Happy Endings

ISABELLE
12 years
North Carolina

Isabelle has enjoyed a wonderful life with mom Kate and now she needs some vet care to assess her ailments. She is not herself and needs to get some of the quality of life back in her step and a sparkle back in her eye!!

ARWNY Akita-SOS is happy to be able to get Isabelle the vet assessment needed to determine what is best for her golden years and to make her days more comfortable!

KAYLA
10 years
North Carolina

Kayla was 10 years young and with her current family since 5 years old! She had a special bond with her dad Elliott -- one that transcended his illnesses and gave him a purpose in life. Sadly Kayla got weak very quickly and couldn't stand or walk. She was suffering. After some testing and neurological consults and her suffering not subsiding, the difficult decision to help Kayla find peace was reached. She was surrounded with the family she loved as she crossed the bridge to wait until she can be reunited with her best buddy Elliott!

Sometimes the kindest thing ARWNY Akita-SOS can provide is end of life assistance with love and dignity and we are so happy we could do that for Kayla and her family that cared so deeply.

COOPER
10 years
Arizona

Cooper had been with Christine for a long time. Sadly he was showing signs of eye and skin issues. Christine needed assistance to find relief and a clear diagnosis so treatment could be forthcoming. SOS got Cooper the initial vet exam and medications needed. SOS also got an eye specialist to find the final diagnosis of VKH and secondary glaucoma. Cooper and Christine are a team and she just needed a little help to keep her friend Cooper pain free in his senior years.

ARWNY Akita-S.O.S. was happy to provide some medications and vet exams that assisted Cooper to remain in his loving home with the treatment he deserved and needed!

AND when his time came, we were there again to assist with his crossing the bridge with dignity in Christine's loving arms!

KIRA
10 years
New Jersey

Kira's owner Alicia, took Kira in when she was a senior Akita. Alicia had never owned an Akita but just loved her smiling face and felt that she could be the right dog to get Alicia motivated to exercise and walk. Kira needed a home, Alicia needed to get healthy again after a medical scare -- it was meant to be, and they have helped each other get back on track to loving life again. However, when Kira needed dental work and a tumor removed from her foot, Alicia's meager SS Income wasn't enough to pay those bills -- so Alicia was directed to SOS. SOS took care of the expenses so Kira could be back out walking with Alicia and Alicia could stop stressing about money and enjoy life with Kira again. When the vet told Alicia that SOS was paying all vet services, Alicia burst into tears and said, "What a wonderful organization -- who knew such wonderful people still exist?"

This is one Senior Akita that won't end up in rescue or a shelter, thanks to SOS!!

MUHAMMED ALI
9 years
Florida

Ali is a retired police dog who had been through so much. His previous owner who was a police officer, was diagnosed with dementia and accidentally surrendered him to the wrong organization. Ali was scheduled to be put down for no other reason than a simple mistake. A great young couple went to a shelter and adopted Ali within hours of being put down. He is an amazing dog, and deserves every chance in the world to be happy and healthy. Ali, developed a baseball sized lump on his face. In order to diagnose and treat it, the vet estimate was $900. He needed to have x-rays, the fluid drained from the lump and ear, and a biopsy to see if it was an abscess tooth or worst case scenario, a tumor. This is not a position anyone wants to be in, but the couple asked for donations to help Ali. They had the love he needed, but unfortunately, could not afford such a large vet bill. ARWNY Akita-S.O.S. was pleased to cover the bill for this retired service dog. It turned out not to be cancer and follow-up treatment was $300.

ARWNY Akita-S.O.S. is thrilled Ali can live many more years with the couple that adore him and can mend his broken heart! GOSH a retired service dog deserves some help also in their senior years!

RIDLEY
10 years
Florida

Ridley had a distended abdomen and was not himself for over a week. His owner could not afford a vet visit and contacted SOS to assist. SOS helped find a vet, paid for a consult, testing, and treatment. The owner was then able to provide the follow-up care and Ridley remains in the home he has known since being rescued 7 years ago at age 3.

Through proper diagnosis and treatment, we hope Ridley enjoys the love of his mom for many more years!

RHUORC & TAKIRRA
9 years
Georgia

Rhuorc & Takirra needed some medications for thyroid and arthritis as well as a general heartworm and flea prevention. Both were in good health as long as the medications were supplied along with a prescription food. Their caregiver got a bit behind after several unexpected medical bills and needed a little assistance so they could remain healthy and HOME!!

A little expense leads to a big gain -- a loving, forever home!!

AND when Takirra recently passed, SOS was able to provide a private cremation so she could come back to remain in her home forever surrounded with her loved ones!

ANKA
14 years
Washington

Anka was saved by WAG and was pulled from the Clackamas County Animal Shelter in March 2013 and is in permanent foster care. He is approximately 14 years old. Anka will never be adopted but his foster family has committed to caring for him for the rest of his life. And to make the decision to euthanize him when appropriate. They already have a senior dog of their own adopted thru WAG and have provided Anka a warm, caring home for him to spend his remaining days in. SOS was asked for help with his pain meds and his Fortiflora so we are helping with monthly costs to keep him as pain free as possible at his age so his quality of life stays high. No one knows how many months or even years ANKA has but we were so happy to be able to help with Anka‘s medicine costs!!

SOS was so happy to help Anka get this peaceful, happy face! Preventive rescue and hands-on rescue working together to help one senior Akita at a time!!

