Puppy Found On Alameda Beach In Beer Box In Rehabilitation

ALAMEDA, CA -- A puppy that was found inside a Heineken box on an Alameda beach earlier this year was in rehabilitation Monday with the help of donations from a GoFundMe fundraiser. Starfish was found when she was just 10 weeks old with the rare genetic condition, Swimmer Puppy Syndrome, making it unable for her to walk because of weak muscles and limbs.

A group of people, dubbed Team Starfish, have been working to rehabilitate the dog with the help of the Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter. They estimate that it will cost $10,000 to pay for her medical care as they work to rehabilitate her body, according to the GoFundMe page created for Starfish.

In the latest update on Starfish, the GoFundMe page said she was "using her front legs for pretty much everything" because of her weak muscles in her back legs.

"Usually we find one stair for her to stand on her back legs alone, but this concrete bulwark was like 2-3 steps high. She lasted as long as it took to snap the photo," the GoFundMe page said.

Team Starfish asked the public to donate money to help support the dog as she overcomes the curable syndrome. As of Monday, the fundraiser had more than $6,000 in donations.

For more information or to donate to the campaign, go to GoFundMe.com.

--Patch is a GoFundMe promotional partner

Photo courtesy GoFundMe