Continuing on with our Rescue transformation stories, we bring to you the incredibly brave Gator. Believed to be close to 2 years of age, FAAR and STCP combined efforts to save the life of this dangerously ill and injured boy. Gator was in pretty rough shape with an extensive leg wound, a really high tick count, infections and, was under weight due to malnutrition. 

Warning: graphic images and details to follow:

When he was saved in May of 2015, Gator was suffering from a prolific injury to his front left leg. Infection had set in and the flesh was rotting and falling away from the leg bone. A thin strip of skin tethered the lower leg to the upper leg. During the intake process it was decided that the best course of action was to remove the leg in order to save Gator from suffering further pain and infection. 

After a few weeks of being treated at Virden Animal Hospital and Best Friends Animal Hospital (in that order) and approximately $2000 in Vet bills, Gator started to recover from his wounds and malnutrition. He has now been placed with a Foster family where he is getting used to being an indoor dog. His Foster family says that Gator loves to snuggle and is learning how to play nicely with his foster brothers.

It has been a long and hard road from Sioux Valley to recovery, but Gator has pulled through like a champ. He still has some work to do on his manners and training but, for once being an outdoor dog a few short weeks ago to where he is now, Gator has done an amazing job of learning and healing.  

Gator continues to be under the care of Free and Alive Rescue (FAAR) for now. Being "in rescue care" means that Gator's Foster family supply a home and love and the occasional ride to appointments.

The Rescue provides his food and pays his expenses. 

Because Gator has had such a prolific recovery and still has a little ways to go, he is not yet up for adoption. Donations are still being accepted for his care, please click here to help out Gator.

All you have to do is click on the "donate" button on the top right and, make sure you put Gator's name in the message box in the PayPal screen. 

Our 3rd Rescue Makeover comes to you courtesy of The Pack Project Inc. Our wee bonnie lass Miss Clover found herself being rescued on St. Patrick's Day, hence the adorable name Clover!  Clover was an unowned stray in the Meadow Lake, SK, area and, was not having much luck fending for herself. 

When The Pack Project became aware of this horribly thin and unhealthy stray, the rescue machine went into action. A local foster was found to keep Clover safe and from deteriorating even further until she could be brought in to Regina where she was cared for by one of our Directors, Amy Vitkay.

The results of Clover's initial vet visit were dismal. She bore a large and encrusted infection on one of her little legs. Her coat was patchy and dull due to lack of proper nutrition and likely having to defend herself from other strays. Clover weighed in at a heartbreaking 42lbs. Her ribs were sharply visible through her scant fur and she was covered in sores from where her bones were rubbing through her skin.

At an estimated age of only 3 years old, Clover should have been at the peak of health instead of being in an at risk category. Clover would require a lot of care and love in order to bring her health back up the level that we expect to see in our companion animals. Her care was sponsored through The Pack Project fundraising efforts with the exception of her spay. The Paw it Forward Fund through the Albert North Vet Clinic generously provided this essential service.

After spending some time recovering with Amy, our Clover was upgraded in health enough to move onto her next stage of care. Pack Project Foster Team Lead, Laurie Norman took over Clover's care exactly where Amy left off. Attention to detail and recovery specific knowledge were transferred from Amy to Laurie right along with Clover. 

Clover took no time at all fitting in with her new Foster family. She got to play with other dogs and was able to get along with other animals in her foster home (cats and horses!). Laurie took Clover biking with her and it became a favorite activity for them. It was discovered that Clover absolutely loved to play fetch with a tennis ball.

A video of Clover playing fetch with her foster family that was posted to The Pack Project's website became the unintended introduction to Clover's forever family. When the family viewed the video of Clover so happy and playful, they knew in their hearts that this was the pup for them and that she would be a perfect fit for their family.

Since Clover's new family lived in B.C. there were some logistical factors to be considered before she would move in to her furever home. Having been adopted on April 27, 2015, Clover waited patiently until the end of May before she could catch a lift out West.

