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Tail Wagger’s USA is committed to
helping people help animals. It is our ultimate goal
to be able to support dedicated pet owners who are in need of
assistance along
with providing necessary funding for those animals in emergency
situations.
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Real Stories
Tail Wagger’s USA prides itself on spending YOUR
DONATIONS directly on animals in need and we want
to introduce you to some of the alumni animals that have
benefitted directly from the programs that we provide.
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Steve had a rough start in life.
Removed from his home when he was only 7
days old, His leg and tail were
broke (in four places) after
being swung by his tail and thrown
into a wall (causing the tail to look
like a lightening bolt). Needing to
be bottle fed every two hours, Laura Zain
took Steve everywhere - stealing the hearts
of anyone that met him and heard his
story. Upon gaining strength, Steve
was taken to East Detroit Animal Hospital
where it was confirmed that the broken
leg was fused and unable to be
surgically fixed. Dr. Patricia
Bigwood indicated that Steve would adjust
to using just three legs and amputation was
only necessary IF the broken leg became a
burden OR Steve was in pain
because of it. To date, Steve
will continue to be monitored by Dr.
Bigwood and is growing at a normal
rate. He shares his home with a
5-year old tabby cat, Tabitha, and
is happy and content. In the
spring, Steve will get neutered and at that
time, his leg will be x-rayed
again to see if there is any way to
straighten it, allowing him better
mobility.
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Tail Wagger's USA received a call
in February, 2009 from a landlord in Plymouth.
There was a 5-year cat inside an apartment that
was left without an owner. She had been
alone for five days because her owner had
committed suicide. When family members
could not reach their loved one for more than a
week, they notified the landlord and asked for
her to check on their family member. When
the landlord entered the apartment, she found
the cat, laying on top of her owner,
continuously licking her face to wake her
up. Something that would never
happen. The landlord noticed a note that
was left, in lipstick, on the bathroom mirror
"Please take care of Tabatha, I love
her". On the kitchen table was all of
Tabatha's adoption paperwork and five bowls of
food and five bowls of water. Laura Zain
came to get Tabatha and immediately knew this
would be a sensitive situation for the
feline. Tabatha spent the next several
months with Laura and was nutured back to a
normal lifestyle and had gained her trust in
people. Still sensitive to sudden moves,
noise or other animals, Tabatha needed to be
placed in a single family home where it was
quiet and without kids - as she does not like
to have her feet leave the ground! Today,
Tabatha is in a very loving home, adjusting
very well and recently was given a
playmate....another Tail Wagger's rescue -
Steve (photo story above). Tabatha is now
learning to play, comes out more often, is
still leary of people and not everyone is able
to pet her. She still has some issues (as
a direct effect from the trauma) to resolve but
is gaining ground every day. Tabatha is
one of the most heartbreaking stories of all
time but will live out her life being loved by
so many.
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Meet Max, a 4 year old American
Bulldog/Pitt Bull mix. Max is in a
loving home and due to the tough econmy, both
his "people" have been out of work for quite
some time. A tearful call was made to Tail
Wagger's to surrender Max because additional
family cut-backs were necessary and while the
family didn't want to surrender Max, they
unselfishly felt he would be better off with a
family that could feed him on a daily basis.
Because of your donations to our Pet
Food Assistance program, we delivered
bags of dog food, milk bones, rawhides and some
toys to the family just before the holidays -
giving them the BEST gift - KEEPING
MAX! To make the family even
happier, Tail Wagger's made arrangements to
have Max heartworm checked, updated on all his
vaccinations and had him neutered! Max
will contintue to stay with his wonderful
family and we assured them that Tail
Wagger's is here to help at any time!
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Meet Katie, a 9-year old Boston
terrier that underwent cataract surgery at the
Rochester Eye Institute in early
December. Katie only had one eye (from a
previous injury) and when she started to hide
under the kitchen table and cower in the
corner, owners, Paul and Shirley knew Katie
needed help. Finding out that surgery was
more than they could financially commit to,
they contacted Tail Wagger's for assistance
with the hopes of saving Katie's "only eye" and
allowing her to see for her remaining
years. Because of YOUR SUPPORT Katie
is now recovering at her home in Milford, has
complete vision in her eye, no longer hides
under the table and is "back to her old
self". Paul and Shirley are extremely
thankful that an organization such as Tail
Wagger's is assisting pet owners in the
community.
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 Photo: Joni Byars
Photography 2009
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Lieutenent Columbo was in need
of medical assistance when he was diagnosed
with diabetes. His owner was having difficulty
purchasing his insulin – which was given twice
a day – and paying for his follow-up
appointments and blood work on an every other
week basis. The owner found out about Tail
Wagger’s in the newspaper and decided to give
us a call.
In early December, Founder Laura Zain placed
money on account at their vet for blood level
check-ups and then delivered ten bottles of
insulin and syringes to Leutenient Columbo.
This supply will last them over 6 months as
should the money on account.
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| Niles and his
owner had fallen on tough times and their
request was simple….they needed pet food. Tail
Wagger’s USA has a “hassle free” policy – you
need it, you get it! When people fall upon hard
times, the last thing they need or want is
someone asking them income questions or
requesting copies of tax returns. Niles had
gone a few days with very little food and when
Founder Laura Zain delivered bags of dog food
and a box of Milk Bones to his home, Niles was
very happy! |
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Vice Chairman, Linda Duff became involved
with Tail Wagger’s when we stepped up to the
plate and gave assistance to her American
Bulldog, Zeus. Zeus was
diagnosed with cancer in the form of tumors all
over his body. Due to financial restraints,
Linda was going to wait six months for surgery,
in order to have the money, but Tail Wagger’s
USA made contact with her vet and made
arrangements for surgery the following day.
Linda has since become a significant supporter
as her way of “giving back” and was recently
chosen to be Vice Chairman of the Organization.
Today, Zeus is cancer free thanks to YOUR
donations.
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On January 9, 2009, 11-year old
Isack Cook was out walking his dog, Max
when suddenly he was being pulled toward some
trash cans at the neighbors curb. To his
surprise, a 5-week old puppy was laying there,
lifeless, with injuries sustained to the right
ear, stomach, and pads of the feet. The
puppy had been burned by blow
torch and apparently left for dead.
Isaak ran home and told his family about
the puppy and they all returned to the
site to get the puppy and rushed to seek
medical attention.
Unsure on how much
this would cost the family, mother Dawn Cook
began to solicite donations from friends and
family members and collected enough to begin
treatment for the puppy. Tail Wagger's
USA learned of this horrific act of cruelty and
when told that amputation of the ear was
necessary, Founder Laura Zain arrived at
Nichols Veterinary Hospital to pay the
remainder of the invoice so that the necessary
medical care could contine.
The Cook family fell
in love with little Bonnie and after surgery,
took her to their home where she recovered
completly and started her new life with a
loving, kind family.
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