Tag: success story

A Remarkable Journey: Squash’s Story

Posted on by Maddie Cushing
Squash, a tricolored dog undergoing treatment for a fractured femur head, relaxes on a couch following FHO surgery.

Squash’s story begins in October 2024. 5-month-old Squash and his two siblings were found running down a desolate, remote highway in rural Southern Utah nicknamed “The Loneliest Road.” They were scared of their wits, and much too thin.

Though none of the dogs had visible injuries, Squash was not able to bear weight on his left hind leg. The small rural shelter where Squash and his siblings arrived did not have the resources to investigate Squash’s injury, so he was transferred to the Humane Society of Utah. 

Squash, a tricolored dog, looks up at the camera following FHO surgery to repair his fractured femur head.

A Diagnosis is Made

Shortly after arriving at HSU, one of our licensed veterinarians diagnosed Squash with a fractured femur head. Squash would need costly orthopedic surgery and physical therapy, and HSU was determined to get him the care he needed.

Squash received a consult with an orthopedic surgeon. The surgeon determined that he would need to undergo an FHO surgery. This surgery involved removing the top of Squash’s femur, which then created an artificial joint at the hip to alleviate the pain from his injury. Following a successful surgery, the next step was for Squash to go to physical therapy at Utah Pet Rehab to regain proper use of his leg.

While Squash was making his way through his treatment plan, he spent time in a foster home. Squash’s foster was absolutely enamored with him. She described him as a happy guy who loved nothing more than to lay his head in her lap while receiving pets.

However, Squash wasn’t out of the woods just yet.

An X-Ray of a dog shows a fractured femur head.

A Long Road Ahead

Squash’s physical therapy sessions revealed that, although his hip was doing well, other joints in his leg were showing signs of instability.

For Squash, this would have meant TPLO surgery. This would be an especially difficult recovery as he had already done an FHO. Squash was also likely to have further issues with his leg down the line. For these reasons, licensed veterinarians at the Humane Society of Utah decided the most humane and best option for Squash would be amputation.

With support from his loving foster family, Squash’s story continued as he underwent an amputation of his injured leg in mid-February. His foster said she and Squash would be doing some “heavy relaxing” following his procedure. This turned out to be just what Squash needed!

Squash’s recovery went beautifully. He would be able to get his staples out near the end of February. Afterwards, Squash could finally go on to find a family!

Squash, a tricolored dog, looks soulfully into the camera after undergoing an amputation of his hind left leg due to an injury.

From “Squash’s Story” to “Squish’s Story”

Squash was officially cleared for adoption on February 26th, but he didn’t have to wait long to find a home! Squash’s foster had to go out of town for a couple of weeks during his recovery, and during that time her parents took over fostering Squash for HSU. They fell in love with him, and decided to make him a permanent member of the family!

These days, Squash goes by “Squish” and spends his time playing with his new brother, Steve, cuddling with his hoomans, and enjoying long walks. Squish doesn’t know it yet, but his family has plans this summer to visit their house on Lake Michigan. He’s going to have such a great time swimming and adventuring with Steve!

We’re so happy to see Squish now living his best life! We are so thankful to everyone who made this happy ending possible. We want to give special thanks to Squish’s foster, the team at Utah Pet Rehab, and to Squish’s orthopedic surgeon. 

But most importantly, we want to thank YOU! Squish’s story would not have been possible without your generous contributions. Thanks to you, Squish is able to get around, pain-free!

Squash, a tricolored dog, sits on the couch next to Steve, a yellow lab. Squash was adopted following the amputation of his injured leg, and was excited to meet his new brother!

Your donations were integral to Squish’s story having a happy ending. Help more pets like Squish today by donating to the Humane Society of Utah.

Home for the Holidays… and Beyond: Iroh’s Story

Posted on by Maddie Cushing
Iroh, a brown and white dog, lays on the floor of the living room in his new home, which he found through the Home for the Holidays foster program.

It was a frosty November afternoon in 2023 and fosters participating in the Humane Society of Utah’s Home for the Holidays program were beginning to arrive. Home for the Holidays is a short-term fostering program during which families take a shelter dog home the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and bring them back the Friday after. This gives the pups a break from the shelter and a cozy home to curl up in over Turkey Day.

