LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The Haven Animal Care Shelter faced a decision after two puppies arrived in its care in critical condition following being left in a ditch.
“This was just kind of an unusual situation where you have that large of a vet bill,” said Brenda Wilbanks, founder and executive director of The Haven.
Shelter staff rushed the puppies to emergency medical care. The outcome during treatment was uncertain.
“Every day when they called us, we thought they were calling us to tell us they didn’t make it,” Wilbanks said.
Saving the puppies cost the nonprofit organization about $10,000 in veterinary expenses. Wilbanks said the expense was a necessary choice to uphold the shelter’s core motto: “Where love can be found.”
“Well, when we see animals that are in bad shape like that and we don’t know if they ever had a life, if they ever had a good life and knew that somebody loved them, it’s important, I think,” Wilbanks said. “We want to make sure that everybody that we care for at least has a life and knows that somebody loved them, took care of them.”
The shelter is asking the Lubbock community for donations to cover remaining veterinary bills and future checkups to ensure the puppies do not relapse.
For those unable to make financial contributions, The Haven has other immediate needs. The shelter currently cares for 78 dogs, 30 cats, and two horses, and dog and cat food is in high demand.
A list of needed supplies and donation options is available on The Haven’s website.
“They will have to have some additional checkups,” Wilbanks said. “Let’s hope they don’t relapse and so they won’t have to have that really critical care again. Let’s hope and pray. We hope and pray all the time that they will be okay.”
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