LOBO
10 years
Puerto Rico

HANISU
11 years
Arizona

Hanisu was the saddest case of any we have dealt with in SOS since our start. She was approx 11-13 yrs old, having been adopted by Pat from a local Akita rescue when she was around 2 to 3 yrs of age. Pat loved her and kept her happy and healthy for the next 8 yrs until Pat herself fell on hard times. At the same time Pat received a heart pump, her husband filed for divorce and Pat had to leave her home and move back to AZ. While hospitalized, Pat found that Hanisu had stopped eating, gotten sick and stopped receiving the care she needed. Struggling with finances and being told by the rescue she adopted from that they could not help financially, Pat contacted SOS. We immediately went to work, getting Hanisu set up with a local vet we had on our SOS map in AZ, who started treating Hanisu immediately, putting her on thyroid meds, 2 types of eye medicinations and a good quality food. But unfortunately she had been sick for too long before SOS was contacted and Hanisu kept going downhill. Sadly Hanisu became so ill that she could not keep food in her system and the decision was made by her owner to let Hanisu go “over the bridge” held in Pat’s arms.

RIP sweet Hanisu, no longer are you in pain or suffering in any way.

FOXY
14 years
North Carolina

Here at S.O.S. we have been helping FOXY, a sweet senior whose owner sadly passed away, so his mom took her in. Despite being on a limited income, Mom so loved Foxy that she wanted to keep her safe and healthy but money was an issue and she had a hard time with vet bills -- when she reached out to us, we were happy to work things out for Foxy. We are helping with managing her arthritis and doctor visits. Without our help, Foxy would not have been able to live with her mom and would have suffered.

This is SOS at work and we couldn't be more proud to help fabulous senior Akitas like this!

TIPPER
9 years
Pennsylvania

SOS was very pleased to be able to help Tipper, a senior Akita in the Pocono area of PA, who needed a biopsy and removal of two small lesions on her eye lid. Her owner, Sharon, who has been dealing with her own issues, loves Tipper so much, and wanted to be sure Tipper got the help needed. We just got this note from Sharon about Tipper:

"Everything is going very well for Tipper, recovering nicely. I just want to thank you so very much for helping Tipper and if in the future if there is anything I can do to help in any way as for helping another family or make small donations please email me. We are praying that the biopsy comes back OK."

TOBY
11 years
Georgia

Toby's family contacted us for help. He was having digestive difficulty, some spinal discomfort, and a skin tag over his eye that he had rubbed raw. The family had financial difficulties and could not afford the vet fees to attend to his issues. They asked for any help that S.O.S. could give this wonderful old dog saying "...it would mean the world to me. It breaks my heart that I've been put in this position."

A family that cared and reached out was priceless. S.O.S. was able to have our Advisory Board member, Dr. Rachel Peeples, DVM right near them attend to Toby's need. Minimal cost, a home of love, what could be better!

KAZ
11 years
California

Kaz was confiscated from his original owners for neglect. Placed in a kill shelter in Merced, CA he was pulled with NO time left. Kaz had a wonderful forever home waiting for him in WI. We were contacted because funds fell short for the transport and he needed some dental work and vet care for thyroid and arthritis once at his new home where his family was waiting for him with his new Greenbay Packers collar and leash.

A senior dog was able to be in a loving home -- happy and loved and comfortable! Being Bills fans, we won't comment on the Packers issue! Be happy Kaz!

BELLE
10 years
Virginia

Belle is a dearly loved Akita, but the owner could not afford any more treatment and considered putting her to sleep because she did not want Belle to suffer. LUCKILY the owner contacted a local Akita person who contacted Akita-S.O.S. Belle, now age 10, was adopted at one year of age from a home that mistreated her. Belle had a severe kidney infection then, which was treated and had been fine since then. However, recently she had blood in her urine. She also had very bad skin -- bald tail with a large bald patch spreading to the back and other areas. The current owner borrowed money and took her to the vet who did treat the urinary tract infection. But her skin remained a bad issue.

The current owner lived in a rental and on limited income. She couldn't afford expensive vet visits and was feeding Belle a known high sugar content grocery store food because it's what she could afford.

So -- Akita-S.O.S. had the local Akita person visit the home for a check. The evaluator reported back the following: "She is a lovely woman who dearly loves this Akita. She cried at the thought of having to put her down because she couldn't afford to help Belle and didn't want her to suffer. Belle has a flea infestation and a flea allergy - you can see that her tail is bald and her back above the tail is too. The owner said that at some point she was told that Belle had a yeast infection in her skin."

Akita-S.O.S. bought a good quality food and sent it to the current owner, along with some supplements and flea medication. A phone conference was made to educate the home about quality foods and the difference they could make to overall health. A local supplier of food was found at an affordable price for future purchases. Akita-S.O.S. also secured a free grooming appointment (thank you Kira Brown, an ARWNY adopter and local rescue person) and paid a vet recommended in the area a discounted fee for a thyroid profile and assessment.

Belle is now healthier and happy in the home that loves her. A follow-up visit was made at 2 months. Everything remained positive. Belle's mom called a month later for another report as well and it was reported that she was in tears on the phone and said: "I can't imagine in this day and age that there are people so willing to help as you are -- I was bowled over by your kindness!"

Education, a minimal monetary amount ($204), and a senior dog was able to remain in a loving home and not put to sleep or surrendered to a shelter for a local rescue to have to make a dreaded decision over!

WOLFIE
12 years
New Jersey

Wolfie is a beloved member of the family but needed some help. The owner was working part time for 2 years and at a drastically reduced rate of pay and could not afford the vet fees for a geriatric check-up, thyroid panel, and medications. Wolfie had started to lose weight and was lethargic and going downhill fast. He had been on Soloxine and a re-check was needed.

Total: $193 and we have a healthy 12 year old at home where he belongs!!

JESSIE
10 years
New Hampshire

An animal control officer ARWNY had worked with contacted us about an abuse seizure case. Jessie needed help. She needed a thyroid test, microchip, spaying, and other vet fees.