08/08/2025
♥️🥰
Last Friday was almost the last day of Varie’s life.
In the sweltering heat of a 90+ degree day, a Philadelphia Police officer was flagged down on Lehigh Avenue. Lying on the pavement was Varie. She was barely conscious, her body overheated, and her breathing shallow. By her side was her owner, who was unhoused and doing everything they could in a heartbreaking situation.
The officer rushed both of them to our shelter. There, with love and heartbreak, Varie’s owner made the difficult decision to surrender her so that she could receive the critical care she desperately needed.
The situation was dire. Was she already beyond help?
Varie was seizing. Her body was covered in bruising, a sign of late-stage heat stroke. We feared she may have suffered bleeding in her brain and that her internal organs were shutting down. She was slipping away. Our medical team moved fast, stabilizing her, giving her multiple plasma transfusions, and fighting against the odds.
And Varie? She fought too.
We never give up. Even when we know the odds are slim. We do everything we can and we fight until the end.
Last Friday wasn’t Varie’s last day. But, perhaps it did mark a new beginning.
Today, she is stable. Thriving. Bright-eyed. Wagging her tail. She survived.
It’s because of your support that we're able to answer the call when tragedy strikes. Dogs like Varie don’t have time to wait. Your donations allow us to say yes to the emergencies and to be there when no one else can.
Today, on $5 Friday, please consider donating to give more animals like Varie a second chance.
