A “Perfect” Way to Help the Animals at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society

What is your definition of “perfect”? Webster dictionary’s definition of perfect is as follows:  “Not defective, without flaw, fault, or blemish, without error, whole, pure, sound, right and correct". 

At Prairie’s Edge Humane Society we may have a bit different definition of "perfect".  We do see many “perfect” kittens and puppies on a regular basis.  We see wonderful adult dogs and cats that are “perfect” in every way and just waiting for someone to adopt them.  But there are many animals who are helped at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society who may not exactly fit the description of “perfect” according to the dictionary but they are very special animals who came to a place that was able to help them when no one else could.  These are the animals that some may consider “imperfect” who came through our door.  They were sick, injured or abused but because of the resources at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, these animals were helped and given an opportunity for adoption that may not have been possible at other facilities.  These animals were simply given the chance to live regardless of their imperfections.  I would like to introduce you to some of these very special animals.

Jybbs is a cat who was turned in for urinating throughout his owner’s home.  He had not been taken to a veterinarian to determine if a medical issue was the cause. Our veterinarian diagnosed Jybbs with diabetes. It took time to regulate his insulin, treat his medical issues caused by the untreated diabetes and find an adopter who could afford his care and the time commitment.  Jybbs lived at PEHS for eleven months before being adopted.

Babe is a dog who was a stray with the worst case of mange that our shelter veterinarian had ever seen. Babe was hairless, her skin bright pink and covered with infected soars.  Her teatment was extensive and after four months at PEHS and some time in foster care, she healed and most of her hair grew back.  Babe will always have some skin issues, but has been adopted into a family who will care for her needs. 

Rhonda is a dog who was a stray with torn ligaments in her knee and a dislocated hip.  Our veterinarian surgically repaired the hip, once it had healed enough, a second surgery repaired her knee. She spent four months rehabilitating at PEHS prior to being adopted. 

Paddington is a Himalayan rabbit who was found as a stray in July with a tennis ball size tumor on her neck which was removed by our shelter veterinarian.  After spending five months at PEHS Paddington was adopted and is loved very much in her new home.   

Gabi is a dog who was a stray with an infected skin condition, ear infections and rotten teeth.  Our veterinarian removed some teeth and did ongoing treatment of her ears and skin.  She spent four months at PEHS, during which she was adopted twice and returned to us because of her skin condition. We did not give up on Gabi.  She stayed with us until the perfect person who could care for her came along and adopted her into a loving home.   Gabi’s skin condition is now under control with regular care and she is thriving in her new home. 

Toto is a dog who was a stray found wandering along the highway with a large open wound, possibly a chemical burn, covering the majority of his back.  He spent two months at PEHS recuperating, the wound healed nicely and Toto was adopted.

Gulliver is a cat who was brought to the shelter by an owner whose teenage children had thrown him across a room, resulting in a broken jaw.  Our veterinarian wired his jaw back together and he spent three months at PEHS and some time in foster care recuperating. He was then adopted into a loving home, is training as a therapy cat and has even auditioned to be in a movie!

Joy is a Min Pin dog who was found abandoned in a rest area, morbidly obese, unable to walk, suffering from hypothyroid disease and did not know what dog food was.  After spending four months being cared for at PEHS and in foster care on a weight loss and exercise program and learning how to be a dog, Joy was adopted into a loving home and is now a healthy, happy dog who now runs and plays in her new home.

Annie is a kitten who was brought to PEHS as a stray with an injured leg.  The leg had no neurological functions and eventually had to be amputated. Annie was running and playing the very next day; a very happy kitten.  It was difficult to keep her quiet during the healing process!  Once healed she was placed on the adoption floor and was adopted after only a few hours! 

Shiloh is a kitten who was found outside during a very cold spell in January.  She was suffering from severe frost bite which eventually caused her to lose one ear and required a tail amputation.  She has been healing at the PEHS shelter and is currently available for adoption.  Shiloh does have extra toes on her front paws; she is a polydactyl, so we like to think that makes up for the other parts that are now missing!  She is a little girl with a big personality just waiting for that someone special to take her home. 

Prairie’s Edge Humane Society is an open door animal shelter, meaning we take them all, including the sick, injured and the old; the imperfect.  We do not pick and choose who is the most adoptable, who is the healthiest, who is the least costly to help or who is simply the “perfect” pet.  Many of these animals spend several months with us while they are treated and rehabilitate.  These animals may not have the perfect look or the perfect health, but they are the most special animals in our opinion and they show us courage, strength and unconditional love every day.  We believe they are “perfect” in every way and that is why they were all given a chance to live, heal, rehabilitate and receive a new home through Prairie’s Edge Humane Society.   In 2012 PEHS helped over 1200 animals and we expect to do so again in 2013. 

While we are committed to helping these animals, it is very costly and we can only do so with your help.  Please join us on Saturday, March 23rd at the Northfield Eagles Club, 304 S. Water St. in Northfield for our Annual Dinner and “Auction for the Animals”. 

We are planning a fun filled evening with a lasagna dinner (vegetarian option available), a speaker and 100’s of wonderful items on the silent auction. The silent auction will run from 4:00-6:15 PM, we will have a short program, speaker and special video presentation at 5:30 with dinner served at 6:15 PM.  The evening will wrap up at approximately 7:30. 

This year’s speaker will be Kendall Iverson, a Prairie’s Edge Humane Society volunteer who is a recent heart transplant recipient at the age of 43. Kendall is an amazing person with a positive and uplifting attitude despite all that he has been through.  Kendall will share his story and how volunteering at Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, then eventually adopting Cooper, a dog from Prairie’s Edge Humane Society, has helped with his recovery.  Kendall and Cooper belonged together from the start and they are an example of the healing power of animals, they were a "perfect" match for each other.  

Tickets for the event are $15 and can be purchased at the Prairie’s Edge Humane Society Shelter in Faribault, Cannon Valley Veterinary Clinic, Countryside Animal Hospital and Premier Bank in Northfield.   

All proceeds from the dinner and silent auction will benefit the animals of PEHS.  Please join us for an evening of fun and help us to continue to help these very special and “perfect” animals!