
Hope Animal Rescue gives hope to numerous puppies and dogs from Oklahoma as well as local pets. The last couple of transports have had dogs with parvovirus. In November, we saw the sickest transport so far. Rose and Blanche, 7-week-old puppies, had Bordetella, Mycoplasma, pneumovirus, parvo, Giardia, and roundworms. That is a lot for a little body to take. We lost little Rose. Blanche, her sister, began a long fight for her life. Foster, Rochelle Pettinger, helped Blanche through her worst days. The pneumonia was very severe. Rochelle nebulized saline and bought a pulse ox and an oxygen concentrator to get Blanche enough oxygen. After some sleepless nights on Rochelle's part, Blanche started to improve. Blanche got adopted and is still sick with pneumonia, but we are all hopeful that she will lick it soon. Rochelle's license plate says PUPSAVER, because she is truly a pup saver.

Toni, the Director of Hope Animal Rescue, is photographed above with Laila, the lone survivor of her litter that came in the November transport. Toni is a kind-hearted woman that advocates for the dogs. She cried when puppies passed away and nursed Laila to health herself. She might keep and train Laila to be a therapy dog at the school where she works full time. The rescue is run by caring volunteers. Proceeds from healthy puppies are used to support expensive cases that need a skilled surgeon or costly drugs. St. Francis Vet Care has donated over $50,000 worth of time and medications to the rescue to help their mission in 2024. We are continuing to help support them in 2025.
I noticed in a newspaper this morning that at St. Peter's basilica on Christmas Eve, Pope Francis declared this year a Jubilee Year of Hope. In the good book, St. Paul says, "Hope does not disappoint." Hope Animal Rescue has many wonderful fosters to celebrate. We made a Foster of the Year award for Rochelle because she and her husband, Jason, go above and beyond for these dogs. Rochelle certainly did not give up hope or disappoint when entrusted with the care of the sickest little puppies.