December 3
Yam's Journey
Today is Giving Tuesday—a chance to make a lifesaving difference for the pets in Southwest Washington.
Your gift today will be matched up to $13,500, providing twice the resources for animals like Yam.
On November 4, two small dogs were abandoned at Vancouver Fire Department Station 2 in Central Vancouver. On-duty crew members cared for the dogs for the day – they bathed the dogs, gave them food, and took them for a walk around the neighborhood using makeshift leashes fashioned from hose straps.
After their adventurous day with firefighter friends, the pair of tiny pups were brought to HSSW. Our team named the sweet pair Yam and Cranberry. Cranberry received a clean bill of health and started on his path to adoption, but during Yam’s intake exam, our veterinary team discovered Yam had a severe heart murmur.
Through our partnership with Pacific Northwest ER and Specialty Hospital, we were able to quickly get Yam in for an echocardiogram with a board-certified veterinary cardiologist. Testing revealed that Yam had Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), a serious heart defect that causes one side of the heart to work harder to meet the body's demands. This causes the heart to become enlarged, and over time, can lead to congestive heart failure. If the condition is not caught early, it can cause irreversible heart damage.
Yam needed surgery to resolve the condition, and we turned to our partners at MedVet for help. Yam received the lifesaving surgery he needed. MedVet’s team worked tirelessly to ensure Yam’s safety and success during surgery, closing the defect in his heart and giving him the chance to live a full, healthy life.
But Yam’s journey doesn’t end there. His story came full circle when he found a loving home with the anesthesiologist at MedVet who cared for him during surgery. Yam is now thriving, happy, and safe in his new home.
Your gift today will provide critical care for pets like Yam—lifesaving surgeries, preventative care, and shelter for animals who need us most. And thanks to this incredible match provided by a generous friend, every dollar you give will be doubled to help twice as many pets.
