Speak Rescue and Sanctuary

10/09/2025

Bennie spent the night in the ER at the university and we hope to get an update from specialists soon. Yesterday, they did a slew of tests and found several things. Most importantly, he seems to have a foreign body in his system that appears to be a gastrointestinal tube left from a prior surgery. They are not sure if this alone is causing his issues, but it doesn’t look so easy to remove. They can’t remove it endoscopically because Bennie is way too tiny for their equipment. And because his health isn’t great, surgery isn’t an ideal option. They know there are other things going on as well. He is still anemic, but his white blood cell count has improved somewhat. They’ve ruled out Addison’s and a liver shunt and we are thrilled that they see no signs of another intussusception. There are still lots of other possibilities on the table including underlying endocrine or GI diseases but some of them also require an invasive surgical procedure for diagnosis. They are concerned about his stunted growth and his chronic diarrhea. But we were thrilled when the ER doctor called last night and said Bennie was alert and even eating a little. We promise to keep everyone updated as we learn more. We are humbled by the kind messages and the donations. We wouldn’t be able to help this sweet boy without you.
https://speakrescue.charityproud.org/Donate/Index/37402
Venmo:

10/09/2025

Sweet Derby has found his forever home with a family full of patience, understanding, and love. Life with his sister Sansa means nonstop play and endless fun. He even gets to tag along with his mom for gym days and CrossFit competitions, where he’s become a crowd favorite with his very own cheering section. At home, Derby is busy building a bond with his cat brother Nacho, and every day brings them a little closer.

Derby’s journey is a beautiful reminder that every dog deserves the chance to shine. With the right family, anything is possible. Here’s to all the adventures ahead, Derby!

09/09/2025

Our sweet boy Bennie is back at the university today as the specialists work to figure out what is going on with him. They're doing more bloodwork — including lots of specialized tests — and as well as more x-rays and another ultrasound. We've ruled out lots of things, but the list of potential issues is still so long. For several days, Bennie has had awful diarrhea and has lost his appetite. We've tried enticing him with everything from chicken to sweet potatoes. Heck, we'd give him a burger and brownies if it would perk him up. We are hoping to find out that there is some treatable cause for his GI issues and not that it's another intussusception. (If you're following Bennie's story, you know he had two GI surgeries when he was just a baby and also battled anemia, aspiration pneumonia, hypoglycemia, and so much more.) He'll be in the ER for several more hours, and hopefully we'll have answers today or tomorrow. Please send your strongest prayers, good thoughts, healing wishes, and whatever else you can so that our sweet puppy knows we are all rooting for him. We hate to continue to ask for help, but please consider donating if you can. Thanks for being part of Bennie's team. https://speakrescue.charityproud.org/Donate/Index/37402

08/09/2025

Our sweet Bennie has endured a rough few days. He continues to have major intestinal upset and is not eating very much at all. We’ve tempted him with various healthy GI foods and canned puppy food, but he is turning up his nose at everything. When he’s feeling great, he’s a very excited eater, so we know his stomach must hurt. The scary part is that he’s lost nearly 1/2 pound – which is a lot when you’ve made it all the way to 4 pounds! Bennie is on medication for his diarrhea and reflux and he’s on several probiotics. Although he’s not as active and playful as usual, his tail keeps wagging. Keep him in your hearts as we continue to work to figure out how to help our sweet boy.

07/09/2025

We are really, really excited about our September raffle prize. It’s unique and just so cool! It’s a custom, hand-painted 6-inch cake for your dog, created by New York-based Dog Cakes for Dogs. The cake is made from human-grade, pet-friendly ingredients including yogurt, peanut butter, pumpkin, and dog biscuits. And the design is based on a photo of your pup. It even comes with an artist’s keepsake drawing of your dog. The cake can be shipped anywhere in the U.S. and is valued at close to $200!

Please consider taking a chance on this sweet prize while supporting Speak and all our pups.

