Home > Out of the Cage! > January 2005 > Picasso Veterinary Fund in Action: One Sure Way YOU Can Make a Difference for NYC's Homeless Animals

Picasso Veterinary Fund in Action

One Sure Way YOU Can Make a Difference for NYC's Homeless Animals

Did You Know…?

Perhaps you remember Jackson, the brindle Pit Bull puppy who required expensive surgery to repair a badly fractured leg resulting from being hit by a car.

Or Hardwick, the five-year-old Lab mix who beat the odds despite a horrific head wound that required extensive surgery to repair.

And what about Woody and Belmont, two of the many lovable cats who survived high-rise falls and required extreme medical treatment to make them whole again?

These are just a few examples of the lives being saved thanks to the Picasso Veterinary Fund. This is what the fund is all about — saving lives…reducing suffering…giving special Little New Yorkers a second chance for a happy life in a loving home.

Like Ivory, the sweet Chihuahua surrendered by her family to the AC&C shelter in Brooklyn, where she was spotted quivering in her cage by Orphaned Pets, an Alliance Participating Organization. Soon after being placed with a foster family, bladder stones surfaced, requiring immediate surgery. The Picasso Veterinary Fund helped defray the cost of the surgery, and today Ivory is living large with a Chi-lover and her elderly toothless Chi.

And then there's Trooper, the white Miniature Poodle who arrived from an AC&C shelter at the Humane Society of New York following a serious car accident. Although Trooper lost an eye and required extensive surgery to repair a side wound, paid for by the Picasso Veterinary Fund, he survived — and went on to attend the 2004 Tails in Need Town & Country Cocktail Party that launched the annual Great American Mutt Show contest…and then on to a great new home!

So many people ask, "How can I help?" when they are confronted with the realities of animal homelessness in NYC. Some people adopt. Some volunteer. The Picasso Veterinary Fund provides the perfect vehicle for individuals to help. By contributing a cash donation to the fund, you can be sure your gift will be used exclusively to save a life — and give a Little New Yorker a second chance.

Donating to the Picasso Veterinary Fund is easy! Click here to donate online. Or mail a check to the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, 244 Fifth Avenue, Suite R290, New York, NY 10001.

Click here to learn more about the Picasso Veterinary Fund, and to meet Picasso, the amazing Pit Bull pup for whom the fund is named.

Hardwick Still Needs a Home

Hardwick's story as told by his foster Mom, Pat Anderson.

You may remember Hardwick from his compelling story in the November issue of Out of the Cage! — how a generous donation from the Picasso Veterinary Fund and the caring and skill of local veterinarians saved Hardwick's life after he suffered a grievous head wound. His story isn't over yet, though. Although healthy and thriving now, Hardwick is looking for his forever home and a happy ending to his tale of troubles.

Hardwick is five years old, mostly lab, slimming down past 70 pounds through several "could lose a bit more" stages. He's a devoted dog, the kind who gets up, even from a sound sleep, to follow me from room to room to lie at my feet. He sleeps next to me in bed, and his favorite TV-watching position is with his head and shoulders in my lap, completely relaxed. He's fully housebroken, doesn't guard his food dish, and listens well. He already knows how to sit and give paw.

He's no trouble to walk — doesn't pull on his lead or act inappropriately toward other dogs. His only vice on a walk is scrounging for trash, but, given his history as a street dog, I can't blame him.

He gets along well with my three dogs (two females and a neutered male) in my small apartment. But I don't know that he's ever learned how to play with other dogs, so he may do best in a single-dog household or with a quiet partner. And I think a dog run would be overwhelming for him. I don't know his reaction to cats. He's very playful with me, though. His favorite game is tug.

Around strangers, he's shy and can growl. But a tasty treat and a calm manner generally win him over. I would not recommend Hardwick for a home with young children. I use a dog walking service with several different walkers, and they've never had a problem with him, entering the apartment or feeding everyone.

If you think Hardwick could find a place in your heart, please contact Pat Anderson at panderson@nycacc.org or (917) 577-6818. If you can't adopt Hardwick, you might consider helping him find his new home by posting his picture and story at work, telling your friends and family, or even by creating flyers to hand out or post throughout your neighborhood.