Burned Dog Recovers, Is Ready For Adoption: Meet Hera The Husky

PHOENIX, AZ — Hera the husky has gone through a physical and emotional transformation since the Arizona Humane Society rescued her in early July.

Hera was underweight and covered in burns when a humane society emergency animal medical technician found her.

After treatment at the humane society's Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital and a recovery period at home with a volunteer foster family, almost all of Hera's fur has grown back and she's ready to find a forever home.

Kelsey Dickerson, the humane society's media relations specialist, saw Hera when she first arrived for treatment and said that seeing her recovered is "absolutely amazing."

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“When I first saw her she was really shy and kind of shut down and averting her gaze and things like that,” Dickerson said. “To be able to see the change in her eyes is exactly why we always encourage people to support your local shelter and to adopt, not shop. She is a great example of a pet that literally had nowhere else to go and was saved thanks to community support."

Hera's treatment at the hospital included laser therapy, honey bandages, wound cleanings and medications to prevent infection, all in efforts to help jumpstart the healing process.

She then headed to her foster home to continue her recovery in a peaceful setting.

“Without our foster heroes we wouldn’t be able to save as many pets as we do and they are such a critical component to being able to help these pets,” Dickerson said. “We’re super thankful to her awesome foster hero who was able to give her the love and care that she needed so that she can find her forever home now.”

The humane society provides for all of the needs of its foster dogs, including medications, blankets, food and toys during their stay.

Hera is ready for adoption at the humane society's PetSmart location at Miller Road and Camelback Road in Old Town Scottsdale.

Like shelters across the country, the Arizona Humane Society has faced ongoing overcrowding for the past few months. While all shelters are crowded due to issues related to COVID-19, local shelters receive more neglect calls about pets without water or shade during the summer months and cat and kitten season lasts virtually all year here because of the warm weather.

Additionally, the humane society has dedicated two buildings to treating dogs with distemper, something that most shelters don't do, and it has taken in additional animals due to wild fires and flooding.

This is why adopting instead of purchasing an animal and volunteering to be a foster pet parent is so important to the humane society, Dickerson said. Adoption and fostering frees kennel space so the shelter can help more pets.

Arizona Humane Society takes in more than 15,000 sick, injured and abused pets each year, 11,000 of whom are treated at its Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital.