HartSong Ranch Animal Sanctuary

06/13/2024

Yesterday was a JOYOUS day… 50+ ‘wild’ Mallard ducklings were released on HartSong’s pond…

HartSong partners with many Wildlife Rescue Organizations in the Northern California area. Most of these wild ducklings were discovered orphaned or trapped in storm drains and turned into Gold Country Wildlife Rescue (GCWR, Auburn, CA). For the last 2 months they have been receiving excellent care while living together in a barn stall. This week, all were deemed healthy enough and old enough to be released into the wild.

How remarkable it was to witness their first steps as they cautiously waddled out of their crates, scampered to the pond’s edge and gleefully jumped into their first natural water setting. No coaxing was required on our part – they all seemed to understand that this is where nature intended them to be.

HartSong’s pond is very healthy and abundant with their natural food sources but even so, we will supplement their feed for a couple of months until they get the hang of foraging for food on their own. Supplemental feed for 50+ ducklings will cost HartSong a pretty penny so any financial help would be greatly appreciated.

In addition to caring about the welfare of the sanctuary’s domestic animals, HartSong also cares immensely about the welfare of the wild creatures that grace our land. It truly is an honor to be able to provide these ducklings with a suitable ‘soft release’ environment so that these little ones have the time to figure out how to survive in a wild, natural setting.

Tremendous thanks to Gold Country Wildlife Rescue for saving these precious lives and to Angela Marie McGillicuddy (GCWR wildlife technician) for transporting and delivering the 10+ crates packed with ducklings to HartSong Ranch. HartSong is very happy to have played a small part in this wildlife rescue and rehabilitation effort.








MORE RELEASE VIDEOS IN COMMENTS

06/07/2024

TRIPOD KITTEN UPDATE

It's a boy!!! We've decided to call him Scooters. Thank you Tina Wolteche-East for suggesting the perfect name.

*At the time of his vet visit, the vet suspected Scooters was 4-5 weeks old.

*Thankfully, his left leg is NOT paralyzed and his hip is NOT broken. My hopes that daily sessions of physical therapy on his useless left leg would develop the muscle memory needed and encourage him to begin to use his limp, flaccid leg and it did just that. Now, instead of dragging his remaining leg behind him, he is beginning to understand it's purpose and finally, he is able to move his leg underneath his body. He's beginning to figure it out - standing on his stump for balance and then pushing himself up into a semi-standing position. A huge improvement from dragging himself around on his belly.

*He now eats soft kitten food and kitten crunchies on his own. No more syringe feeding for this little guy.

*During the day, I set him free to roam in the main part of our home. The result of allowing him to explore as he wishes, though, leaves an abundance of what we call 'Scooter Trails' (urine and p**p streaks) all over the floors but if confined in a crate 24/7, he wouldn't develop the strength or muscle needed to eventually walk so needless to say, a lot of floor cleaning is required but it's worth it. His determination to figure out how to manage his disability is inspiring. His spirit is vibrant and he's definitely on a mission to explore the world around him.

*Due to his lack of hind end muscle, he 'dribbles' urine constantly so the vet showed me how to express his bladder which I do 4 times daily. She explained that as he grows and becomes stronger, the muscles in his bladder will become stronger and eventually, he'll be able to void when full rather than leak constantly. I look forward to that day because he's doesn't appreciate the applied pressure but I know he feels so much better after each urine expression is finished.

*You'll notice in the video that his left leg has a tendency to slide out to the left when he's on the move. To address that, I now wrap a small bit of vet wrap around his left paw. Doing so, gives him much better traction on our slippery hardwood floors.

I think this sweet little guy has a good future ahead of him. He certainly is a fighter and he loves to play be it with a hair tie - a crumpled up piece of tissue paper or a balled up piece of aluminum foil - he will bat his new toy around and play with it for hours. It's so nice to see him play.

