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From our grantees at @cwrustichollowshelter

Meet Cosmo, a resident at C & W Rustic Hollow Shelter, a special needs feline sanctuary in Nashua, IA. The sanctuary cares for felines with: chronic medical, physical, immune, neurological and behavioral issues as well as senior cats displaced by the death of their guardians.

Cosmo came from Lincoln Nebraska in 2023, he`s about 8-9 years old. He unfortunately has bad potty and behavioral challenges that would have made him unadoptable, but his former guardian wanted him to live out his life somewhere where he could "be himself", bad habits and all. He loves to play with toys, lasers, stimulation/noise toys, wands toys, etc. Anything that moves, he`s interested! Cosmo recently had extensive dental work done. Dental work is so important to the health of a cat.

#dorisdayanimalfoundation #ddaf #c&wrustichollowshelter

From our grantees at @harpsaveslives

Looney Tuna was part of an unaltered group of indoor-outdoor cats, cared for by a large human family who lived in pet-restricted housing. Without the resources to provide the cats with lifetime care and shelter indoors, they surrendered them to HARP in hopes they would be adopted.
When Looney Tuna was being prepped for her spay surgery at HARP, it was discovered she had an abscessed wound on her neck, and because of her mysterious outdoor escapades, this needed to be considered a “wound of unknown origin” (WUO). Healing a WUO is greatly complicated by the potential that the animal could have been exposed to the rabies virus, and the subsequent risk of transmission to human handlers or other animals.

HARP follows strict precautionary measures and all applicable state laws regarding WUO domestic animal cases, immediately starting a series of rabies vaccinations for the pet while they are quarantined in isolation for 120 days. During that time, they have zero exposure to other animals and can only be cared for by people who have received rabies pre-exposure (PrEp) vaccination protection.

Looney Tuna was well socialized with people which would benefit her during the lengthy stay, but she also faced mounting challenges. She wasn’t adapting well to the confines of a small kennel after the indoor-outdoor lifestyle, was having accidents outside the litterbox, and despite her friendliness, was showing signs of overstimulation and stress behaviors during interactions.

Lucky for Looney Tuna, there were multiple resources to try and help her along this next journey at HARP. First, she went to stay with a rabies vaccinated foster volunteer, enjoying the coziness of a real home again for a while. Back at the shelter, she was moved to a larger cat colony space with furniture and room to roam. She remained a sparkplug of energy but her inappropriate elimination ended and her interactions mellowed. Once her quarantine ended and she was given a clean bill of health, Looney Tuna was adopted just twelve days later into her forever home!

#dorisdayanimalfoundation #harpsaveslives

From our grantees at @whistle_pig_farm

"Abe", an estimated 19 year old Saddlebred paint gelding, came to us as a mandatory surrender case from an equine hoarding situation. As is unfortunately often the case, he had been kept with too many horses on too little pasture. A gentle giant, he was unable to compete successfully for the little food available to the herd. He arrived severely malnourished and exhibited other typical signs of neglect as evidenced by the representative photo of one hoof. Now that he has gained over 500 pounds and receives regular farrier, dental, dietary and veterinary care, he is a happy and healthy member of the herd. Abe is "pair bonded" with Mama (see below).
"Mama" came to us along with her son, Cyrus, following a protracted Court case in which Whistle Pig Farm provided expert witness testimony. A Court-mandated seizure case, Mama and Cyrus were originally found in a barn with four other horses; two were already dead and one severely malnourished. At some point, Mama, an older Arabian mare, had lost the sight in her left eye due to apparent abuse. Regrettably, Cyrus required euthanasia—the only time we have had to do this—because his halter had never been loosened and had restricted the growth of the bridge of his nose. While horses can breathe through their mouths, this is not preferred and the nasal restriction could not be reversed.
For Mama, there is a happier story. Thanks to DDAF, we were finally able afford the necessary removal of her left eye, resulting in considerably greater comfort. With this and consistent farrier, dental, and veterinary care, Mama now enjoys quiet days resting in the pasture (when she is not bossing Abe around !).

#dorisdayanimalfoundation #ddaf #whistlepigfarm

From our grantees at @catsofmoco

AWLMC is very grateful for the support of DDAF and others. It allows us to support the cats in our care for as long as they need it.

Nox is a sweet but shy 10-year-old black cat who was adopted this week after over 2 years at AWLMC! Last year, Nox had a life-threatening urinary blockage which landed him with sizeable veterinary bills and ongoing care, including a prescription diet. Thanks to donor support, we were able to provide the medical care he needed and place him in a loving foster home while he waited for someone who understood his unique needs. Now, Nox`s patience is rewarded and he finally has a family of his own.

Sienna is a playful, social 3-year-old calico tabby who was found sheltering under a parked car. Shortly after being rescued, she gave birth to two kittens, who have since found loving homes. Now it`s Sienna`s turn! She greets everyone like an old friend, loves curling up in laps, watching the world from a sunny window, and chasing her favorite toy. We`re hopeful that her forever family is just around the corner.

Onyx is a handsome, affectionate 8-year-old long-haired black cat who was recently diagnosed with kidney disease and inflammation. While his prognosis is limited, our goal is to make every day count. Thanks to DDAF`s support, Onyx is receiving the medical care and comfort he deserves while living with a compassionate guardian foster, where he can spend his remaining time surrounded by love.

#dorisdayanimalfoundation #ddaf #awlmc #animalwelfareleaguemontgomerycounty

From our grantees at @searchdogfoundation

A year ago, India was sitting in a Florida shelter awaiting adoption when Amy Couts, an experienced canine handler and trainer, agreed to foster the young Belgian Malinois. Amy is the founder of 421 K9 Search and Rescue, Inc., a nonprofit where she volunteers for search and rescue operations with her live-find partner, Tango, and human remains detection partner, Fawkes.

Amy agreed to foster India, expecting that she would be placed with an agency. Despite India’s working potential, no agency expressed a need for a working canine at that time, so Amy decided to begin India’s training herself in Electronic Storage Detection (ESD).

Amy and India achieved ESD certification through the United States Police Canine Association in March 2025, allowing the twosome to help in the fight against human trafficking and child pornography, as well as other criminal activities.

However, India’s transition to her professional career was complicated by a difficult health challenge. She was diagnosed with severe food and environmental sensitivities that left her in constant discomfort. After exhaustive testing and various natural trials, Amy and her veterinarian determined that bi-monthly Cytopoint injections were the only effective way to provide India with the relief she needed.

Cytopoint works by neutralizing the protein that triggers allergic reactions in dogs. While a single injection is effective for 4 to 8 weeks, it is not inexpensive, especially for a medication India will likely need throughout her lifetime.

This year, thanks to SDF’s Canine Healthcare Grant, Amy was able to offset some of the costs of India’s medication.

“India absolutely loves her job,” Amy shared. “I am so thankful she isn’t constantly scratching anymore. We truly appreciate the help in covering her expenses.”

By easing the financial burden of these essential treatments, we ensure that India can stay focused on the vital work she was born to do. Thanks to support like DDAF, India and her handler can do what they love.