When Rutabaga arrived at the Animal Defense League of Texas in January, she wasn\u2019t alone. By her side were ten tiny puppies, all depending on her.<\/p>\n
Transferred into our care from the City of San Antonio Animal Care Services with a portion of her right hind leg missing, it was clear Rutabaga was no stranger to obstacles. She had already navigated life on three legs while raising her family. Despite her physical challenges, she did what moms do best and showed up for her babies. And thanks to our community, every single one of her puppies has since been adopted.<\/p>\n
Now, it\u2019s Rutabaga\u2019s turn.<\/em><\/p>\n While Rutabaga manages well enough to get around, it\u2019s clear she\u2019s uncomfortable. The remaining portion of her hind leg makes walking difficult, and years of putting extra weight on her \u201cgood\u201d leg have taken a toll. She\u2019s developed hip issues, including calcification and a femur that sits outside of its socket, all signs that her body has been working overtime to compensate.<\/p>\n Still, this sweet girl\u2019s spirit hasn\u2019t faded. She\u2019s quickly become a staff and volunteer favorite as her personality continues to unfold. Rutabaga is very talkative, smiles with all her teeth, and has discovered a sincere love for toys.<\/p>\n Right now, our medical team is focused on one thing: her comfort. Before we can consider amputation to improve her mobility, Rutabaga needs to gain weight and fully recover from the skin issues and hair loss she arrived with. These next steps will take time, diagnostics, surgery, and ongoing care, but she is worth every bit of it.<\/p>\n Cases like Rutabaga\u2019s are exactly why our Paws for a Cause Emergency Medical Fund<\/strong> exists. Your donations allow us to say \u201cyes\u201d to complicated, costly, and uncertain cases. They give pets like Rutabaga the chance not just to survive, but to live comfortably and pain\u2011free.<\/p>\n Her story is still being written, but with your support, we\u2019re hopeful the next chapter will be her strongest yet. Stay tuned for updates on this resilient mama\u2019s journey! \ud83d\udc9b\ud83d\udc3e<\/p>\n