Thanks to all for your concerns and well wishes about this sweet little bundle of joy. His vibrant spirit alone compels him overcome and conquer his challenges. No doubt about it - it is quite an effort to care for him yet we're delighted and honored to help him find his way.

http://PayPal.me/HartSongranch

06/04/2024

UPDATE: All the puppies have been adopted to loving homes. 😀
Thank you to everyone for all of your help and support 🐾💕


HartSong is doing a courtesy post.
These puppies were abandoned
and a kind couple found them and have them now but need help.
Is there a Rescue that can step up and save these sweet puppies.
They look like they are about 8 weeks old and possibly Chihuahua/ Minpin mix.
Please call Derek 530-333-5916
Thank you 💕🐾🤞

05/30/2024

HartSong Ranch Open Barn - No admission
Saturday, June 1, 11AM-3PM

RUBBER DUCKY RACES BEGIN AT 1:30
(see photos for a glimpse of the racing canal route)

*Meet the sanctuary animals - horses, cows, goats, geese, dogs, etc.
*Explore the sanctuary
*Enjoy a beautiful day in nature
*Silent Auction/Raffle items
*Plenty of parking
*Well mannered dogs/animals on leash are welcome

*Lemonade, beer, wine, hard ciders
*Impossible burgers and chips

COME ONE - COME ALL...
It's going to be a spectacular DUCKY day!!!

05/24/2024

MEET OUR NEWEST ‘UNEXPECTED’ SPECIAL NEEDS RESCUE...

This teeny kitten was discovered alone, weak, cold, and shivering on the floor of HartSong’s east barn on Sunday morning, May 19. We estimated her age to be 2-3 weeks old - not yet weaned and still in need of her mother’s milk. Further examination revealed that she was a tripod - born without a back right leg.

We did not have a baby Nurser bottle on hand, so goats’ milk was offered via an eye dropper and canned, puréed kitten food was diluted and offered via syringe. On this day, she HAD to learn to eat differently, and she did just that. Her hunger drove her to do so.

She sleeps most of the day but awakens every 2-3 hours when she needs to eat and boy, does she let me know when she’s hungry. After each feeding, I gently stimulate her ge****ls with a warm cloth because kittens this young, haven’t the strength in their abdominal muscles to urinate or defecate on their own.

I do harbor a secret angst that her left rear leg might be paralyzed. When placed on the floor, she pulls herself around with her front legs while following my feet but makes no attempt to stand. I administered a ‘pinch test” on her toes, and she did react so I know that she has some feeling in that leg, yet she continues to drag the leg so many times daily, I place her in my lap and gently bend and massage her leg with hopes that the leg will develop muscle memory and enough strength to eventually stand.

She’s a very curious little kitten. One minute she’s at my feet in the kitchen and the next minute, I’ll find her in the bedroom. She might not yet be able to stand but boy, can she ever scoot herself around.

Today is day 6 of caring for her. She’s improved so much that hand feeding is no longer required. She now eats soft kitten food and kitten crunchies all by herself. She even p**ped today without assistance. YAY! HUGE accomplishment!!! She’s a little spitfire and obviously on a mission.

Next week she will be seen by our vet (the earliest appointment available). I’ll let you know what the examination reveals.

And yes, it’s time to name her. Any suggestions?

needs kitten
needs cats
animals

05/09/2024

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - OPEN BARN - a day of sunshine, animals and nature
Saturday, June 1, 2024
11AM-3PM

RUBBER DUCKY RACES BEGIN AT 1:30

*Meet and 'treat' the sanctuary animals - horses, cows, goats, pigs, geese, chickens and dogs
*Tour the sanctuary
*Take the row boat out for a fun time on the lake
* Take a walk over to the east barn to meet the cows and explore the very old east barn
*Meet the co-founders and members of HartSong's board of directors

*Impossible burgers/chips with all the fixins'
*Lemonade/beer/wine and hard cider
*Silent auction/raffle items
*Bring the kids
*Well mannered dogs on-leash are welcome

05/06/2024

THANK YOU!!!

Words cannot fully describe how thankful we are for you and your generosity during Big Day of Giving on May 2, 2024. Thank you so, so much!

Because of you and your generosity, HartSong Ranch Animal Sanctuary can continue to provide exceptional care for the rescued sanctuary animals living within our gates (64+) – to save countless adoptable dogs languishing in high-kill shelters and to save senior or terminally ill shelter dogs by placing them in loving hospice homes until they take their final breath.

Although Big Day of Giving is over for the year, our work is far from over. To stay updated on our programs and events, please follow HartSong Ranch on FB and Instagram.

