Happy Tails
Koa
Koa came to Fat Head Fosters after he was placed on the local shelter's euth list, EMACIATED.
His owners deliberately starved him and had him sitting in his own urine long enough that it burned his fur off.
But he was the happiest laid back block head you would find. Under Chanta's loving care, his face is filled in. You could no longer see sunken head spots. His body filled in. The weight came slowly, which was hard to watch, but safer for him.
We also got to see his true personality, which is nothing short of amazing! He jumps and spins when it’s meal time. He hops to chase balls and other toys. He leans in when you scratch under his chin for more love.
Koa even let us dress him just fine (you know you can’t be a Fat Head unless you're okay with dress up….its an unspoken rule :-).
Koa wasn't a fan of kennels but Chanta's guessing he’s probably not felt safe in one for awhile. He fought off the doggie cold.
Donors sent him toys, Chanta nursed him back to health, and volunteers took him on walks and to adoption events.
Koa recently found his forever home, but it would not have been possible without the help of the Fat Head Foster Community
Ruffy Tuffy and Ella
Ruffy Tuffy and Ella were pulled from OKC Animal Welfare’s euth list. Their notes? attacking another dog. They couldn’t leave without the help of a rescue.
But one of our fosters saw past those notes to the sweet, loving souls beneath. Ruffy and Ella had likely been turned out together, and they were looking after each other. Ella had been bred and bred (you could hear it in the way her teets slapped when she ran), and her knight in shining armor, Ruffy Tuffy, had defensive wounds on his neck and paws.
Municipal shelters often struggle to keep diseases contained. Ruffy and Ella had been at the shelter for one week when FHF pulled them, and Ruffy Tuffy was already coughing. Ella started the next day.
Ruffy Tuffy earned his name by “toughing out” his doggie cold in quarantine, but Ella – who had been recently lactating – wasn’t so lucky. She ended up in Urgent Care.
50% of her lungs weren’t working. She had a NASTY case of pneumonia, and the only chance she had was if we hospitalized right then with oxygen. So Fat Head Fosters said YES. Because we didn’t pull her to watch her die.
Ella went from the Doggie ICU to a veterinary hospital to a homemade oxygen box built by one of our volunteers. Her emergency care totaled nearly $2,500.
Sometimes, "Rescue" means making the impossible decision to spend thousands of dollars on a dog you just met because they deserve a chance to live.
Fortunately, FHF donors (and fosters, and owner Chanta) all stepped up to build the things and raise the funds. So Ella got that chance.
After a few weeks recovery, Ella was able to go outside without hacking and wheezing. She finally got to experience what it’s like to just be a dog. Her personality started to shine through, too. She has the cutest little bark, wants to be with her people all the time, and is the biggest snuggle bug.
Ella will probably never be that dog to go on 2 mile long hikes, but she will definitely be that girl who loves to hang out and binge watch Grey’s Anatomy for the 5th time.
Meanwhile, Ruffy hitched a freedom ride out of quarantine and into his own foster home. With his mismatched cropped ears and his large stature, lots of people find other places to be when Ruffy walks by.
But Ruffy Tuffy turned out to be the most loving big ol’ head you will meet. Dog friendly, cat friendly, kid friendly, toad friendly, and even SKUNK friendly (his fosters are still recovering from that shock) … Ruffy says he was framed, and we believe him!
Ruffy and Ella are both undergoing heartworm treatment, but they’ve had their spay and neuter. Ella will never have to have another litter again, and Ruffy doesn’t have to worry about fathering any unwanted pups or defending his lady fair. Their time spent depending on each other to survive is over, and they are ready to start their new lives!
Ruffy has found his forever home with a family who absolutely adores him. And Ella is taking applications now. Could Ella be right for you? Fill out an adoption application or view her announcement on Facebook to see!