Penny was thrown from a moving car and rescued by staff at the Berclair Animal Hospital nearby. Penny was emaciated, injured and suffering from congestive heart failure as result of heartworms.
Penny had infected cuts and wounds all over her face and her rescuers say that they believe she was most likely used in dog fighting.
The vets called Donna Velez, founder of Hearts of Gold Pit Rescue in Memphis, Tennessee, to see if her rescue could help. Although her rescue was full and she was recuperating from her own health issues, Donna asked them to send her some photos.
As soon as she saw Pennyโs pictures, she instructed the vets to get the dog out of pain and treat her. Donna told DogHeirs that even if she couldnโt take Penny herself, she was determined to figure something out to help Penny.
Soon after, Donna drove to the clinic to see Penny herself. Taking one look at the skinny, hurt dog, Donna knew she would take her. She thought โI canโt not take herโ. โShe looked so pitiful,โ Donna told DogHeirs, admitting, โOnce I see them, Iโm a goner.โ
Donna began networking for Penny and as luck would have it, a family in St. Louis saw Pennyโs photo and wanted to adopt her right away. The family already has two Pit Bulls and a wealth of dog knowledge.
โSheโs only been with us 10 days and she has a long way to go, but she is a good dog despite all of her antics, she just isnโt used to this lifestyle because she was mistreated for so long,โ wrote Jennifer on her Facebook page. โShe has already come a long way since we got her.โ
Pennyโs health has made a remarkable turnaround in just a few weeks. Her treatment for her advanced heartworm is working successfully and sheโs learning many new things at her new home.
โPenny is really loving life now! Her appetite is HUGE which is good because she didnโt want to eat the first day home so hopefully she will start packing on some pounds. Sheโs still afraid of our two boys but Iโm working on socializing them safely. She loves going on walks and wants to run back to the house when we return, but I have to keep her from doing that due to her health. Overall this is a big adjustment for everyone but I look at it like having a new baby, lots of changes that eventually fall into place.โ
Penny is nursing Nickel and when the puppy is ready to be weaned she will go to a foster family with Hearts of Gold Pit Rescue. Donna told DogHeirs that baby Nickel may already have someone interested in adopting her.
Pennyโs new family sums up Pennyโs change of situation and rescue well: โJust imagine the life this pup would have had if the owners didnโt dump Penny. 2 lives saved!โ
Update: December 9, 2013
Penny and Nickelโs mom Jennifer shared sad news. Penny has passed away from congestive heart failure. Jennifer commented, โI had to let her go last night, her heartworms were so bad that she had advanced congestive heart failure and her heart was more than 3x the size of a normal heart. She went peacefully in my arms. Nickel will stay with us of course.โ
Jennifer wrote on Pennyโs Facebook page, โI miss Penny so muchโฆ.she peed on my rug, ate my favorite hello kitty slippers, chewed up the door frames and destroyed her kennel. But I never punished her. I did what I said I was going to do the day I saw her story on my facebook newsfeed.
Nickel is now 10-weeks old and is getting a lot of love at home.
Update: March 26, 2014
Jennifer sent DogHeirs a picture of Nickel all grown up! โShe is quite the character!โ says Jen. Isnโt she adorable?
