Sometimes, the only thing standing between a shelter pet and a forever home is access to medical care.
Every year, the Animal Shelter Foundation helps remove those barriers through programs like Heartworm Help and Vet Visit, giving shelter pets the care they need to become healthy, adoptable companions. Ozzy is one of those success stories.
When Jake visited Tallahassee Animal Services looking for a companion, one dog immediately caught his eye.
“One big, calm, brindle dog with folded ears and a curly tail in the back of the shelter immediately caught my attention,” Jake recalled.
A meet-and-greet confirmed what Jake already suspected: Ozzy was coming home.
Before the adoption could be finalized, however, the shelter’s veterinary team discovered a large mass on Ozzy’s neck. It needed to be removed before anyone could determine whether it was scar tissue or something more serious. Ozzy was also heartworm positive, meaning he needed both surgery and treatment before he could start his new life.
Through the generosity of Animal Shelter Foundation donors, Ozzy received the care he needed before he could begin the next chapter of his life. ASF’s Vet Visit program covered the surgery to remove the mass, while the Foundation’s Heartworm Help program ensured he received the treatment needed to overcome heartworm disease.
The surgery was a success, and the biopsy brought welcome news: the mass was scar tissue, not cancer. After recovering from surgery and completing heartworm treatment, Ozzy was finally able to settle into his forever home.
Today, Jake says Ozzy’s personality has blossomed.
“You never know what these animals have been through before they arrive at the shelter,” he said. “It takes time for their personalities to come out, and they may come with a few challenges along the way. If you’re willing to give them patience, compassion and consistency, they’ll reward you with a bond that’s hard to put into words.”
These days, Ozzy is convinced he’s a 70-pound lap dog.
“ASF gave Ozzy the opportunity to have a healthy future,” Jake said. “He’s become my best friend and has brought so much joy into my life. Adopting him is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Ozzy’s story is just one example of how Animal Shelter Foundation supporters help change lives every day. Whether it’s funding emergency veterinary care through Veterinary Assistance, providing treatment through Heartworm Help, transporting pets to adoption partners, supporting foster families or investing in other lifesaving programs, every donation helps remove barriers between shelter pets and the families waiting to love them.
Together, we’re creating more happy endings—one animal at a time.
You can support the mission of the Animal Shelter Foundation by making a tax-deductible donation with a one-time gift or by becoming a Lifesaver Circle monthly donor.
