Save Ohio Pets Is Helping Homeless Pets

Save Ohio Pets is an organization that holds low-cost monthly vet clinics in the Columbus, Ohio. Veterinarians, techs and volunteers provide basic pet wellness checks, vaccines, and treat animals with minor ailments like ear infections and skin issues and then they provide microchipping 

services. Since, January Save Ohio Pets estimates working with more than 600 pets and providing around 250 spay and neuter procedures.

“There’s such a huge group of people who cannot afford vet services,” said Stacey Morris with Save Ohio Pets. “It can take over 2 years to save up to take their animal to vet. Our goal is to hopefully decrease the number of animals entering the shelters. Our main goal is keeping them healthy and in their homes.”

Save Ohio Pets also goes to the homeless camps with Mt. Carmel Outreach, which has a wellness program to check on people staying there. They inform Save Ohio Petswhere the camps are that have animals, and SOP volunteers befriend the homeless, and helps their animals. These animals mean everything to the people in these camps. SOP takes in the animals, treats them, gives them

This sweet dog was treated at Save Ohio Pets vet clinic in May. He was sent to Rascal Animal Hospital for further treatment.

shots and spays/neuters them and returns them to their owners. With these services in mind, through Rascal Charities and Rascal Animal Hospital, The Tortorella Foundation has given a grant to help in these low-income and homeless pet situations in Columbus, Ohio. 

“(This kind of money) is unheard of when you’re just getting started,” Morris said of the grant. “I think we’ve (treated) 13 homeless camp cats thanks to the Tortorella Foundation.”

In addition, with the foundation’s grant, the Rascal Unit (a mobile spay/neuter unit) will attend Save Ohio Pets’ monthly clinic and perform as many as 40 spay and neuters and more.

“My homeless stories wouldn’t exist if I didn’t have (the Tortorellas) behind us,” Morris said.

For more information, visit the Save Ohio Pets Facebook page here.

Rockie Gets Seizure Diagnosis

Rockie and his new bride, Cora, at a fundraiser to help Rockie get a medical diagnosis for his seizures.

Rockie was surrendered to the Isle of Wight animal shelter in Viriginia. He found a foster family who loved him and wanted to become his forever family. But his “occasional” seizures increased in number and it was too much for his people to handle. They were worried they couldn’t provide the proper care for him. So he was returned. Shelter staff Christina Kearney and other staff worked to get Rockie medicine and a diagnosis. But he needed an MRI and maybe a spinal tap. It was too much for this staff who came to love Rockie to manage — with estimates around $2700 just to find out what was wrong with him.

That’s when they found The Tortorella Foundation, which agreed to match donated funds to help get Rockie his MRI. Kearney and her staff even held a fundraiser “wedding” for Rockie and his shelter friend with whom he spends a lot of time.

So Rockie got his MRI, which came back normal – no signs of damage from the seizures or abuse, growths or abnormalities. The vet called it idiopathic epilepsy. Now Rockie will try new medicines and will be slowly weaned off some of the old. He will be taking four different types of meds for the next 2 months with hopes everything goes well. He will likely have to revisit the vet in 2 to 3 months. Unfortunately, it is something he will have for the rest of his life. But at least they know now why and that it is slightly manageable, and hopefully it will help his training and comfort level with people!

Rockie is learning how to love everyday. He is an 80 lb American bull dog mix who once spent his days either locked in a bathroom or tied to a lead outside. His previous owner did the best he could for him financialy but were unable to provide any medical care for him for the first few years of his life. He was surrendered in August of 2016 and has had roughly 30+ seizures in the shelter’s and foster’s care. He has been receiving medical care since his first seizure in October. He was taking 15 pills a day to manage his seizures and more than that if he had a seizure.

Kearney said Rockie has trouble connecting with people. He has excelled greatly with learning how to love and be a normal dog. However, he is still missing the ability to connect to others quickly. He is very food driven and often explores his surroundings and paces often. Once he has calmed down and relaxed he is a real love bug! Kearney hopes that understanding and controlling his epilepsy will comfort Rockie so he can relax and find his forever family.

For more information about Rockie, contact Kearney at ckearney@isleofwightus.net.

Animal Life Rescue in Gets A/C Unit & Quarantine Cages

Animal Life Rescue in rural North Carolina desired to improve the conditions for its cats and kittens while they are in rescue. Bryan Rouse, its founder, is committed to making their lives better while in his care.

The Tortorella Foundation sponsored quarantine cages (to keep his sick kittens separated from others while they are contagious) and later a heating and a/c window unit for his cat room.

he Tortorella Foundation has been such a great resource to Animal Life in our mission to save homeless pets.

“It was a tremendous impact on our rescue because we were about to go from keeping cats quarantined in wire cages to being able to quarantine in much more sterile, easier to clean and maintain and space saving,” Animal Life founder Bryan Rouse said, adding. “Animal Life Kitties now have a safer, cleaner, more comfortable environment to get them ready for adoption.”

For more information on Animal Life Rescue, visit their Facebook site or click here.

ADOPT ME? Friendly Nicky is very smart!

Nicky is a 7-month-old boy who is very friendly, very smart, and very playful. He’s also a kid — he’s got lots of puppy energy and is still learning his manners and how not to be so jumpy. He’d do best in an adult home with people who are willing to continue his training, and he gets along well with other dogs. If you’re interested in knowing more about Nicky, please e-mail trainer@spca914.org

Nicky is a part of the Tortorella Foundation sponsored “The Way Home” program. Nicky and all of the SPCA of Westchester’s animals can be seen at www.spca914.org and the SPCA of Westchester is located in Briarcliff Manor, NY.

ADOPTED!!! Almond FOUND Someone Special like her

UPDATE: Almond was recently adopted. She has found her forever family!

Almond, a young female cat, was rescued by Pets Alive Middletown (in NY) from a horrific hoarding situation in June 2015. Sadly, they had to remove one of her eyes as it was badly infected. She has adjusted well and while she’s still a bit shy, once she gets to know you, she is very playful and sweet. While she’s been there for almost 2 years, she is hopeful someone will come along and open up their hearts and take her home.

Almond and animals just like her are available for adoption from Pets Alive, 363 Derby Road, Middletown, NY. For information about them, visit petsalive.com or call Pets Alive at 845-386-9738.