By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Six pets in the care of the Humane Society of the High Plains are in desperate need of medical care.
The Humane Society, a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter, is seeking public support to fund veterinary bills for these pets.
Taryn Faulkender, shelter community outreach coordinator, said even when the shelter has mostly healthy animals, its vet bill can average $1,200 per month.
But these six pets, most of which came in over the holidays, have special needs.
The shelter does not have a vet on staff. Sometimes vets offer a small discount for the shelter, but the cost of vet services is rising, Faulkender said.
"When we take in that many animals that have all these health issues, it's a big, big bill for us," she said.
Olga, who Faulkender described as a sweet, shy old lady, was picked up as a stray, but Faulkender believes she originally came from a home because she was spayed and her fur was in good condition.
However, she has a severe ear infection and needs antibiotics. She will need to return to the vet for a sedated ear cleaning.
Mowgli, a rotweiler, had essentially been abandoned by his owners and was being temporarily cared for by a neighbor until he was surrendered.
He had been kept on a chain in a yard and was malnourished and extremely underweight when he came to the shelter, Faulkender said.
"He leans his head on your arms and leans his entire body on you," Faulkender said. "He just knows he's safe."
He is on a special diet and will need to return to the vet for wellness checks. He was loaded with parasites when he came in and had open wounds that needed to be treated.
"He had pretty poor care of life for the last couple of months, and we're going to try to get him to bounce back because he's too young to be looking like that," Faulkender said.
Ellie and Stephanie are young, bouncy schnauzers who originally came from a puppy mill, one that had been listed among the 100 worst puppy mills in the nation, Faulkender said.
Both dogs have ulcers on their eyes and have experienced swelling that has affected their vision. They will need to return to the vet to determine whether surgery is necessary.
Both girls love wearing their sweaters as they heal and wait for adoption.
Zena is a husky-shepherd mix who has an overgrowth on her bone that may have been caused by a previous injury. Faulkender said Zena is very submissive and may have been mistreated in her earlier life.
The vet would like to perform an exploratory surgery to determine how to fix Zena's injury.
"She's a big doll," Faulkender said. "She is one of these big dogs who just wants to be in your lap. She always rolls over and shows you her belly. She's kind of a sensitive little girl ... very sweet, very talkative."
Faulkender is personally fostering Hugo, likely an American bully mix.
"He's my foster boy. He is a big, goofy, goober," she said. "He's very clumsy."
He has low thyroid and will need to continue to take thyroid medication for the rest of his life. He needed an ear flush to clear yeast from his ears and medicated baths to address skin issues.
Faulkender described Hugo as a manatee. He is subdued and easy-going.
He was pulled from the Garden City Humane Society because he wasn't getting any views for adoption, she said.
Once these pets have been cleared medically, they will all be up for adoption.
The sooner the pets can be treated and adopted, the better, Faulkender said. Prolonged illness or a stay in the shelter can affect the animal's mental health. Mental health issues can also further affect the animal's physical health, she said.
If you wish to financially support their care or the shelter in general, you can donate in the following ways:
If you wish to mail a check, you can send those donations to Humane Society of the High Plains, P.O. Box 311, Hays, KS 67601.
Cash or checks can also be dropped off in person at the shelter at 2050 E. Highway 40, Hays.
You can learn more about the Humane Society and see pets up for adoption on their website or follow them on Facebook.