Joy was just seven months old when she came to Lort Smith. The once sprightly Jack Russell terrier cross had become desperately lethargic. Joy's elderly carer, who was also unwell, could no longer look after her.
To solve Joy's mysterious tiredness, our vets carried out a number of tests, including blood tests and a CT scan. It wasn't long before they discovered Joy had a congenital abnormality that stopped blood from going through her liver, a process vital to keeping her body healthy. Joy needed liver shunt surgery to save her life.
A long recovery
Our team wasted no time, and Joy seemed to pick up quickly after her life-saving surgery, made possible thanks to Lort Smith supporters like you.
But soon she began to deteriorate again, this time showing neurological symptoms. Joy was immediately transferred back to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where she was given special medication and closely monitored around the clock.
After 33 days in hospital, Joy was strong enough to leave the ICU and finish her recovery in a cosy home with Jacqui, one of our adoption team members and a specialist foster carer.
Over the next five weeks in foster care, Joy played with other pups, lazed with cats in the afternoon sun and learned basic manners. After three months in our care, Joy was mentally ready to find her family, but physically she needed more liver tests before she could be given the all clear.
Joy and Kyle play so much – every morning, noon and night – they are wrestling constantly.
Alex
Foster to adopt
Not wanting her to wait a minute longer, the Adoption Centre team put Joy in our foster-to-adopt program. This lets Lort Smith keep providing the best vet treatment, covered by the Animal Hospital, while pets move into their permanent home. It gives the best possible outcome for a pet's health and wellbeing.
It wasn't long before Hannah, Alex and their terrier Kyle discovered Joy on our website. After a fantastic meet and greet, they started the adoption process.
"Joy and Kyle play so much – every morning, noon and night – they are wrestling constantly," says Alex.
Joy fitted in so perfectly that the adoption was soon made official, and she now has a family with Hannah, Alex and Kyle.