One Dog Escapes Life at the End of a Chain

May was overbred, malnourished, and heartworm-positive. See her incredible transformation. Her smile says it all. [View this email in your browser]( Dear Friend, May's story was all too common for dogs in the rural South: She spent her life at the end of a chain, producing litter after litter. And like many outdoor dogs, she was heartworm-positive. No more life on a chain. When the 3-year-old redbone coonhound was rescued by MACS Friends Animal Rescue, Inc., in Barrow County, Georgia, she was malnourished and weighed just 26 lbs. (dogs of her breed can weigh up to 70 lbs.). In addition, she was riddled with fleas and so caked in feces that pinecones stuck to her fur. A vet determined she'd been overbred from the time she was a puppy. With her foster mom The overbreeding and heartworm had stunted her growth, leaving her fully grown at about half the size of the average redbone coonhound. Worst of all, May had several mammary tumors — common among dogs who've had multiple litters. A Petfinder Foundation grant helped to pay for her surgery, and she is now cancer-free. Finally heartworm-negative! But the biggest challenge on May's road to recovery was her heartworm treatment. "She did not have the best time and it was very painful for her," says MACS President Cheryl Sullivan. But May stayed strong and, after seven grueling months, finally tested heartworm-negative. A healthy 51 lbs., she was spayed and made available for adoption. Car rides are a favorite. May was adopted just this past weekend, on Saturday, July 8. "This special girl is finally in a home where she will be loved by a family and have a coonhound older brother to play with on her five-acre farm," Sullivan says. "With the support from this grant, we were able to recover most of the costs for May, allowing us to continue with our vetting for other animals," she adds. "Miracles happen and we are so thankful!" Resting easy these days The Petfinder Foundation supports groups like MACS so they can free more dogs like May from life at the end of a chain. [Your gift will help more pets like her.]( From all of us at the Petfinder Foundation, thank you for all that you do to help homeless pets. Emily Fromm Chief Development Officer The Petfinder Foundation [Donate Now]( [Follow us on Facebook]( [Follow us on Facebook]( [Petfinderfoundation.com]( [Petfinderfoundation.com]( [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( Copyright © 2023 The Petfinder Foundation, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you opted in at petfinder.com or petfinderfoundation.com, or because you donated to the Petfinder Foundation (thank you!). Our mailing address is: The Petfinder Foundation 4729 East Sunrise Drive #119Tucson, AZ 85718 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list]( [Mailchimp Email Marketing](