Saying Goodbye to Calvin & Frank

On Betty White's birthday, we shared with you Calvin, the little hydrocephalus puppy. We wanted to update you on Calvin - and while it's the kind of update we don't ever want to share, it is important to share nonetheless.

With your support, we fought hard for Calvin. Still, after a thorough exam with the vets at the University of Minnesota, we found out that his case of hydrocephalus was severe, and unfortunately, his prognosis was poor, and his future was bleak. Even with surgery and the placement of a stent, Calvin would never live a normal or even semi-normal life. After heartbreaking discussions with veterinary professionals and our staff, we decided it was in Calvin's best interest to euthanize. We said goodbye and helped him cross the rainbow bridge.

These are the most challenging decisions to make in our work, but it heals our hearts knowing that so much love filled Calvin's short life. We sincerely thank all our staff, volunteers, and community for their selfless care and support of Calvin.

To make this time all the harder, we said goodbye to Frank in the weeks following. Despite fighting hard, severely emaciated Frank failed to put on weight. We discovered a foreign body in his digestive tract, which he underwent surgery to remove. Immediately following surgery, we were hopeful for his recovery as the surgeons said he looked better than expected. But in the end, Frank was ready to be at peace and passed quietly one early morning. Again, we thank everyone who touched his life while he was in our care.

This work is hard, but we hold the memories of animals like Calvin and Frank in our hearts - inspiring us to keep going.