Josh moved into his new digs last week. His new Mum has been keeping us updated regularly on his progress which we love. His first night went a bit pear-shaped as he was a little disorientated. His parents were up a lot during the night relaxing him. The next day he slept in until 12pm and so did his Mum! They were all exhausted.
We have since heard that he has settled in perfectly and with a special diet and daily strolls (slow and steady) he's become a new dog....but the same old beautiful Joshy! We couldn't have hoped for a more dedicated and loving family for him. He is going to be cherished...finally!
Josh finds his home!
Josh's journey begun long before we meet him and we will never know the truth behind his sad eyes but we do know from this day forward he will always have a smile on his face because after a long search and many applications, Josh has found his new family!
Josh found his way to the pound due to no fault of his own like many others before him. He sat there cold and terrified. Why? We will never know. Halfway Home found him and knew straight away that he didn't deserve to die there. Unfortunately there were dogs on either side of him and many more around him that we couldn't save that day. The day Josh's life changed forever!
When he was diagnosed with cancer in his jaw we knew it would be expensive to have the operation. We knew we'd get the treatment he needed but we knew we would be very financially stretched so we had the idea to start an appeal to raise the money just expecting an extra dollar or two to assist us.
A volunteer suggested contacting the Herald Sun to see if they would be interested in Josh's story...and they were. Wow! To get him ready for his photoshoot a very generous groomer named Lisa (from Dirty Paws Mobile Dog Grooming) came to the rescue and fancied him all up and made him look as handsome as we knew he was - free of charge. Thank you Lisa.
The day his story hit the papers we were blown away by the generosity and compassionation shown from complete strangers. For the next five days we raised the funds needed (and a little more) for Josh to have his lifesaving operation. On the last day we received a call from Charles Kuntz from Southpaws in Moorabin. He is one of the top cancer specialists for animals in Victoria. He rang to offer his services for FREE!! I was driving at the time so you can imagine the danger involved! Thank you Charles and team at Southpaws Specialty Surgery for Animals.
Since his operation Josh has flourished. His favourite time of the day is dinner time. He even does a little dance. Still haven't heard him bark but thats ok...you can tell by his eyes and his smiling face thats he's happy again.
Josh's next chapter is about to begin. We are so very happy to know we have found him his perfect new loving home who will commit to him for the rest of his life. They know how special he is and have promised to keep us updated on his progress. Thank you Carol & Leigh for falling in love with Josh's little deserving soul.
The search begins...
Josh is doing BRILLIANTLY!! We couldn't be happier. He is back to pottering around even to the point of doing little leaps of excitement when its dinner time. He adores his food and woofs it down but doesn't enjoy it so much when it gets stuck in his nose and causes him to have a sneezing fit...but once it clears he's back to finish the remains thats if Ruby hasn't stolen it though I don't think he cares as he seems to havenfallen in love with her. She's as old as the hills...a cougar really...as she's about 15 years old!! I found him snuggling up beside her tonight after a few passing attempts. Very cute to watch.
We are so happy with Josh's progress that he is off on his home visits this week. He won't be moving in for at least a week or so after that but we'll see how it goes.
Here are before and after photos. The latter with a slightly re-shaped mouth just taken today. Charles at Southpaws Specialty Surgery for Animals did a fantastic job.
Here are before and after photos. The latter just taken today.
The news we've been waiting for...
After six days of recovery Josh went back for his follow up check. We arrived at Southpaws and were greeted by the lovely staff but also by three other poor dogs with stitches and buckets! Josh seemed unsure of entering after his last experience but once in managed to say hi to all the new arrivals...probably thinking "You'll be ok. If I made it, you will too". He gave a big Bernese Mountain dog a good sniff and then we waited all about ten seconds until Charles (the surgeon) arrived and gave Josh a big pat. After a bit of a struggle (on Josh's part) Charles was able to check Josh's operation site. Then the news..."It looks really good. I am happy with it. We got a clean margin so he's clear of cancer". Yahooo! for JOSHY BOY! We are so happy.
I thanked Charles and the staff and walked Josh back to the car. Our appointment took less then five minutes. While heading to the car we were greeted (well rushed at) by two vicious out of control very scary brown...dashunds! Yes sausage dogs wearing coats!!! Josh just looked at them and I bet was thinking - "I've just beaten cancer boys. You can't scare me". We then continued to the car surrounded by the 'Yapping Twins'. Once in I gave him a huge cuddle and told him how happy I was that he was on the mend. He just looked at me wondering what all the fuss was and laid down on the seat and went the sleep. Good ole Josh!
