Pippin's Second Chance
We love the holidays at Pets In Need. It’s a time spent with family (of all species!). It’s a time to engage with our community. And it’s a time of giving. Your gifts to PIN – during the holidays and throughout the year – are gifts of second chances.
PIN’s Second Chance Fund provides extensive medical and behavioral care for hundreds of sick or injured pets each year. Your gift today helps ensure that we can say YES to every pet in dire circumstances. Just like we said YES to Pippin.
We first heard about 9 year-old Shih Tzu-mix Pippin – formerly Pipsqueak – from a nonprofit shelter in Fresno County. Their initial assessment of this ball of cuteness revealed a laundry list of potential medical challenges, placing him squarely in the category of “needing rescue.” Thankfully, that’s what we do. So, in April Pippin arrived at PIN resembling an adorable mop.
PIN’s Second Chance Fund transformed so many aspects of Pippin’s life, that we’re going to share his story in three chapters over the course of the month.
Chapter One: “From Mop to Tip-Top”
“We think he is deaf,” our friends at the Central Valley shelter told us. “Oh, and he also REALLY needs to be groomed.” That was an understatement. Pippin’s entire coat was matted. Matting, which occurs in dogs with hair rather than fur, can be very painful. It tugs at the skin and can cause rashes and wounds. It can even restrict a dog’s movement. So, one of the first things we did for Pippin was what’s called a medical groom – all those mats had to go!
That was when we discovered something that was likely contributing to Pippin’s hearing loss: His grooming needs had gone unmet for so long that his ear canals were clogged with debris and wax. Imagine how much better our adorable mop felt after his grooming and ear cleaning!
Chapter Two: “The Best Little Patient”
So, it’s April of this year and Pippin has arrived at PIN from a Central Valley shelter. We’ve given him a thorough grooming, freeing him from painful mats and removing wax and debris from his ears. But Pippin also had an open wound between his shoulders, a painful-looking mass. Our team cleaned and medicated the wound and took x-rays to check Pippin’s overall body condition. We learned that Pippin’s mass was cancerous, but the good news was that it was isolated to that spot; we were able to surgically remove the complete mass!
Before he could be released for a restorative stint in a foster home, Pippin would receive one final Second Chance Fund treatment: Full mouth x-rays had revealed that three teeth needed to be extracted – it was time for a dental! This little champ was so gentle and calm about undergoing another surgery. He could tell we were caring for him. He knew he was safe. He was the best little patient.
Having had a dental and a mass removal, Pippin was ready for some serious R&R with his new foster mom, Barbara. At Barbara’s, he received plenty of snuggles and belly rubs, made new dog friends, and was able to recover at his own pace. By June, Pippin was fully restored and ready to meet his new family!
Chapter Three: “Home Is Where The Heart Is”
Fully healed by June, Pippin met Eliza and her dog, Buddy. Eliza had recently concluded that the light of her life, Buddy, could use … well, a buddy. And Pippin, who had made numerous canine pals during his stint in foster care, was more than qualified for the role! Pippin’s 9 years didn’t deter Eliza one bit. Buddy is a mature fella too, so she envisioned the two sharing couch space and ambling along side-by-side during neighborhood walks.
And guess what? That’s exactly the life they’re living. Eliza reports that Pippin and Buddy are inseparable, and that Pippin’s favorite activities include snoozing, cuddling, and eating cheese. We couldn’t have wished for a better match for this gentle boy.
Because your generosity enables PIN to address the complete medical and behavioral needs of the pets in our care, the Central Valley shelter that first cared for Pippin knew they could rely on us to help. Because you give generously, Pippin was transformed from a wary guy whose grooming and vet care had been badly neglected, to a pampered pup who enjoys unlimited snuggles and weekly baths (yes, weekly!).
As we look ahead to 2023 and beyond, we know PIN will give Second Chances to countless pets like Pippin. We’re able to do that because of YOU. Thank you for being a part of his story.