At Popcorn Park Zoo, A Happy Ending For Emma

by Patricia A. Miller

By the time Emma arrived at the Associated Humane Societies' Popcorn Park Zoo a few months ago, she was in precarious shape.

Emma was emaciated and nearly hairless from skin infections. Her so-called owners told the staff that Emma had been sick for a year. They wanted her put down.

They had a new puppy to take care of.

But the staff was having none of that. They went to work on Emma. Veterinarians treated her massive skin infections. She was put on a good diet. She had medicated baths every two days and "lots and lots of love," as shelter worker Sandy Hickman says on the organization's Facebook page.

"We're so happy that they handed this beautiful lady over to us... Emma went from being a miserable, hairless, infected, sickly, sad girl, to being born again," Hickman wrote.

Emma was adopted by a shelter volunteer named JoAnn and her family. who are now spoiling her silly, she said.

"She has a home-cooked breakfast every day with her new dad Bob, and her pal Uccio the husky, then the whole family heads out to the dog park," Hickman wrote. "Mom JoAnn brings Emma by when she comes in to walk our Popcorn Park dogs, and we are always so happy to see how well she's doing."

Emma and her family dropped by recently with a note and a gift.

"To all my friends at Popcorn Park Zoo-

Thank you for taking good care of me during my stay at Popcorn. For all the medical attention and loving that I received, I would like to give you the ability to offer others the same kindness.

Please accept from my human family and brother Uccio, this check for the Res-Q Fund so others can be healed and placed in a forever, caring home.

Love Always,
Emma, JoAnn, Bob and Uccio"

The ResQ Fund is a unique fund established for the sole purpose of providing emergency, surgical or other intensive medical care to animals that have suffered excessively cruel or neglectful treatment, according to the AHS website.

"Unfortunately, there is never a lack of animals who have been abused or left to languish in terrible conditions," the website states. "We are happy to provide these unfortunates with the chance to live in love and safety. But before we can heal their broken hearts, we often have to heal broken bodies. This may require the help of emergency care facilities at off hours and/or the attention of veterinary specialists. The Res-Q Fund covers the costs of addressing the issues that will put that dog or cat on the road to recovery."

Emma was saved by the Res-Q Fund. To make a contribution to help another neglected or abused animal, click here: http://www.ahscares.org/shop/item.asp?itemid=28&catid=5