We will be contacting those who have shown interest in giving Josh a home in the next week or so. Thank you all again for following Josh progress. We will keep close contact with his new home so we can continue to put updates of Josh on our site.
The "Bucket" returns
Josh is coming along in leaps and bounds...well short and slow leaps and bounds as he's not one for moving that fast. He prefers to take his time and potter around to say hello. He despises the "bucket" he's had to wear to prevent any damage to his operation site but he's very clever when the bucket is off for a period of time...he'll "go amiss" for awhile and will be found hiding around the back of the couch rubbing his face against it. Once he sees you he pretends it wasn't him and potters off as it nothing happened.
He made a big step forward yesterday at dinner time. I put his bowl in front of him and went to hand feed him. He looked at me then the bowl then back to me but didn't eat. I put the piece of food back in his bowl and he started whoofing his food down. A bit awkwardly and messily but by himself all the same. Very very happy.
Josh has befriended two of our current residents. Ruby & Mac - "The old timers". He and Ruby will be found snuggled up together on either her bed or his - very cute. Mac the Whippet X also has possible cancer and is off to the vet on Wednesday for a re-check and teeth clean if all is clear. Josh seems to know Mac's pain and gravitates towards Mac when they're outside socializing.
All in all Josh is doing brilliantly. He's back to the vet on Tuesday for his follow up appointment.
3 days on....
Josh came home on Wednesday and had an unsettled night and found it hard to eat and drink (understandable) which we kept a close eye on. He slept on the bed all cosy and warm but struggled to rest while having to wear the "bucket" on his head. After a long night he...we finally fell to sleep.
Today he's coming along nicely. He's more alert but is needing some hand feeding but ate some food last night and later figured out how to drink again and he definitley made up for it. He's enjoying walking around and saying hello to our own dogs and doing all the stuff he used to. He is really enjoying being rubbed under the chin which seems to put a smile on his face.
He has a way to go but we'll be here for him and once he's recovered we'll find his loving new home...
SUCCESS!!!
We are very very pleased to report that Josh's operation has been a success. Today he is still in for monitoring so we will know sometime today if there are any future concerns but it seems he is recovering very well. Thank you to all the staff at Southpaws especially to Charles the fantastic surgeon who offered his expertise to help save a little unknown but needy soul named Josh.
There's always a stressful feeling when any of our animals need to undergo such severe vet treatment. There is always a risk but there is also always a chance and Josh has proven he's a deserving little fighter and we will now begin his journey of recovery.
Thank you all again for the well wishes and we will keep you updated on his progress...
Postponed
After a long wait Josh was booked in for this operation to remove his cancer. We originally had him booked in for yesterday but after the amazing offer from the vet, we postponed it to TODAY! Yes, Josh will be travelling to the vet this morning to have his life-saving operation. We are all a bit nervous for him as its a big thing for him to have to go through but we are confident that he is in the best of hands. He is scheduled in for 11am and will be staying at the vets until about Thursday.
Please keep a close eye on our site as we will be updating it as we hear from the vet on this progress...
Please send Josh good wishes and vibes today.
STOP PRESS!!
After five days of appeal and many generous donations and support we recieved a very unexpected phone call late on Friday. The call was from a compassionate veterinary surgeon offering to perform Josh's operation FREE of charge!! Thank you Charles at Southpaws Specialty Surgery for Animals.
This is fantastic news and we are very appreciative though we must not forget those still needing our help so we've decided to set up the 'Josh Cancer Fund'. This fund will retain the donations received and go towards the other animals that come in to our care requiring urgent or specialist treatment that can often be very expensive. Being a rescue group that feels compelled to help those less able but still deserving of a comfortable happy life, we do rely on generous compassionate donors to assist us in helping those animals. We currently have three candidates that will benefit from the numerous donations received. So we again thank everyone who donated, be it the business man/woman to the pensioner who sent in their last five dollar note so that they could feel they contributed to such a lovely deserving dog.
To all of you we received letters, cards, money and well wishes from we couldn't have saved Josh without you. We thank you, Josh thanks you and the others in need thank you...
If you have any questions about your donation, please contact us via email - info@halfwayhome.org.au
Thank you!! You did it!!
