Hope and Healing

HOPE AND HEALING Providing affordable veterinary care for animals in need.

The rising cost of veterinary care has been a challenge for years, but in this economic climate it has become catastrophic for families seeking medical help for their pets. The Humane Society of Tampa Bay has offered affordable veterinary services to the public at our Animal Hospital since 2012. We continued service throughout the global pandemic when many other animal welfare organizations were forced to close their doors. We will see this current crisis through, thanks to the generosity of our supporters and community. The stories on these pages illustrate just some of the ways HSTB is helping to keep pets in their homes with the people who love them.

JADA

Jada’s mom called the Animal Hospital in distress because she was sure Jada was suffering from a blockage caused by a foreign body. She had recently lost her job and had been calling everywhere for help, but no one would see her without money. HSTB Director of Hospital Operations, Gretel Harvey, told the tearful dog mom not to worry about money and to come to the hospital right away for X-rays so we could get to the bottom of what was wrong with Jada.

Just as her mom suspected, Jada had ingested several items, including metal shards, pieces of plastic and part of a drone! Without surgery, Jada’s life would be in serious danger. Our specialty surgeon, Dr. Justin Boorstein, worked on her right away to remove the objects, and the surgery was a success. Jada stayed in the hospital for a few nights so that

we could monitor her after the extensive procedure. She came through it all like a champ and when her mom came to pick her up there were smiles, hugs and tears of joy.

Photo opposite page: Animal Hospital staff fell in love with Jada’s sweet disposition; Photos below: The ingested debris that was causing Jada’s blockage; A smiling Jada and mom head home from the hospital.

Christopher and Ube reunited.

UBE

Christopher and Amber adopted Ube from the shelter. When he stopped eating and started having blood in his urine, they brought him to the Animal Hospital for help. Diagnostics showed a diaphragmatic hernia. The surgery required to correct this condition is not something we regularly perform, but his owners could not afford a specialist, and without treatment, Ube would not survive. Dr. Boorstein agreed to operate and the cost was covered by our Save-a-Pet Medical Fund.

The surgery was a success and Ube is now back at home – happy, healthy, and with his family.

Help us save the lives of pets like Jada & Ube:

Scan to donate to HSTB’s “Save A Pet Fund.”