Valley of the Sun Dog Rescue
How it all started.
Petey
I’m Kathy Swaney, and I’d like to share with you the origin story of Valley of the Sun Dog Rescue through the journey of a remarkable dog named Petey. Petey was a two-year-old Pit Bull I rescued from the Apache Junction Animal Shelter.
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On one of my frequent visits to the shelter, I spotted Petey. He was at the back of his cage, once I sat down and started talking to him he came forward dragging his hind legs. Still full of wiggles and happy Pit Bull smiles, despite his severe injuries and being about twenty pounds underweight. His stance indicated significant pain, and his back legs seemed paralyzed, likely due to spinal cord damage.
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We learned from the shelter staff that a kind woman had rescued Petey from the side of the road after his owner and another man planned to euthanize him due to his injuries. She kept him for three days but had to surrender him due to financial constraints. Further investigation revealed that Petey had been brutally beaten with a baseball bat by a neighbor. The shelter had initially planned to euthanize him.
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Despite the grim circumstances, there was something in Petey’s eyes that compelled me to give him a chance. With permission from the shelter, I took Petey to a vet who agreed to work with me. Fortunately, his spinal cord was not severely damaged; instead, he had significant injury to his rear knees. While the condition was painful, it was treatable with timely intervention. With surgery, Petey had a strong chance of living a normal life.
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While Petey was receiving treatment, I was tirelessly calling around to find a foster home for him. Successfully I found someone willing to help. Petey underwent surgery on January 7th 2000, where the vet repaired his knees by reattaching ligaments and reconstructing the damaged areas.
I was thrilled that the surgery was a success. Petey has started to move around, supported by a sling to protect his healing knees. He showed signs of happiness and well-being. Although he needed physical therapy, his recovery went well.
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Petey went into a loving foster family, who provided him with his favorite pillows and toys. A dedicated young surgical assistant also ensured he received the best care possible.
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Your support is crucial to continue helping dogs like Petey. Please consider donating to our cause, so we can offer more animals a second chance and provide them with the care they desperately need.
About our founder
Kathy,
I've always had a deep love for animals, rescuing everything from dogs to snakes and squirrels as a child. I frequently visited local animal controls to offer some love to the dogs. One day, I noticed Petey, trembling in the back of his kennel. I sat outside his kennel and spoke gently to him until he approached. Petey, using only his front legs and dragging his back ones, had a heart-wrenching story that inspired me to fight for him. Despite the red tape at the animal control facility, I persevered. Once I secured his release, he went straight to the vet. With generous donations, we were able to cover his costly injuries and find him a loving forever home with a coworker. That experience ignited a passion in me that has only grown stronger. Each dog that comes through our doors leaves an indelible mark on my heart, and I’m grateful every day to be doing what I love.