery without a care in the world.