Thank you again for all your support and for helping raise awareness of HartSong’s mission in our community and beyond!
We couldn’t do this work without you.

Sincerely,
Kathy Hart
President/Co-founder

05/02/2024

Today is Big Day of Giving - our region’s once-annual 24-hour giving day, coordinated by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, to help local nonprofits raise much-needed funds and spread the word about their impact.

This year, you can give donations as little as $10! Donate before midnight tonight by visiting www.bigdayofgiving.org and searching for HartSong Ranch Animal Sanctuary in the search bar.

Thank you, so, so much! We couldn’t do this work without you.

We, and those we serve, deeply appreciate your support!

05/01/2024

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
BIG DAY OF GIVING
From midnight to 11:59 p.m. on May 2!
www.bigdayofgiving.org

Big Day of Giving on Thursday, May 2, 2024, is an important fundraiser for HartSong Ranch and, with your support, we will be able to continue our mission and grow our impact in this community.

How to help?

GIVE: You can donate to HartSong Ranch Animal Sanctuary by visiting www.bigdayofgiving.org on Thursday, May 2, and making a gift with a credit or debit card.

Your donation of any amount will help HartSong Ranch to provide exceptional care for the rescued sanctuary animals living within our gates (64+) – to save countless adoptable dogs languishing in high-kill shelters and to save senior or terminally ill shelter dogs by placing them in loving hospice homes until they take their final breath.

SHARE: Let your friends, family, colleagues, and associates know that you support our cause by sharing our posts and our needs on your social media platforms. A good word from friends, followers and donors is the most meaningful way for us to spread our mission.

We, and those we serve, deeply appreciate your support. Thank you!

Most sincerely,

Kathy Hart
President/Co-founder

05/01/2024

Sunday we moved Kevan, Zion and Prince Windy (3 off-the-track sanctuary Thoroughbreds) back to the east side of the property. We move them to the west side during the winter months for safety reason - lots of rain creates way too much mud.

Now they can run freely, play in the lake and hangout with the cows.

Life is good for these 3 ex-racehorses.

Please note Ciara's reaction as they parade by. She was born blind - never seen a thing in the world yet she's 'looking' right at them. She knows exactly what's going on.

04/29/2024

Living life with Chevy, a Megaesophagus dog...

FINALLY, we found a suitable device that inhibits Chevy from devouring anything on the ground while outdoors. Because of his medical condition, he can only ingest food while seated upright, on his haunches, in a Bailey Chair.

We've tried 3 different muzzle types. All eliminated his ability to ingest anything on the ground (horse p**p, cow manure, chicken p**p, etc.) but while wearing any muzzle, Chevy's take on having something over his mouth was that he was being punished. He wouldn't play, follow us around or explore like any puppy his age would do. Instead, he would retreat to a stall or corner, obsessed with finding a way to remove it and when unsuccessful or tired of trying, he would sulk and whine insessentially.
It was heartbreaking to hear him wail. So the hunt continued and we then, came across the 'OutFox Field Guard Mask'.

This contraption is designed to help protect dogs' eyes, ears and noses from barbed grass seed pe*******on - in other words, foxtails. It's also an effective tool to help prevent dogs from scavenging - ingesting rocks, trailside trash, poisonous mushrooms and in Chevy's case, p**p!

Thankfully, he doesn't seem to mind having this meshy contraption over his head and once again, he's a playful and happy pup while we're out in the barns doing chores. He can see well through the mesh and he can drink water - he just can't pick up anything on the ground but goodness knows, he still continues to try. As far as Chevy's concerned, nothing smells or tastes better than a fresh cow flop.

Needless to say, after a few hours of cruising around the barnyard, his mask is a smelly, gross mess to deal with but certainly a far better option than cleaning up his unannounced hurls - generally in our home - of undigested horse or cow p**p.

And, his new nickname - you guessed it - Darth!!!

dogs needs dogs with Megaesophagus Field Guard

04/26/2024

CELEBRATING A DAY WITH ‘SUNSHINE’

HartSong Ranch was blessed with a very special visitor to the ranch this week. Her parents have requested that we not post her given name so in this post, I shall christen her ‘SUNSHINE’!

‘Sunshine’ is a late 20’s young adult with special needs. She requires constant supervision so when visiting the ranch, she is accompanied by her friend/chaperone and loving caregiver of many years, Samantha. When Samantha first called me about the possibility of visiting the ranch with Sunshine, she shared with me that the adventures they enjoy together - shopping, driving around the foothills to enjoy the scenery and visiting different restaurants, were now becoming boring and mundane. Samantha deeply wished to introduce Sunshine to different and exciting landscapes so in that Sunshine loves animals, we scheduled a date for their first visit.

When I first met Sunshine, I found her to be quite timid and shy and a young lady with a very kind, gentle soul. Our goal on her first visit to the ranch, was to introduce Sunshine to a horse, an animal she had never met before. So, we headed into the barn to meet Zach, a 30-year-old Arab gelding - also, a very gentle soul. I doubted she would be agreeable to enter his stall, but she surprised me with her bravery and cautiously entered after a few words of encouragement. Even though she couldn’t verbalize her excitement, you could see the amazement on her face while standing face to face with a 900-pound horse. Seeing her smile was the highlight of my day and I’m quite certain that meeting Zach was the highlight of her day.

Samantha had mentioned to me that Sunshine knew the word ‘Moo’ and uttered it often so our mission on Sunshine’s second visit to the ranch was to introduce her to a cow. But on the day of their visit, the cows were grazing on the east side of the property – a trek that would have been too difficult for Sunshine to manage so we loaded the tractor up with some hay – got in our vehicles – drove out to the front gate entrance - dropped the hay over the east gate fence and immediately, the cows came a ‘running. Cow treats were offered in abundance and once again, Sunshine smiled.

While all of this was going on, I decided to take a load off and copped a squat in the tractor bucket. Sunshine seemed intrigued with my chosen place to sit, so I asked if she’d like to join me. Without a moment’s hesitation, she did so. Well, one thing led to another and before we knew it, the tractor was fired up – Samantha joined us in the tractor bucket and then the three of us went cruising down a country road. This time and much to my surprise, Sunshine wasn’t just smiling – she was laughing and screaming with delight – literally screaming with joy. The higher we raised the bucket, the louder she screamed and the bigger her smile became. She wasn’t afraid at all. So, as it turned out, this lovely young woman, who I initially thought to be timid and shy, had secretly been yearning to get out of her comfort zone – to do something, anything that was thrilling and adventurous. Little did I know that hidden behind her shy exterior, an adventurous spirit was just waiting for an opportunity to be audacious and brave.

I can hardly wait until Sunshine and Samantha’s next visit. Often, visitors will state – “well, we need to be on our way. You’ve lots of work to do.” Well, work is all we ever do - chores - fixing fences - repairing irrigation lines, etc. It’s been years since I’ve giggled and screamed out loud while enjoying a bumpy ride in the tractor bucket. It truly was a thrilling experience. What an absolute joy it was for me to step back for a moment and take it all in - the beauty of the sanctuary – the happiness of the animals in our care and to see our world through the eyes of innocence.

Thank you, Sunshine, and Samantha, for the opportunity for me to be a kid again - to giggle - to laugh and to scream at the top of my lungs with delight. What an incredible gift...every life matters

~There is no greater disability in society than the inability to see a person as more~
Robert M Hensel

with special needs for adults with special needs life therapy therapy

04/16/2024

DEAR SWEET ALI

DOB - Unknown
Freedom Ride from the shelter - April 1, 2021
Crossed the Rainbow Bridge - August 10, 2021

Dear sweet Ali was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer while in the shelter. The vets only gave her a couple of weeks to live. Even so, HartSong Ranch could not allow her to die alone, confused and frightened in the shelter. Remarkably, Ali lived for 131 days, surrounded with love and kindness, thanks to her incredible hospice providers, Richard and Susana Alamo, who lavished Ali with soft beds on which to lie her head – romps in the backyard – drives in the car – SPA days and weekly visits to In & Out Burger, her favorite treat and destination. They even designated May 3, as the day to celebrate her birthday.

Our hearts and admiration go out to all those who open their hearts to welcome a senior or terminally ill pup. Even though hospice care providers know that heartbreak is just around the corner, they allow their hearts to break "a little" so that another's heart will never be broken again. Certainly, an incredible act of selfless kindness and courage.

