Unfortunately, it isn't just dogs and cats who need help. December 13, 2008 one of our volunteers was shocked to see two small animal cages on the side of the road with no one around. She pulled over to see what was in the cages and in each cage sat a guinea pig. The signs on the cages said one was male and one female, both a year old. There was also a note saying the owner was moving and the guinea pigs were free. The volunteer immediately picked them up and decided to foster them until APAWS could place them. Luckily we have two people ready to adopt them once they are healthy. Both piggies have severe urine burn on their feet caused by not changing their bedding and cleaning the cage regularly. The male will have to have both urine and blood tests done to figure out why his fluid intake and output is extremely high.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that all animals deserve a healthy, happy and safe life. Acquiring any animal for your home comes with a promise to care for that animal for its entire life. If you can't care for an animal please contact a reputable rescue group for help rehoming the animal. No animal should ever be left on the side of the road.

Update October 28, 2009 - Alanis had surgery to remove the cancer from her ears on October 26, 2009. The surgery involved removing a large portion of both ears. She is still under veterinary supervision to make sure her ears heal well. Right now she is doing very well and her prognosis is good!

We received a plea from the East Baton Rouge Animal Control; they had a senior cat with a deformed front leg. She isn’t very adoptable, but something about her made everyone she came in contact with want to help her. She will not be going up for adoption due to her advanced age and the possibility she has cancer. She will remain in her foster home receiving love and attention for perhaps the first time in her life.

Arabella was found dodging traffic on a busy street. A kind man saved her from being hit by a car, but could not keep her. The vet's office where Arabella was brought contacted APAWS to see if we had room for this girl. APAWS agreed to take her in, at that point the vet did an exam before she went to her foster home. The vet determined that Arabella was pregnant. She appeared to be in good shape, but did not have any tags on or a microchip. Signs were posted in an effort to find the owner, but the owner couldn't be found.

On Sunday, February 8, 2009 Arabella gave birth to six healthy puppies. We aren't sure what breeds they are, but mom and pups are doing great! We will provide a safe place for mom and pups until all can be adopted.

Unfortunately many animals don't get this happy ending. Thousands of animals are killed each year in East Baton Rouge parish due to pet overpopulation. Please get your pet spayed or neutered as early as the vet will allow. If you are not in the financial position to pay for the surgery please contact Spay Baton Rouge. This is a nonprofit group dedicated to lowering the number of pets killed each year through spay and neuter.

Update November 12, 2009 - Eros had surgery at LSU on November 11, 2009. Without surgery he would have died before the end of the year. With surgery there was a big chance he would not make it through surgery. Eros is a miracle puppy - he pulled through the surgery with flying colors! He could not have done any better and is on his way to a full recovery!

Update October 26, 2009 - Eros had a check up at LSU last week. He now weighs 4.4 pounds. Although the beta blockers have brought his blood pressure down a little, it is not enough. The LSU cardiologist wants to do a check up on November 10 with a potential surgery on November 11. If the surgery is not done within the month Eros will most likely die. We are trying to come up with the money for the surgery in order to save this little guy.

Update October 15, 2009 - Eros now weighs 3.2 pounds, he was 2.4 pounds when he came to APAWS. He is taking his beta blockers every day and making his foster mom work hard at keeping him from being too active. Right now we are trying to give him time to grow so he has a chance of surviving the surgery and securing funds for the surgery. If you would like to donate towards Eros' surgery please go here.

Update September, 29, 2009 - An EKG revealed the Eros' correct condition. He has a severe valvular pulmonic stenosis with secondary severe right ventricular hypertrophy. In plain English the valve going to his lungs does not open properly and forces his heart to work harder to push blood through it, this is causing him to have very high blood pressure. He is currently on blood thinners as he becomes old enough to have the necessary surgery. His prognosis is poor, but as long as he is willing to fight so are we. His surgery is estimated to cost $2,000 to $2,500. Please visit the Texas A&M Vet School site for detailed information on the condition and treatment.

Eros is the result of an irresponsible owner. The owner of his parents didn't get them spayed and neutered. They did what intact pets do and had a litter of pups. APAWS took in the pups in order for them to have the chance at a great life. Two of the three pups are healthy, Eros is not.

Eros has a congenital heart problem, Patent Ductus Arteriosus, common in small dogs. Without heart surgery he will not survive to adulthood. We realize many people feel a $1,000 is too much to spend on one dog. Fortunately for Eros we disagree! When asked how many dogs we could save with that $1,000 our president responded one!

Eros is a very happy, playful pup. His foster mom is having problems keeping him calm, which is necessary to prevent a heart attack. He isn't in any pain at this time and will make a wonderful pet for an adopter once his surgery is completed.

Frank was adopted in October of 2009. He's an eight (8) month year old, black, DSH cat.

Frank has been diagnosed with Medial Patellar Luxation (MPL) in both his back legs. A luxating patella (or trick knee, subluxation of patella, or floating patella), is a condition in which the patella, or kneecap, dislocates or moves out of its normal location. Eventually, Frank’s back legs will become too lame or cause too much pain for him to use, so surgery is needed to correct the problem.

Frank has also been diagnosed with Hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that, in its more severe form, can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. The MPL and Hip dysplasia seem to be directly related to each other.

Estimated surgery costs for Frank are about $2400.

Update - Susan is doing very well in her foster home. She still can't control when she eliminates and can't fully eliminate on her own. She wears a diaper, but it is a challenge to keep her diaper on her because she doesn't have hips! Susan knows she's a cutie and knows she's special. She rules the roost at her foster home and everyone who meets her falls in love instantly.

APAWS is frequently contacted by animal control facilities all over Louisiana looking for help with special needs animals. These are the animals either surrendered or found as strays that will never make it to adoption row due to health problems. Rescue is their last hope, if a rescue can't be found they will be euthanized - usually just a day or two after they come into the facility. We were contacted about a kitten with a severe birth defect that causes her legs to be bent backwards and some urinary and bowel incontinence. Our adoptions are down, our donations are down and we are trying make it through this economic downturn. Logically, we should say no, but we have decided to help this little girl. One of our cat fosters has experience with a similar birth defect in her personal cat. The difference is her cat has paralyzed back legs that are fused straight. Her cat is currently nine years old and still going strong - many of the vets she saw in her early life didn't think she would make it six months. If anyone can help little Susan, she can! We do not expect Susan to ever go up for adoption due to her special, life long needs, but we will provide her sanctuary throughout her natural life.