artanimals

Tamara Hill and her partner, Dani, were evicted from their apartment in May in Virginia Beach. They were relying on a tax return that they never received to help pay their rent. The two work at minimum wage jobs and, when they did not receive the anticipated tax return, found themselves homeless. Also homeless were their four dogs: three pit bulls and a basset hound.

“Dani and I were staying in a hotel room,” Tamara said. “It was very hot outside and we had the dogs in a U-Haul truck for nine days. My boss referred me to a veterinarian and their office gave me the number for ART.”

ART came out to make sure the dogs were OK. They took the dogs to the SPCA for shots and got them leashes. ART also paid for the U-Haul truck.

“I was terrified that I would be going to jail for not paying for the U-Haul truck,” Tamara said. “I couldn’t afford it, but I needed a place to keep the dogs. ART stepped in and helped take care of that for me.”

In addition to paying for the truck, ART also provided Tamara and Dani with toll and gas money, along with dog supplies, to help them all get back to Michigan, where Dani’s parents have a home in Flint.

ART also assisted the couple with getting transportation, a 1986 Volvo station wagon.

“We no longer have to rely on public transportation,” Tamara said. “That helps when it comes to finding a better job.

“The situation is better now,” Tamara continued. “Dani and I are still looking for a house but, because of ART, we were able to get the dogs up north to Dani’s family and they are able to look after them while we try to get back on our feet down here.

“Our dogs are our family and we just couldn’t leave them behind and abandon them at a shelter. We are so grateful for everything that ART has done to help us keep our dogs within our family while we try to repair our lives.”

When Letha Hundley saw Winnie, a pit bull up for adoption through the ART website, she knew she had to adopt her. Winnie had been abandoned and left at a shelter.

“I wanted an older dog because they are harder to adopt,” Letha said. “I had also just lost a pet, a lab, and I knew that Winnie and I could heal each other.”

Letha is no stranger to helping animals in need. In addition to Winnie, she also fosters a 12-year-old FIV positive cat and a 13-year-old Golden Retriever that was abused by a previous owner. She also volunteers with the Portsmouth Humane Society.

After Letha lost her job, though, she was unable to afford the routine medical care that her pets required. She was fighting to receive disability pay and could not afford booster shots for her cat, Love Bug. ART was able to help her get the shots her pet needed to stay healthy.

“ART’s help really meant a lot to me,” Letha said. “I could not afford the shots, but I also didn’t want my animals to be ill. They are my babies, my children, and ART was able to help me get them the medical care they needed.”

Because of ART, Love Bug received the booster shots he needed to stay happy and healthy!

Layla, a little 8 pound Chihuahua, had big problems. Michelle Woods noticed her dog was behaving strangely back in March. Layla was acting skittish and scared: she was losing weight and dropped down to 5 pounds.

“I took Layla to the vet and they did x-rays on her,” Michelle said. “They told me it looked like there was a needle in Layla’s stomach and that they would have to do exploratory surgery, which would have cost $2,500.”

Michelle was scared to have the surgery done because she wasn’t sure how it would go and she couldn’t afford the expensive procedure. She wasn’t sure who to talk to or where to go from there and she was debating having Layla put down because she couldn’t afford the surgery. Michelle contacted ART and was put in contact with Susan Corbitt, who recommended Layla be taken to Acredale Hospital. Susan was also able to assist Michelle with getting the medications that Layla needed, as well.

“Susan was a huge help and I can’t say enough good things about her,” said Michelle. “She gave us so much help and information about which doctors to talk to.”

Layla was treated for a urinary tract infection and was then started on steroid medication.

“She started to get better after I gave her the steroids and she is now acting like her old self,” Michelle reported. “She is doing great!

“I just thank God that she didn’t have that surgery and that we got a second opinion,” Michelle continued. “Whatever was in those x-rays is still there and unrelated.”

Michelle noted that she tells people all the time about ART. “The help ART has given has meant the world to me. When I had a decision to make about putting my animal down because I couldn’t afford the medical costs, ART didn’t hesitate to help. I feel so blessed for the outreach and support we have received. There are not enough words to say how grateful we are.”

Thanks to ART’s support, Layla was able to get healthy again and remain a part of the family.

Daisy, a corgie/shepherd mix, had a lot of medical issues when she was abandoned in Karen Kendall’s neighborhood. The Kendalls took her in and did their best to treat her numerous infections with antibiotics, but the expenses became too much for them. The family was losing their house and had to move. Their financial situation was becoming too much for them to handle alone.

“When I was at the vet’s office, Debra Griggs of ART was there, too, and heard about our problems,” said Karen. “Debra wrote us a letter offering to help with the medical costs, but we weren’t ready to accept help at that point. Finally it got to be too much for us to handle and we were able to turn to ART for help.”

In addition to Daisy, the family also had an outdoor cat named Prince Charming, or PC for short. He was also abandoned and had feline HIV. He was losing weight and was very sick. When he needed to be put to sleep, ART helped to pay for that expense.

“I want to thank ART so much for the help that they have given us,” Karen said. “It’s good to know that there are organizations like ART out there that can help people and their pets. Daisy is the sweetest dog and she loves her family.”

With ART’s help, Daisy has found a forever home with the family that took her in.