Thanks to our generous supporters who saw Josh's plight and felt compelled to help out, we have covered the cost of his operation. Thank you to everyone who contributed. The procedure is scheduled for Monday next week. We will post updates of his progress.
Josh appeared so neglected when we picked him up. He has no idea how life is about to change for him. Of course he wouldn't understand the many letters, get well cards, emails and calls offering support to ensure he lives the rest of his life valued, comfortable and enriched. But he's sure to understand the cuddles, care and warmth he is now receiving and will continue to receive. he will never know why he was treated so poorly before and he will never know why people seem to care for him so much more now. He can just appreciate the difference.
This is certainly reason to celebrate (and so will the completion of his treatment!) but we mustn't forget the thousands of dogs and cats all over Australia who aren't as lucky as Josh. Sadly they remain on death row caught up in a system that doesn't care. Halfway Home Animal Rescue with the assistance of the public will help as many as we can. We intend to create a wave of compassion and action to bring about change for these forgotten, voiceless animals. We can't save them all (yet) but for those we do save we make a very big difference - perhaps best summed up in the following story (also on our
Poems and Quotes page)...
The Starfish Story Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?" The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean." "I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?" "The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die." "But, young man, don't you realise that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!"
The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said "It made a difference for that one."
- Author unknown
Josh - booked in for surgery!
Josh the gentle poodle with a mouth tumour was featured in the Herald Sun on Sunday and there has been strong interest and support in ensuring Josh obtains the necessary treatment to remove his tumour. Thanks to many generous donations, we are close to covering the cost of Josh's operation.
The great news is that we are now able to proceed with his specialist surgery which is scheduled for early next week. Until then Josh remains (being pampered) in the care of his foster carers, Lucy and Dan.
Halfway Home Animal Rescue is very grateful to the kind and compassionate people who have expressed support for Josh whether financially or with best wishes and would like to thank you individually once we get over our current very busy period of taking into foster care many dogs, pups, cats and kittens on death row.
Our resources are often stretched as we are all volunteers and there is much to do for the animals who are left behind and forgotten - whether it’s transporting from the pound, building the confidence of a timid dog or cat; organising general vet work or more significant work such as dental work, through to significant procedures such as Josh's. And of course there's arranging introductions for potential new homes as part of the adoption process. The vet expenses never end nor do the demands for our time. So please forgive us if sometimes we don't respond on the same day - we will always try to.
Once again we can't thank you all enough for the overwhelming encouragement we have received.
We will post updates of Josh's progress so please visit our website regularly.
THANK YOU.
The beginning...
Josh was dumped in the pound. He was on death row and he had run out of time. We don't have any details on his history but his fur was so matted and stained with urine he was in pain as he moved. He had spent his time in the pound 'shutdown' and scared, curled up, defeated in his basket. When we arrived to take him in to care he was terrified and cowered in the corner of his pen. After thirty minutes of getting him to relax I ended up carrying him out - he was shaking in my arms.
We gave him lots of cuddles while we carefully trimmed the knots in his fur bigger than and almost as hard as golf balls and a very lathery wash his trust grew and he began to shine again. He is such a sweet natured and friendly boy with a smile that just lights up your day. He loves his cuddles, food and a walk.
After everything this boy has gone through we discovered that he has a tumour in his mouth. But our advice from the specialist is that he can have a life saving operation. If he doesn't receive his operation the tumour will spread and his jaw will eventually shatter. He needs a partial Maxillectomy (removal of some bone) plus an MRI and this is expected to be around $4,500. It's quite a sum but very achievable if many generous people 'chip in'.
Some may think he's not worth it because he's just another dog - well we say he's worth it because he's Josh and every life is special and has great value. W e desperately want to raise the funds for his life-saving operation to provide him with the happy years he so deserves to finally experience in life. Can you help?
Perhaps to raise awareness you can organise a morning tea for Josh at your work? We'd be happy to provide you with some of our brochures if you want to do this.
We believe every animal deserves a happy life, free of suffering, neglect and abuse. We do whatever it takes to make this happen for the animals that come into our care. We don't receive any Government funding and rely purely on the kindness of compassionate donors.
Help give Josh his chance and make a
tax-deductible donation to Halfway Home Animal Rescue today.
Interested in the type of work we do? To see the difference rescue groups can make, watch this video of a USA group that does similar work to Halfway Home Animal Rescue. We had an almost identical situation with a Mastiff X named Chloe recently (just didn't have the cameras rolling!). http://www.blip.tv/file/3014054
