My name is Angel!

UPDATED BIO 11/09/2011: Angel is a gorgeous, very, very sweet 6 year old Silky Terrier, who now weighs 10 lbs, but would be a much healthier weight if she was closer to 8-9 lbs. She is being fostered in The Villages, FL. Because Angel had trouble using her rear legs after having bilateral luxating patella surgery 9 weeks ago, she will be going to an orthopedist specialist tomorrow (Thursday 11/10/2011) to have radiographs taken to ensure that everything is okay. She will continue to need physical therapy so that she will eventually feel comfortable using her legs. Angel's vetting expenses are now over $2,000. Please consider donating towards her vet bills so that we can continue to help Angel get up and mobile, living the happy and carefree life a 6 y/o doggie should live and enjoying running free. Also, without financial support for the dogs, like Angel, that came to us needing expensive surgeries, UYR is unable to help other dogs like her. Please consider donating - all the UYR dogs will thank you for it!

UPDATED BIO 09/28/2011: Angel is a gorgeous, very very sweet 6 year old Silky Terrier, who currently weighs 12 lbs, but would be a much healthier weight if she was closer to 8-9 lbs. She is being fostered in The Villages, FL. Angel is recuperating from bilateral luxating patella surgery; in addition, poor Angel had tried for so long to walk on her popped-out knees, that she actually tore her left cruciate ligament and that was repaired as well. She needs about 4-5 weeks longer to recuperate from her surgeries before she can walk any distance. Now, she only walks outside for potty breaks and Foster Mom was able to fit her with a GingerLead harness (GingerLead.com) to enable her to walk more confidently while she is recuperating. Angel still receives two sessions of physical therapy each day on her rear legs so that she doesn't lose any more muscle mass. Angel was the only dog in her previous home, and would probably prefer to be the only dog in her new home, but she has tolerated the resident dogs in her foster home, under the watchful eye of Foster Mom, since several of the dogs are blind and may bump into her accidentally. It is obvious that Angel was dearly loved in her former home where she had been since she was 8 weeks old; she adores receiving attention and will just stare into Foster Mom’s eyes with those huge beautiful brown eyes – so sweet! Angel is a very laid-back little girlie who would make a wonderful companion in any home. Before Angel is adopted, she will also receive a much-needed dental, and should lose 2-3 lbs to be at a healthier weight. However, once she is recovered from her surgeries, she will be better than ever, and be able to run and do everything else that she should have been doing all along. Could sweet little Angel be your next little furbaby?

UPDATED BIO 09/11/2011: Angel is 6 years old and weighs a very heavy 12.7 lbs - she should be closer to 8-9 lbs to be at a much healthier weight; Angel is being fostered in The Villages, FL. Angel is a lovely silky terrier who was surrendered by her owners because she needed to have (expensive) bilateral luxating patella surgery; in addition, poor Angel had tried for so long to walk on her popped-out knees, that she actually tore her left cruciate ligament and that was repaired as well. She needs about 4-5 weeks longer to recuperate from her surgeries before she can walk any distance. Now, she only walks outside for potty breaks and Foster Mom was able to fit her with a GingerLead harness (GingerLead.com) to enable her to walk more confidently while she is recuperating. Angel receives two sessions of physical therapy each day on her rear legs so that she doesn't lose any more muscle mass. She has begun receiving water therapy every day as well, which will really build up the strength in her legs as well. Angel was the only dog in her home, and would probably like to be the only dog in her new home, but has tolerated the resident dogs in her foster home, under the watchful eye of Foster Mom, since several of the dogs are blind and may bump into her accidentally. Before Angel is adopted, she will also receive a much-needed dental, and should lose 2-3 lbs to be at a healthier weight. However, once she is recovered from her surgeries, she will be better than ever, and be able to run and do everything else that she should have been doing all along. Could Angel be your next little furbaby?

INITIAL BIO 09/03/2011: MEET ANGEL – Angel is 6 years old and weighs an obese 12.7 lbs – she should be about 10 lbs to be at a healthier weight; Angel is being fostered in The Villages, FL. Angel was surrendered by her owners because they were unable to afford the critical surgery that Angel needed. Angel came into their home when she was only 8 weeks old and thought she was going to be with them for the rest of her life. Angel was very loved and slept with her Mom every night. She was always on her Mom’s lap and gave her lots of kisses. Angel’s mom used to have a job and then the economy turned down and her Mom lost her job; which was very sad for the entire family.

Fast Forward to March, 2011 – Angel’s mom took her to the vet and told them she was ‘collapsing’ and couldn’t walk right. Angel was in excruciating pain, walked very stiffly, was obese, and could only walk hunched forward due to the pain. The vet told Angel’s mom that she has bilateral luxating patellas and her obesity was exacerbating the problem for poor Angel. He also told her that Angel needed surgery, but they unable to afford the expensive surgery, so the vet put Angel on pain meds for several months, until Angel could no longer walk at all. It was at that time that the vet said if the owners could not afford the surgery for Angel, the humane thing to do was to euthanize her. But Angel was full of life, and wanted to live – she loved her family and had so much more love to give.

Fast Forward to today - Angel has had her surgery and is recuperating as can be expected. It was discovered that Angel tried for so long to walk on her very bad knees, that she had a torn cruciate ligament on the left side – ouch! So she had three big surgeries at one time – bless her heart. She is such a loving and sweet little girlie. She will need crate rest for the next 6 weeks, going outside only for short walks to potty; since she so far refuses to walk on her rear legs, a physical therapy protocol has been prescribed to keep her muscles from atrophy. In another 10 days, water therapy will be added in to help build back up her muscles. The worse part is behind Angel – only happier (and pain-free) days to come.