Special Needs Pets

As if losing one’s home weren’t enough, some animals face additional challenges which make it harder for them to find another. From physical impairments, to chronic health issues requiring long-term treatment, to needing extra understanding and patience while they learn to trust again, all of them are just as loving and deserving of love as any cute kitten or playful puppy!

Our Adoption Counselors will make sure you have a full understanding of any special needs your new pet has, whether it’s training, medication, or simply an indoor-only environment. Make room in your heart today for one of these very special animals and discover just how special they are!

Dr. Studly is a gorgeous beast of a puppy; he is affectionate and cuddly and quick to bond with his humans.  He enjoys playing with other dogs, hogging the couch and relandscaping your yard (whether you asked him to or not!).  Dr. Studly has congenital methemoglobinemia, an inherited blood disease in dogs, and thus is destined for a low-key lifestyle.  He is not one to go out on a big hike nor travel to higher altitudes, such as Lake Tahoe.  Affected dogs have an impaired ability to deliver oxygen to tissues of the body. Though affected dogs rarely have clinical signs requiring veterinary intervention, they may experience lifelong intolerance to exercise and display an intermittent or consistent blue or purple hue to gums, tongue, and skin, becoming more pronounced during exercise.  At this time, Dr. Studly is enjoying normal puppy activities in his foster home, including running around and playing with 2 large dogs and chewing on his favorite small green squeaky toys.

Sheldon is an old soul looking for a quiet home, perhaps without children and other pets.  He is a sensitive boy and doesn’t like change; much like the character he was named after in the sitcom The Big Bang Theory!  This quirky cat has been diagnosed with HOCM, a genetic disease that causes thickening of the heart muscle as well as turbulent flow of blood through the aorta.  At this time, Sheldon is not exhibiting any symptoms related to his illness but he will need to be on heart medication for life and regular ultrasounds are recommended to determine if his heart disease is progressing.