Rest in peace, sweet Ali …every life matters
ill dogs dogs

BIG DAY of GIVING is an annual, local giving day hosted by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference for us. Please share our need with your friends, family and followers and encourage them to donate so that HartSong Ranch may continue our mission to save senior and terminally ill dogs.

04/15/2024

04/11/2024

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
BIG DAY OF GIVING
From midnight to 11:59 p.m. on May 2!
www.bigdayofgiving.org

At HartSong Ranch Animal Sanctuary, we offer a peaceful forever home to previously abused/neglected/abandoned horses and farm animals. Here we provide a platform to observe firsthand the way horses and farm animals behave when they are not expected to be used for meat, profit, milk, or labor. We allow the sanctuary animals living within our gates to simply be, and as a result, connect to one another and humans with an awe-inspiring sense of calm and trust.

With your support during Big Day of Giving on May 2, your donation of any amount will help HartSong Ranch to continue to provide excellent care for the sanctuary animals and to save numerous other animals desperately in need of a helping hand.

• Donations as little as $10 make a big difference.
• You can start giving from April 18 through May 2 during the
Early Giving period.
• If you donate in a loved one’s honor, the website will email
that person
• Big Day of Giving is a once-annual 24-hour giving challenge to
help local nonprofits raise funds to make a difference in the
Sacramento region.

Learn more about Big Day of Giving at www.bigdayofgiving.org

SCRUMPY - SANCTUARY HORSE SPOTLIGHT
*Former Thoroughbred race horse sold to slaughter
to a kill buyer after a bowed tendon injury.
The price for his meat - $750.00.
*Scrumpy's incredible lineage - Great, great grandson of
Secretariat and the Great grandson of Seattle Slew -
both Triple Crown winners.
*Arrived to HartSong Ranch on April 7, 2014.

Thank you for your support.
Paypal.me/hartsongranch

04/09/2024

GREAT VOLUNTEERS come in all sizes...

We've a wonderful, pint-sized volunteer. Her name is Lily and I absolutely adore this sweet child.

Jessica, Lily's mom, has fond childhood memories of being around horses and farm animals at a young age - a part of her youth that continues to provide her with beautiful, lifelong memories and therefore, it's important to Jessica that her daughter has the opportunities to experience the same so as often as time allows, this mom and daughter duo, who live in a conjested, urban neighborhood about an hour away, put on their ranch duds and hit the road for an adventurous morning of grooming horses and scooping up horse p**p. Believe me when I say, my time spent with Jessica and Lily is a beautiful thing.

Upon their arrival, Lily always surprises me because I never know what fashion trend Lily will be sporting for the day - thanks to her mom's willingness to allow Lily to decide how she will outfit herself for a morning of ranch chores. Sometimes she prefers to dress as a princess. A lacy skirt paired with muck boots while carting around Minny Mouse is quite a fashion statement. So much so that I think I need to give such an outfit a try.

Lily's favorite horse to groom is Cloudy, a 34 year old Welsh pony and Cloudy simply adores Lily's kind, sweet demeanor.
The two have quite a special bond.

When we've an abundance of farm, fresh eggs, Lily accepts them gleefully and a few days later, Jessica shares with me photos of the cupcakes and muffins created with the fresh eggs. As a thank you, Lily painted me a special gift thst now has a permanent place on my desk. Looking at it, always touches me deeply.

It's truly an honor to be a small part of providing Lily with memories that she will hopefully carry with her for a lifetime but you know what, the same applies to me because this sweet little girl - whether she knows it or not, has given me back the same - memories I will cherish forever.
It's truly a beautiful thing.

04/04/2024

Oh my goodness, IT'S SNOWING!!! Crazy because yesterday, it was a beautiful, sunny 73 degree day. Go figure!!!

We expected colder temps today but certainly not snow so early this morning, the horses and farm animals were allowed out on pasture but by 2:30, all were moved back into the barns. Not a one complained, though, because each received an extra ration of hay to warm up their bodies and keep them occupied.

Crazy, foothill weather. Certainly makes life interesting!

04/03/2024

CHEVY UPDATE... Some happy news to share...

Chevy found his forever home at HartSong Ranch.

