Category: Awareness

All that we love deeply becomes a part of us, and Lucy was a big part of our hearts and souls here at Paws Give Me Purpose.

This morning, our Sanctuary was changed forever when we found that our beautiful Lucy had crossed to Rainbow Bridge peacefully in her sleep – it just must have been time, but not something we expected. 

We are not going to mince words here, at almost 17 years old, Lucy was a difficult girl behaviorally. Sadly due to her neglectful past she was very untrusting, but there were these moments where she would become as sweet and cuddly as a teddy bear. Her nickname was Booboo short for Booboo Bear and things here at the Sanctuary are just not the same without her. No more morning alarm clock barks, or after bath “tantrums”, barking while she shook herself out and tried to pinpoint the human who dared to bathe her. 

Although Lucy could not see, she enjoyed her senior days to the fullest, was happy just laying in the sun, enjoying a bully stick or two, and LOVED to eat! Lucy loved food – especially the homemade meals and treats we serve here, so much so she reminded us of a little blurb we once heard someplace, “breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch, fourth meal, second lunch, third breakfast.” Perhaps she was a food taster in a past life, and is now up in Heaven continuing to eat to her heart’s content. 

Lucy lived her life here in Sanctuary with the maximum amount of pure love she could muster and we miss her. We loved her, spoiled her, and kept her comfortable during her time here at Paws Give Me Purpose Sanctuary. We did everything we possibly could to help her and really thought she would have had more time with us, sadly it was not meant to be.

You will always live on in our hearts Lucy; we were blessed to have known you! Thank you for giving us the chance to love you and show you that not all humans are unkind. 

Thank you to each and everyone you for caring and for being a support to us during this time.

This past weekend, Paws Give Me Purpose welcomed Ginger into Sanctuary. Ginger is our newest, tiny, senior Sanctuary resident. Ginger weighs a whopping 3.6 pounds and is estimated to be around 13 years old. 

Since being found as a stray on the streets of Baltimore, Ginger’s history is a real mystery. Tossed out like yesterday’s newspaper by those she thought would love her forever, this little girl presents with many medical issues that required immediate care.

We are working closely with our Veterinary team to help make Ginger as healthy and comfortable as possible. Ginger has sadly been severely neglected; a complete medical workup has revealed that while there is no evidence that she was used for breeding, she is not spayed. She barely has any teeth, and those that she does have in the back of her mouth are extreme decayed and literally black. 

Her jaw is infected due to lack of proper care and she has severe parrot jaw (only half of her bottom jaw) and underbite. She may or may not have been born that way, but regardless her mouth is extremely damaged due to lack of proper care. 

Ginger has limited vision, as described to us by our Veterinarians, it’s as if she is looking at things through the spaces between your fingers. She has some weakness in her back legs which was originally thought to be luxating patella issues, but as it turns out it is actually a neurological issue. Ginger has been diagnosed with acquired hydrocephalus (her slightly domed head appearance is what first alerted us to this possibility). 

For those not familiar, Hydrocephalus literally translates as water on the brain. But the fluid is not actually water—it refers to cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF), which coats the spinal cord and parts of the brain. In hydrocephalus, this fluid is unable to drain away properly and increases pressure on the brain.

This secondary type of hydrocephalus in older animals is when inflammation, infections, or tumors grow and block the outflow of the CSF. The most common cause of acquired hydrocephalus is a brain tumor, which usually affects older dogs like Ginger. 

Medications have been started and we are hoping for the best outcome possible. Quality of life is above all else to us here at Paws Give Me Purpose, and due to Ginger’s advanced age invasive procedures are not advised. While early treatment is best in a case like this, there is no way for us to know how long she has been this way. 

There is a special light in her eyes, a clear will to live and enjoy her golden years to the fullest and for as long as she is with us, we will make it happen! Ginger is extremely sweet, enjoys being held/carried around or sitting in a lap and we have begun spoiling her. She has the cutest little snorts when she breathes and will do a little dance for us when she wants to be picked up for cuddles. 

With you by our side, we can give Ginger the chance to have the opportunity to live out her golden years to the fullest – she deserves this second chance to be happy, loved and cherished. Our promise to Ginger is to give her the best life daily with unconditional love for the rest of her life. 

We ask that you please consider making a donation to help us with Ginger’s ongoing care. If anyone is interested in sponsoring Ginger’s lifetime care in Sanctuary, please reach out to us directly.

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/pawsgivemepurposeinc

Venmo: @PAWSGIVEMEPURPOSE-INC.

By Mail:
Paws Give Me Purpose Inc.
2 Jade Lane 
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 

Tossed out like trash on to the streets, this tiny senior girl has clearly been neglected by those she thought would love her forever.

She is now off the streets, out of the shelter and safe with Paws Give Me Purpose Inc., and we need your help to help her.

We have named this sweetheart Ginger because of her zest for life. She has numerous medical issues that need to be addressed asap.

Stay tuned for a full bio on our newest arrival coming soon.

Venmo: @PAWSGIVEMEPURPOSE-INC

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/pawsgivemepurposeinc

By Mail:
Paws Give Me Purpose Inc.
2 Jade Lane
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

Or use the donate button at the bottom of this page.