Making a difference in the lives of homeless pets

Nearly a year ago, the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center rescued a dog from a Texas shelter through the center's A Mission for Home Rescue Program. 

At the time, It seemed like Huntley, an apparent pure-bred yellow lab, would be adopted immediately. However, staff learned the dog had severe hip dysplasia in one of his hip joints that would require a complicated surgery. Called an FHO, or femoral head osteotomy, this expensive surgery needed to be performed by a board-certified surgeon in a specialty hospital. Fortunately, the center's nonprofit group Dedicated Animal Welfare Group agreed to pay for the surgery as well as any post-op physical therapy.

One of the center's foster homes stepped up to foster Huntley, and now that he is completely healed, the folks who fostered and fell in love with him recently adopted this sweet dog.

"We cannot thank DAWG and their donors enough for giving Huntley the chance of living a long, healthy and pain-free life," said Director of Animal Services Michelle Claud-Clemente.