Iroh, a spotted dog with soulful eyes, waited anxiously for someone to choose him for a holiday break. He hadn’t been enjoying the shelter, with all of its novel sounds and smells, and was timid of new friends. Little did Iroh know, all of his holiday wishes were about to come true.

Iroh, a brown and white dog, sits on a dog bed following his participating in the Home for the Holidays foster program.

Iroh Goes Home for the Holidays

Maya had been a volunteer with HSU for a couple of years and was excited to try out fostering. Home for the Holidays seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so as the pets would only be going home for a few days.

As fosters arrive, they chat with staff to pick out a pup who will be a good fit for them. Maya had originally had her eye on another dog, but they weren’t the best match. When she asked who else was available, HSU’s foster team suggested Iroh.

“When we first met Iroh, he was absolutely terrified,” Maya shared. “We saw him slowly start relaxing over a couple of days and realized what a fun, cute personality he has.”

As Iroh’s personality began to shine through, Maya and her family realized that Iroh might be right where he belonged. Home for the Holidays began to turn into simply “home.”

Iroh, a brown and white dog, gives his new sibling, a black and white dog named Millie, a kiss.

Iroh Becomes a Part of the Family

When dogs return to HSU from Home for the Holidays, fosters have the option to choose to adopt. So, on the morning of Friday the 24th, Maya proudly signed Iroh’s adoption contract, officially making him a part of the family.

“He showed us so much love in such a short period of time. We knew he belonged with us,” Maya said. “Iroh struggles with epilepsy and anxiety, so he needed someone who could meet his needs. We had the resources to do that.”

Once Iroh was officially welcomed into his new home, it came time to meet his furry siblings! In addition to Iroh, Maya has a dog named Millie and a cat named Luna. She slowly and carefully introduced Iroh to the pair, and he fit right in.

“Iroh and Millie fell in love with each other, although Millie had to get used to sharing the attention,” Maya said. “They spend all their time together, whether they’re playing, cuddling, or exploring. Iroh feels safe with Millie, which eases his anxiety whenever we bring them on adventures!”

As for Luna, Iroh is respectful of her boundaries. Though Maya reports that Iroh is very curious about Luna, he is extremely gentle with her. Luna rarely permits the dogs to get too close to her, but Iroh loves planting a kiss on his kitty sibling’s face whenever she’ll allow it.

Iroh, a former Home for the Holidays dog, plays with a broom in the grassy green yard of his new home.

Checking in on Iroh Today

Iroh has been happily living with Maya and her family for nearly a year now. Maya describes him as a lover boy in constant need of attention. He spends his days snuggled up by his humans’ feet wagging his tail, playing with rope toys with Millie, and— a new interest of his— going on hikes!

“On his first hike, he started out very cautious and fearful, but he ended up having the time of his life!” Maya said. “Once he realized he was safe, he loved splashing in the water, howling his heart out, and sniffing all of the things. We have since taken him on a couple more hikes, and it’s just adorable how much fun he has.”

Maya also added that she would highly recommend Home for the Holidays to anyone considering participating.

“It’s not too much of a commitment since it is only for a couple of days, and these animals need a break from the shelter environment sometimes,” she said. “It’s super fun to have a canine friend around for the holidays, and who knows? You might just find your new best friend!”

Iroh, a former Home for the Holidays dog, enjoys an autumn hike.

If you’re interested in participating in Home for the Holidays this year, we’d love to have you! We will be offering this program over both Thanksgiving and Christmas. For the Thanksgiving session, fosters pick up their dog from HSU on Wednesday, the 27th, and return them on Friday, the 29th. Christmas dates are currently yet to be determined.

Sign up today on our fostering page by submitting an application and mentioning in the comments section that you are specifically interested in Home for the Holidays.

ES(A+): Nimbus’s Story

Posted on by Maddie Cushing

Nimbus sat in his kennel, watching adopters walk past him. He tilted his head, wagged his tail, and gave his best puppy dog eyes. Someone had to take notice of the 8-month-old husky pup, eventually, right?

