A puppy named Starfish was abandoned on a beach with only a cardboard box as her shelter. Starfish’s owner didn’t want her because she had a disability that affected her ability to walk.
When she was found, her body was sprawled out on the ground, and she wasn’t able to use her legs properly.
It turned out that Starfish suffered from a condition called Swimmer Puppy Syndrome or SPS. Thankfully, she ended up in a non-profit animal rescue organization called Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter. Starfish was assessed by the vets and decided that euthanizing her would be the kindest option.
For a puppy that barely lived in this world, it seemed that Starfish’s life was going to end. Fortunately, the head of the rescue organization decided to save Starfish by stopping the euthanasia process. The rescue organization’s boss wanted to find a way to help Starfish get better. So, she then asked for a second opinion from an expert.
Fortunately, the veterinarian specialist stated that there was a chance that Starfish would be able to walk again. It was the news that everyone wanted to hear. Starfish’s story went viral and caught the attention of a woman named Leigh Anne Gray. Leigh Anne fell in love with the little pup at first sight and was willing to do whatever it takes to get Starfish to walk again. Leigh Anne ended up adopting Starfish and she also started researching about SPS and how to treat it.
Starfish went through a rehabilitation aimed at strengthening the weak muscles in her legs. Starfish was also determined to walk, which greatly helped her progress. No matter how many times she fell, she would get back up and try again. Starfish is truly inspirational and just after two months of rehab, she started walking and kept her balance.
Starfish’s recovery did have a setback. She needed surgery to treat her hip dysplasia. The surgery costs around $10,000 and there was no way that her new mom could afford it. Thankfully, the people at the animal rescue center cared so much for Starfish that they started a page to raise money for Starfish’s surgery. The crowdfunding campaign for Starfish was a success, which eventually led to Starfish’s successful surgery.
Starfish made a full recovery after her surgery. Now that her hip dysplasia was treated and her leg muscles continued to strengthen, she learned to run. Starfish loves her new family and she’s an incredible companion to her humans. She’s always excited about everything, and she’s also happy that she now belongs to a wonderful family. Here’s an inspirational video telling Starfish’s story.
Video Source HappyWorld via YouTube