A Second Chance

When Holly Bea arrived at 12 Hills Dog Rescue in Walthill, Nebraska, she was exhausted and in poor health. The 7-year-old Shetland sheepdog was suffering from a painful medical condition while trying to care for three puppies that were only a few days old.

“She was living in a situation that wasn’t good,” says Nola, our Program Partner, who serves the Omaha and Winnebago reservations. “She was sick when she arrived with mastitis,” which causes painful inflammation or infection of the mammary glands.

“Holly Bea was the longest and most costly challenge,” she says. “She came in with three puppies that were 3 or 4 days old. She was ill, and the puppies were hungry.”

A volunteer began bottle-feeding the puppies while Holly Bea received the care she desperately needed. Staff made her comfortable that first night, then took her to the veterinarian the next day. She spent two weeks recovering at home. Before she was ready for adoption, she also needed help with an abscessed tooth and surgery to be spayed, followed by weeks of healing.

With the kennels full, Holly Bea spent much of her recovery in Nola’s home.

“She was so sad,” she says.

In time, Holly Bea regained her strength. She was adopted by “a wonderful couple in Sioux Falls, South Dakota,” says Nola.

Two of Holly Bea’s puppies also survived and found loving homes.

“Two of the puppies lived and were adopted: Oliver and Theodore,” says Nola.

Holly Bea’s recovery was possible because of a $10,000 grant awarded to 12 Hills Dog Rescue through the Reservation Animal Rescue^® (RAR) program of Partnership With Native Americans^® (PWNA).

The funding helped provide medical care and behavioral training, helping Nola stretch her budget.

“We were able to have a number of dogs altered and vaccinated,” says Nola. “The monies allowed us to use our remaining funds on the treatment of sick or injured dogs, feed, and staff.”

Nola explains that many dogs who arrive at the rescue have not received proper medical or emotional care. 

“We have dogs that come into our rescue that are not vaccinated, not spayed or neutered,” she says. “Some are anti-social, partly feral, fearful, and full of anxiety. Some are out of control and jump on people, which prevents them from adoption, or at least slows it down. All those issues are being addressed by the funding we received.”

Every dog receives individualized attention based on their personality, so families and dogs can be better matched. That work depends on dedicated trainers who spend hours helping each dog build confidence and learn to trust people.

Another dog whose life changed because of the grant was Hazel, a 6-month-old Micro Bully.

“She came to us as a surrender from [a vet clinic],” says Nola. “She had been picked up outside of Macy and taken to the clinic, emaciated and covered in ticks.”

Hazel arrived dehydrated and anemic. She received special food, medication, and the care she needed to recover.

“She gained weight quickly and grabbed everyone’s heart right away,” says Nola. “In the end, she was adopted by Ben, our very favorite and giving volunteer.”

For Nola, every adoption represents countless hours of teamwork and compassion.

“We want the doggies to have a better life than before,” says Nola. “The adoption process is time-consuming, but we do our best to get them placed and out of the kennels. Your grant funding assists us in doing just that. Thank you so much for all you do!”