Nimbus had been adopted and returned once due to no fault of his own. Although Humane Society of Utah staff members work hard to create a comfortable environment for the pets in our care, returning to the shelter can be difficult. He was beginning to demonstrate some stress-related behaviors as the shelter weighed on his mental health.

Little did Nimbus know, his soon-to-be family had been keeping an eye out for him for quite some time. He wouldn’t have to wait much longer to go home.

“We wanted a husky in our household,” Jasmyne said. “We had been watching Nimbus for a while, and decided to adopt him for our son’s birthday.”

So, Nimbus finally went home! But just like his human family surprised Nimbus with his adoption, he also had a little something up his sleeve. Nimbus would go on to fill a very special role within his new family.

Becoming an ESA

Jasmyne has a young son with Autism, and he suffers from night terrors. Nimbus was always meant to be a companion for his young friend, but no one could have predicted that he would turn out to be an ESA, or Emotional Support Animal, as well!

“Nimbus has been a breath of fresh air for our son,” Jasmyne said. “He is always by his side. If he is having night terrors, Nimbus immediately jumps on his bed, laying with him to comfort him.  We’re in the process of making him an ESA.”

It is important to remember that ESAs are not service animals, as they have not undergone specialized training to perform tasks for their guardian’s health. However, medical professionals prescribe ESAs to provide companionship and/or mitigate anxiety and other mental health issues. ESAs play a special role in their human companion’s life; not just any pet can fill it!

Helping out his Puppy Pals

The humans in Nimbus’s household are not the only ones who benefit from Nimbus’s presence! He now has two doggie siblings who Nimbus loves to play with.

“We have a very chunky blue heeler and a corgi red heeler mix,” Jasmyne shared. “The blue heeler loves to go out and play with Nimbus in the yard and chase him. It’s so good for her health to exercise out there with him!”

Jasmyne’s other pup wasn’t as sure about Nimbus in the beginning, but they are slowly but surely becoming friends. Jasmyne describes Hank as “loving Nimbus in his own way.”

Nimbus shows his enthusiasm in a unique way— he likes to sit on the other dogs in his household to get them to play! Jasmyne says he constantly wants to play with anyone who will entertain him, but he is very gentle about this, especially when it comes to kids and the elderly.

Happily Ever After

So it would seem that Nimbus is living his best life, full of pup cups, freeze-dried chicken, and car rides! His new family notes that he is quiet for a husky, and he doesn’t talk or howl much. Instead, Nimbus expresses himself through his cuddle bug personality and attachment to his humans. Jasmyne describes him as an amazing fit for her family.

“He is such a good boy, and we wouldn’t want to change anything about him!” She concluded.

From the Puppy Mill to the Real Deal: Batman’s Story

Posted on by Maddie Cushing

The Nebraska transfer van finally pulled into the Humane Society of Utah’s parking lot on January 26th, 2024 at 1:30 PM. After delays due to poor weather, mechanical issues, and even a breakdown on the road, the highly anticipated arrival of nearly 50 dogs rescued from one of The Humane Society of United States’ “Horrible Hundred” puppy mills, had come.

Various rescues from around the state gathered to pick up portions of the fleet. HSU took in nine dogs, consisting of four corgis, two german shorthaired pointers, and three labs. One of the corgis was a 6-year-old male with intensely blue eyes and a spirit that could not be broken.

An Uphill Climb Ahead

Despite spending his life thus far as a breeding male, likely primarily in a small kennel and with little to no access to humans or dogs outside of breeding scenarios, Batman showed a certain bravery and determination soon after arriving at HSU. That’s how he got his name— HSU staff decided that surviving all he had endured surely made Batman a hero. So, he and his fellow corgis became HSU’s very own Justice League.

Although they were now safe from the horrors of the mill, Batman and his fellow puppy mill dogs did not have an easy road ahead of them. They had likely never walked on a leash, had access to the outdoors, or had anyone to love and care for them outside of the bare minimum. Even with Batman being the most courageous of the group, he was still apprehensive about interacting with staff and the wide world around him. Walks were a challenge, and often he preferred to stay in his kennel entirely. 

