PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A young pup has found her forever home after being treated for months at the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) for severe burns and heat stroke.
Claire, a nine-month-old Australian Cattle Dog, was found locked in a crate for hours in the blazing summer sun at a home in July. When AHS Cruelty Investigators found her, she was unresponsive and had an internal temperature of 109 degrees.
“One-hundred and four (degrees) is usually when you start seeing possible seizures, and we start running into organ failure,” Arizona Humane Society Cruelty Investigator Lacey VanDeLaare said. “So, for her to be at 109 (degrees) and still here, she by all means shouldn’t be here.”
Rescue crews immediately went to work trying to stabilize Claire’s temperature before taking her to the shelter’s hospital. Veterinarians at the Arizona Humane Society’s Lazin Animal Foundation Trauma Hospital gave Claire fluids and continued to try to bring down her temperature.
While helping Claire, the veterinarians noticed she had severe burns beneath her fur. They said those burns created open wounds and put Claire at risk for serious infection. For months, the team used a variety of tools to help Claire heal, including honey bandages and cold light laser therapy.
Claire received antibiotics and pain medications before being placed in a foster home to continue healing. She has since been adopted!
AHS reports that Claire’s original owner was arrested by Phoenix Police and booked for a misdemeanor; however, the nonprofit agency submitted additional evidence and is asking for charges to be upgraded to a felony based on the extent of Claire’s injuries.
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