As it turns out, our way of life, our homestead and the sanctuary grounds are set up perfectly to care for a dog with Megaesophagus. After an intense 7-month learning curve, we now understand his medical issues and triggers. We've also come to know that we absolutely adore him. He loves his daily routine... early morning walks - helping me with chores - greeting visitors and volunteers but mostly, he LOVES it when I unlatch the tray on his Bailey Chair because that means it's time to eat and Chevy LOVES to eat. He will never be hungry again.

Some day soon, please come to meet Chevy. His 'I LOVE MY LIFE' exuberance, will charm your socks off.
..every life matters

P.S. Chevy was neutered late February, 2024. On the morning of his surgery, he weighed in at a whopping 63 pounds - the perfect weight for him.


with special needs
with Megaesophagus

02/22/2024

HartSong's early morning, daily visitors...

Every morning, we scatter around piles of Scratch, Crumble and COB for our sanctuary chickens and geese to enjoy. The wild deer, however, have discovered this free smorgasbord and now they too, hop the front yard fence to enjoy the tempting offering.

We absolutely LOVE that the deer feel safe enough to join the party.

02/05/2024

TREMENDOUS thanks to Carolynne Wright Knisley and Cool Feed & Ranch Supply for hosting the SPECTACULAR 2024 Crab Feed fundraiser to benefit HartSong Ranch.

A simple thank-you seems so inadequate for all you have done. Please know that your thoughtfulness and kindness is appreciated more than words can ever say...

With sincere gratitude,
Kathy Hart, President
HartSong Ranch.org

01/15/2024

I LOVE moments like these...

Onyx, a 4 year old sanctuary steer, made a new friend today and Hannah, a HartSong volunteer, made a new friend, as well.

01/11/2024

Chevy update...
WONDERFUL NEWS to share...

Chevy's weight now exceeds 50 pounds. He's gained nearly 30 pounds since he became a HartSong foster dog in 2023 - quite an accomplishment for a dog diagnosed with Megaesophogus.
Many dogs with ME die from starvation or phnemonia shortly after being diagnosed with Megaesophogus.

The Bailey Chair, that was beautifully constructed and donated by a concerned community neighbor, definitely saved his life.

The result is that Chevy is now a happy and healthy ranch dog. He loves hanging out in the barns with me when I'm feeding/finishing up chores and weather is never a deterant. Be it a day of heavy rain or bitter cold temperatures, it doesn't bother him at all. He just wants to be a part of the daily routine and celebrates his new, healthy life every day.
..every life matters

12/23/2023

From all of us here at HartSong Ranch, Happy Holidays! May this season be filled with joy and delight for you and those you love.

To finish viewing our holiday greeting, please click the link below. 🤍❄️

https://jlcards.com/7Dv7m2

11/28/2023

SAVING CHEVY

Chevy, a 6-month-old Labrador/Weimaraner mix, was an owner surrender dog. Typically, HartSong’s two dog rescue programs only pull shelter dogs that are RED LISTED for euthanasia but there was something about Chevy that made us rethink our policies.

When he came into our care on October 27, 2023, he weighed a mere 26.3 POUNDS. He was literally skin and bones. Had he been a normal, healthy puppy, he would have weighed 50-60 pounds. HartSong’s job was to figure out what was wrong with him - why he was in the condition he was in and how we could improve his life. Was the cause of his emaciated condition due to neglect or a medical issue? We didn’t know and little did we know, what lay ahead…

Never have I seen a more ravenously hungry puppy. He inhaled every meal, but even with food in his stomach (or so we thought), he was constantly and frantically on the hunt for something else to eat – horse p**p, horse grain, chicken scratch, chicken crumble, cat p**p, dog p**p, rotten apples on the ground, fig leaves, etc. You name it and if he found it – he would eat it and shortly after swallowing ‘whatever’, he would have what we now call, ‘hurling episodes’. Like clockwork, within 20 minutes to an hour after eating anything and without any forewarning, he would violently hurl whatever he had eaten EVERYWHERE. ‘Projectile, flying’, hurling describes it best. After 2 days of witnessing this behavior, we came to understand that these episodes were unlike ‘vomiting’. There was no gagging – no retching and no abdominal convulsing. He wasn’t throwing up stomach contents - evident because he was hurling up undigested food. Each hurl contained remnants of any solids he had eaten mixed with an abundance of clear, slimy, bubbly fluid. This observation was an eye-opener, revealing that what he was eating didn’t ever reach his stomach. Instead, the food he had eaten was accumulating and sloshing around in his lower esophagus. No wonder he was ½ the weight he should be. How tragic it must have been for him to eat and to never feel full. I can’t imagine the gut-wrenching pangs of hunger this pup experienced daily during his first six months of life.

