Small Town Comes Together to Save Dog and Cat Who Were Left in a Condemned House

A Great Dane and Calico cat who were left abandoned in a condemned home, are among the many animals whose lives were saved thanks to luck and the fact that help came right in time.

Pattie Cunningham, a volunteer with the non-profit animal rescue Strays That Can’t Pay located in Elkhorn, Manitoba, heard about the abandoned dog named Betty and a cat named Veronica in the Binscarth, Manitoba area and like any animal lover, she went to take a look. Once Cunningham arrived at the house, she was shocked at what she saw and knew the animals needed help immediately.

“I started to cry. She was so skinny — her hips, her neck. And the wood ticks — she was just covered with them. I picked off 100 and some, easy,” Cunningham told CBC news. 

Cunningham also recalled a sweet moment between her and the Great Dane, “As I bent down to get some out from under her armpits and her inner thigh area, I bent down and she just set her head on my back, because she’s a great Dane. It was just such a loving gesture, like ‘Oh, human, you’re here.’ And I just broke down.”

Veronica, an overweight cat, was also found on the property of the condemned home. She is now in caring hands.

Cunningham got in touch with Alicia Hoemsen, the founder of Strays That Can’t Pay, asking for help. The animal rescue is currently not taking in any animals right now due to limited funds. But that didn’t stop the rescue group from helping the abandoned dog and cat.

Hoemsen got on social media and started asking for donations and the response was overwhelming. With a goal of raising $500, just enough to get the animals in the door for an emergency vet visit, the animal rescue raised $770 within 24 hours from kind people wanting to help.

Both animals have now visited the vet and are in good shape. Veronica needs to lose some weight and Betty needs to gain some.. Cunningham notes that the donations came pouring in because of how tight-knit the community is, “This is small-town Manitoba, and we all kind of look after each other. And that’s exactly what happened.”

Strays That Can’t Pay is still accepting donations to help continue their operations. If you’d like to Donate, click here. For more information on Strays That Can’t Pay, visit their website.

If you happen to come across a dog or cat, or any other animal in need, check out these Animal Rescue Hotlines. And please, always adopt and never shop!

Image source: Strays That Can’t Pay/Facebook