We get countless requests to help animals in need in Mississippi through our Hope Animal Sanctuary and Justice for Animals campaign, and nothing makes us happier than hearing updates from guardians who have adopted an animal we’ve saved. We just received one such update from a woman who adopted Sarah Louise, a German shepherd whom we rescued in 2010, and we wanted to share it with you because her happily ever after wouldn’t have been possible without your support.

Sarah Louise’s story started with a late-night call to our Hope Animal Sanctuary for a dog who had crawled onto someone’s porch seeking help. Doll Stanley, who is now our Justice for Animals Campaign Director responded and when she arrived she was horrified to find a dog whose face looked as though it had been chemically burned off. She immediately called her friend and veterinarian, Dr. Tom Abernathy, who told her he’d meet her at his clinic.

Once she was lifted onto the exam table, her issue was identified, it was demodectic mange that was mostly confined to her face. Each morning after she began treatment, she would wake and rub her face to remove the painful scabs that pulled tightly around her muzzle. It was difficult to watch her suffer from this condition, but she was a fighter and we were determined to save her.

Her skin finally healed, revealing the gorgeous girl who had been hidden, and she was ready to travel to our then-partner Every Creature Counts in Colorado. Unfortunately, this condition can continue to affect dogs with compromised immune systems and after one night the stress from the venture caused another breakout and she needed to be treated again.

She recovered again and shortly after she was adopted by Linda Terroux, whose own two German shepherds were a perfect match, and she was renamed Hexe. She, unfortunately, broke out with mange again, but soon recovered and settled into her new and happy life.

According to Terroux, she’s slower now in her senior years, but she’s still active, enjoys her early morning walks, keeping her canine brother in line and showing off her toys, and she’s still loved as much as when she first arrived.

We are all amazed that Hexe has lived eleven years with her family and continues to relish life to its fullest. 

These stories would not be possible without the continued help of our generous supporters who give to our Hope Animal Sanctuary and Justice for Animals campaign.  We thank you and so do Linda and Hexe.

Find out more about how to help by checking out our Hope Animal Sanctuary and Justice for Animals campaign, and support more happily ever afters like this one by making a donation.