Chevy had his first clinical evaluation with HartSong’s small animal vet on October 31, 2023. He then weighed 30 POUNDS - a small improvement but a step in the right direction. The condition Chevy suffers with is known as Megaesophagus. It is believed to occur due to incomplete nerve development and/or an enlargement in the lower esophagus. The nerves and muscle memory needed to push food from the esophagus into the stomach do not function properly, therefore causing bouts of frequent regurgitation – which can lead to weight loss, dehydration, and aspirated pneumonia. There is no cure. Still, the condition is manageable.

Dogs with Megaesophagus need to eat and drink with the head and upper body raised (i.e., the upper body is elevated 45 to 90 degrees relative to the floor). Having a dog sit on his haunches and upright to eat allows gravity to do its thing and guess what, it works, thanks to a remarkable piece of furniture called the Bailey Chair. Sitting upright for his meals allows whatever he consumes to flow from the esophagus and ease its way into the stomach. We needed to order a Bailey Chair immediately or we had to find someone to build a custom chair for Chevy.

Thanks to the incredible outreach of HartSong’s board of directors and the amazing support HartSong receives from our incredible community, a local craftsman volunteered his carpentry expertise and designed a custom chair for Chevy. Not only was it sturdy as a rock and beautifully constructed – the chair was also completed and delivered in record time. November 4, 2023, the chair was delivered. It was a turning point – setting Chevy on the path to a healthy life.

Many other special needs were required to care for Chevy properly. At this point, Chevy’s food needed to be hand prepared – blended into a slurry – almost the consistency of cream of wheat. The smoother the gruel, the easier it flowed into his stomach. Per our vet’s recommendation, his meals also needed to be high fat because he needed the calories.

Once again, HartSong’s incredible “TEAM CHEVY” stepped up to the plate. Mega amounts of chicken/turkey/ham and beef were pressure cooked and once tender, the meat was blended to a smooth consistency. All leftover grease was saved and added to the mixture. A bit of canned food was also added to ensure that Chevy was receiving all the vitamins/minerals and nutrients needed for a healthy diet. Empty single serving yogurt cups were filled with a mixture of grease drippings and water and then frozen, creating popsicles. Doing so, provided Chevy with an abundance of flavored water to consume and the popsicles also gave him something to chomp on, keeping him occupied and content until he was allowed out of his chair.

It only took a few days for Chevy to become comfortable eating in his chair. He learned quickly that eating this way made his belly feel full and finally, his hunger was satisfied. We require him to stay seated for at least 30 minutes after each meal. One would think a puppy would throw a tantrum about being confined but not Chevy. He just sits calmly and watches as food bowls are prepared for the other dogs or watches intently as clothes are moved from the washer to the dryer. Often, he nestles his head down on a comfy towel placed on his tray after each meal and falls asleep.

Chevys weight on November 18, 2023, was a whopping 41 POUNDS. He is no longer the emaciated dog I met less than a month ago. He is no longer obsessed with finding food. His coat now shimmers, reminding me of a swatch of fine velvet and he smiles constantly. He’s HAPPY! He’s just plain happy!

We don’t know what the future has in store for Chevy, but what we do know is that he is now in a safe place, with caregivers who understand his special needs.

Someday, when Chevy is healthy enough to be placed up for adoption, someone will reach out and offer a forever home to this quite special pup. We have visions of his adoptive family sliding his Bailey Chair up to the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day 2024 because he is, in fact, a valued family member that just wants to be part of anything and everything. Caring for his needs does require a tremendous amount of dedication and organization but we’ve discovered that once a daily routine is established, life with Chevy can be easily managed and a magical, very rewarding experience.

every life matters…
Kathy Hart/President/Co-founder