Clover flew through Petscort on a WestJet flight. The couple who volunteered to deliver Clover to her new and permanent home had seen her story through Social Media postings and offered to chaperone her to her destination. The kennel that was required for travel was donated by another kind family.

Even though Clover was at a point in her life where she was edging ever closer to the Rainbow Bridge, she was brought back from the brink of death through the efforts of countless volunteers. Clover's story is the epitome of what it is to Rescue. Individuals and groups, volunteers and kindly strangers, all coming together to ensure that one more life is saved.

Rescue teams are out in full effect all around the world in order to save those that cannot speak or act on their own behalf. Not everyone understands what makes the heart of a rescuer beat, and that's ok, it takes a special breed of person to answer the call to rescue. 

The majority of animals that are rescued have suffered some sort of hardship otherwise, they wouldn't be in need of rescue. Perhaps they were abandoned, dumped, lost or, simply have lived an outdoor life as their parents before them had. While it's not safe to say that these are "easy" rescues, they are definitely not worst case scenarioes. 

An extreme case, for instance, would be a dog that has been neglected to the point of starvation, ribs protruding, eyes begging in a silent scream, why? Or, the injured and uncared for, left to die an agonizing death while their "family" steps over and around them. Or, the pup beaten into submission by owners that know no better than to strike rather than to train. These are rescues of epic proportion and urgency, the Defcon 1 of the rescue world. 

Some animals come into care teetering on the edge between life and death, their future in the hands of those who heed the call to rescue. Were it not for the fearless and selfless among us, one more dog might die, and then another and, another after that. Animals that were once little more than skin, bones and, a heartbeat. Some may shake their heads and wonder, why even bother? And the answer must be, because enough have already died unloved, unwanted, unknown. 

Without the help of Jenn's Furry Friends Rescue, the quirky and adorable Fozzy would now likely be at the other end of the Rainbow Bridge. Fozzy's Foster Mama turned Forever Mama compiled a heartwarming and heart wrenching video which depicts his injuries in living color. This is a tear jerker folks, better grab your tissues quickly and then press play. 

Jasmine (foster Mama / forever Mama) first saw Fozzy when she collected him at the airport in April of 2014. She took every step of the recovery process right along with Fozzy. She rallied for donations at fundraising events, ran him to the vets office and, monitored daily activities. Jasmine watched as Fozzy struggled to eat, felt her heart expand with love as he became frustrated with his circumstance, felt sadness at how the innocent Fozzy would have ended up without being rescued. 

During his initial exam, the Vet staff at Best Friends Animal Hospital were overwhelmed with tears at the condition of the kind and sweet Fozzy. Even in his state of depleted health, emaciated and underweight, an extremely compromised immune system, covered in lice and, unable to open his jaw, The Fozz remained gentle and calm. It was almost impossible to tell by looking at him that this sweet boy was still only a pup of approximately 8 months. 

After lots of tests and attempts to provide relief to the pup, Dr. Colleen O'Morrow was brought in to perform the surgery that Fozzy needed to be able to open his mouth. After his surgery, Fozzy experienced an accelerated recovery. He was able to eat a steak the very first day he came home from being operated on. Within days he was galloping around the way that a young pup should be. Fozzy finally got to play with squeaky toys and, could eat treats and enjoy bones. After months of treatment and loving support, he was able to be a normal dog for the first time in his life. 

Thanks to an amazing Rescue makeover, Fozzy now has the chance to live a long and happy life with his forever family. Rescue is all about giving animals that hope, that chance at becoming cherished members of loving families. 

Because there are so many stories to share, it would be impossible to document them all. The Pack Project however, has selected 3 important and stunning makeover stories to tell.  To do justice to all 3 of these dogs, a part 2 article will be posted featuring Rescue dog Gator and Rescue dog Clover. These stories will tug at your heart and fill you with awe at the power of the will to live of these innocent creatures. Make sure you visit us again to take in Part 2!