Local Animal Rescue Struggles With Endless Emergency Medical Cases

It’s not just the cost of eggs and milk that has increased, animal welfare organizations are seeing costs soar across the board, from care supplies to veterinary prices. At the same time, the public is strapped for cash too. Discretionary income that largely supports nonprofits isn’t available like it used to be.

Paws for Life Rescue of Troy, Mich., is facing these challenges daily. A volunteer-run, 501c3 nonprofit dog and cat rescue that has been operating in the Detroit metro area for 18 years, Paws for Life is known for taking on medical cases for homeless animals that area shelters don’t have the resources to help.

“It’s been a cascade of dogs and cats in dire need over the past month, more than ever,” said Paws for Life Executive Director Courtney Protz-Sanders. “We have always operated on the founding principle that time and money are never acceptable reasons to end a life. Only suffering and quality of life should factor into that decision, but it’s been a real struggle to financially maintain that operating philosophy.”

Harley, a loving 5-month-old bulldog puppy found starving and freezing, wandering the streets of Pontiac, is one of those in urgent need. Before the Christmas holiday, Harley was a stray puppy with a prolapsed rectum in dire need of emergency surgery, which the shelter could not provide. Although his initial surgery went well, Harley suffered a series of complications and setbacks, but Paws for Life couldn’t give up on him. He had come so far.

After two additional surgeries at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services (OVRS), Harley became septic and emergency veterinarians discovered an obstruction not previously detected. His costs have skyrocketed to more than $25,000.

At the same time, across town a gorgeous loving cat named Roji was being admitted to Blue Pearl through emergency services for a potential seizure and toxoplasmosis, in addition to two fractured left legs, costing Paws for Life more than $5,000.

“One of the reasons I have been volunteering full-time with Paws for Life since I found them nearly 10 years ago is because once they commit to rescue an animal, they see it through. No matter what,” said Anne Grzywacz, Paws for Life dog behavior coordinator. “But we’ve never had so many extreme cases hit us all at once.”

Immediately following the crises of Harley and Roji, a silly, happy dog named Mud, who was already in the Rescue, fell ill, resulting in emergency surgery costing roughly $5,000. And a wonderful, gorgeous, tabby cat named Kitchy was diagnosed with FIP, a virus that is fatal without immediate treatment with incredibly expensive medications that average more than $1,200.

Harley, Roji, Mud and Kitchy are just four stories of deserving lives that need help to reach their next chapter, their first home, their first family, their first experience truly being a family member, a treasured pet. Paws for Life is asking for monetary donations to save the lives of these four pets and the hundreds more like them who will come and who will need support.

Donate via credit/debit card, Zella, PayPal or Venmo via the rescue’s website at www.pawsforliferescue.org/donate. Donors can also mail a check or money order to Paws for Life, 318 John R Rd #244, Troy, MI 48083.

Paws for Life Rescue
Paws for Life is a 501(c)3, tax-exempt, nonprofit animal welfare organization that rescues all cat and dog breeds. Located in southeast Michigan, Paws for Life is a 5-star certified rescue that maintains the top-tier Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid, formally GuideStar, a leading source for comprehensive data and insights about nonprofits’ financial accountability and transparency.

PFL Fast Facts:

• No government funding
• No paid staff
• 100% of funding directly benefits the animals in care
• 2021 Homeless Animal Intake: 491 pets