Still, HSU team members were persistent. With spray cheese, encouragement, and a whole lot of love and care, the staff watched in awe as Batman and the other puppy mill dogs made great strides. They became more confident, curious, and open to the possibility that life had so much more to offer than they had experienced. Soon, it was time for them to hit the adoption floor.

A Light at the End of the Tunnel

HSU wanted to be clear and transparent with adopters that the puppy mill rescues had been through incredible trauma. These pups would have some unique challenges adjusting to their new homes. One interested adopter, Aryn, was prepared for just that. After seeing a post from HSU on social media, Batman caught her eye.

“I’ve always known I wanted to get a puppy mill dog or dog with a traumatic past, and I finally was in a place [where] I felt I could give one everything,” Aryn said. “The day we got him, there was a lot of emotion. Excited to have him, heartbroken for his past, and a bit intimidated. My fiance and I always wanted a dog, but as soon as we saw Batman, I had to have him.”

After heavy counseling. Aryn and her fiance met Batman. They instantly knew he was the perfect fit for their family. Aryn describes Batman as “exactly what we needed.” They took him home that very day.

From Puppy Mill to Real Deal

Today, Batman is happy in his new home. Aryn said that she and the rest of Batman’s family have been careful to go at his pace. They dial things back if he seems unsure or scared. Batman is a very spoiled dog now, and he means everything to his new family.

“Our favorite thing is his bigger-than-life personality,” Aryn said. “He is so energetic and playful, he loves to chase and be chased, and he is also so cuddly. Batman demands to sleep in our bed and loves to follow me around. He is the sweetest and most funny dog.”

So, Batman and his fellow puppy mill rescues beat the odds, and they are now living the lives they deserve. We want to give great amounts of thanks to HSU’s community, who shared posts on social media, made donations, and took a chance on these sweet pups who had been through the unimaginable. It is with your support that we are able to make stories like this one possible.

Waiting for the Right Home: Sage’s Story

Posted on by Maddie Cushing
A brown and black dog sits in a camping chair inside of the right home for her.

It was June 13th of 2023 and Sage (formerly Natalia) tilted her head in curiosity as a potential adopter peered excitedly into her kennel. Sage’s initial surrender into HSU’s care, as well as a return following an adoption that didn’t work out, were both attributed to her energetic personality feeling like too much to handle for previous guardians. She was beginning to lose hope that she would ever find the right home. But, as it turned out, Sage’s luck really was about to change!

Setting Sage Up for Success

Emilee knew from the moment she met Sage that this sweet, scruffy pup belonged with her family. During her chat with our adoptions counselors, HSU staff disclosed to Emilee that Sage may not be the easiest dog in the world. They let her know that Sage had been adopted and returned, and they told Emilee about how high-energy Sage was.

HSU staff had fallen in love with Sage during her stay. They wanted to be completely transparent about Sage’s needs to give her the best chance of going to the right home… and not coming back.

“[The counselors] told us that Sage had been brought back to the shelter, and we are still blown away by this. She’s such a gentle but energetic dog, and she blended perfectly with our family,” Emilee said.

So, as you might have guessed, Emilee was not deterred by Sage’s past but rather chose to look to her future. Sage left HSU that day with her tail wagging behind her; this time, she did not have to return.

A brown and black dog lays on her human's lap and looks directly into the camera in the right home for her.

The Future Sage Deserves

Today, Sage is absolutely thriving with Emilee and the rest of her found family. Emilee said that Sage is full of personality and is always making her laugh. Sage’s favorite pastimes include hanging out with her cousins, camping, and getting plenty of snuggles!

Emilee even had a funny story to share about Sage’s favorite seat in the house… a multi-seat camping chair! Sage is actually pictured in this chair at the beginning of this blog.

“Every time we would go camping, Sage would kick my husband out of his spot on the double chair. Eventually, one of my family members gifted us a three-person chair. Now we can all fit around the campfire!” Emilee laughed.

Emilee concluded Sage’s story with strong encouragement for others to adopt: “Our lives truly wouldn’t be the same without Sage. I love that HSU is sharing her story so people know shelter doggies are just as good as any!”

A brown and black dog sits outside in the fall leaves along with a cream dog and a black dog in the right home for them.