Dog lovers in Muncie and all over Indiana have responded to a plea to give a puppy a second chance at life.
Gracie, a 10 week-old Shih Tzu and Dachshund mix, has a heart murmur and is in need of surgery in order to survive her first year of life.
Muncie Animal Rescue Fund began collecting donations from the public last week to help raise funds to pay for the surgery that is estimated to cost $3,800.
Vickie Bevans, executive director of ARF, was amazed when the public donations had already exceeded the goal and reached $8,000 in just a matter of days.
“We’re totally supported by the community and volunteers,” said Bevans. “We do what we do with heart and the kindness of the community, and we are so thankful and once again they stepped up.”
ARF first received Gracie’s mother, Lucy, after getting a call about a neglected dog expecting babies. ARF took in the pregnant dog and found that the five puppies she gave birth to had been the product of inbreeding.
As a result, two of the puppies died within days of being born, one puppy has minor leg deformities and another was born completely healthy. Gracie was born with a heart murmur and is not expected to live past her first year without surgery.
Bevans and ARF’s President, Terri Panszi, took Gracie to the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Tuesday morning to see two specialists to run multiple heart tests. Bevans learned that, after the tests, the cost of the surgery could be higher than expected.
After reaching ARF’s goal of $3,800, donations continued to pour into ARF and the group’s YouCaring donation site. Bevans said ARF will begin a new fund with the money left over after Gracie’s surgery to help pay for emergency services for other animals they care for. The fund will be called Gracie’s Fund.
“I think it’s so cool that we’re going to be able to have a medical care fund,” Bevans said. “It’s going to do so many animals so much good.”
After the tests are completed, Gracie is planned to undergo surgery later this week. Bevans said Gracie will be available for adoption after she receives the surgery and gets healthy.
“We’re crossing our fingers and saying our prayers that she’s going to get a chance because she is adorable.”
Learn more about Gracie's story in the Storify article below:
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