Tickets are just $5 and you can get them through our donation portal https://speakrescue.charityproud.org/Donate/Index/40058 or via Venmo (please note it’s for the September raffle). Thank you so much!

06/09/2025

Such a pretty day to be out and about with your pup. So head on over to Zoomies Pet Cafe STL for Strut Your Mutt! The event runs from noon to 4pm with local vendors, adorable adoptables, and the yummy drinks and treats that you love from Zoomies. Plus, don't forget the costume contest for pets and their people! Runway walk for the costumes is at 1pm. Speaklings in attendance will be Sorbet, Slushie, Coen, and Veronica. Everyone is welcome for the fun!

05/09/2025

Because of the incredible number of puppies we’ve helped this year, our shelves are bare. We’re hoping that you can help by sending our Speaklings something off of our wish list. Every toy, chew, or package of puppy pads is a tremendous help.

We thank you for your kindness and so do some of our littlest members of Speak! --Grizzly, Andean, Gobi, and Panda.

https://a.co/hUxvQTN

04/09/2025

Be sure to put the Zoomies Pet Cafe STL Strut Your Mutt event in your weekend plans! There will be local rescues and vendors for you to check out as well as the great food, drinks, and fun that Zoomies always brings. There's even a costume contest for the pets and the humans. See you Saturday from noon to 4pm. Find out more here: https://fb.me/e/3Cm7aFj81?mibextid=wwXIfr

04/09/2025

The 2026 Speak! Rescue & Sanctuary Calendar Contest has begun!

It’s your chance to cheer on our incredible pups and help decide which sweet faces will be featured in next year’s calendar.

Every vote equals a tax-deductible donation to Speak! Rescue and Sanctuary.

Your votes don’t just give bragging rights to your favorite pups, they also provide lifesaving care and support for the dogs in our care.

Cast your votes today and make a real difference

https://www.gogophotocontest.com/speakrescue

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping our pups shine!

Fundraiser for Speak Rescue and Sanctuary

03/09/2025

Our adorable little Norman visited the neurologist last week and, while we didn’t get any definitive answers, we did get some helpful insight. His head is on the larger side, but it is not necessarily globe-shaped which could be a sign of hydrocephalus. His open fontanelle – or soft spot – is still significant, though we’ve noticed it’s slowly getting smaller. There are no obvious neurological symptoms at this time, however, Norman could still be hydrocephalic, which means a buildup of fluid around the brain.

At this time, the doctors aren’t recommending any medication or further diagnostics, but that could change depending on how things progress. We have one major concern that we are watching closely: Norman isn’t growing. He’s still just 2.9 lbs, which can be common with hydro puppies. That said, he’s eating well, full of joy, and cute as a button—not much bigger than one either!

The specialists recommend that Norman stays in our care while we continue to closely monitor him. He’s not ready for adoption, but we would consider a foster home in St. Louis. It would have to be an incredibly special person who knows and can handle the heartache if Norman’s journey on earth is way too short. For now, this sweet pup is surrounded by love and getting everything he needs. Thank you for cheering him on!

03/09/2025

Get ready have lots of fun when you Strut Your Mutt at Zoomies Pet Cafe STL this weekend! Local makers, drink specials, adoptable pups, human and dog costume contest, and more! We will be there from noon to 4pm, so come join the party! Details: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ZorgxdfgP/?mibextid=wwXIfr

03/09/2025

Look who was on Fox 2 for Tail Waggin' Tuesday yesterday! Sorbet was such a good girl and we really hope this helps her find her forever home. Her sister Slushie is still looking too.
(Speak is at 2:00 on the clip). https://fox2now.com/studiostl/keepin-it-local/tail-waggin-tuesday-adopt-these-two-adorable-furry-friends-6/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMlJehleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE1OXdmUEJxN1FScWk3SFRmAR5K5I29kWhJkd26IxD0plM9oMskc6Zt-QgS2q8rd-Fo1ABHaFj1ZyJVemF4dQ_aem_MVpyK3ewsmdqii_amX67lw

ST. LOUIS – It’s tail waggin’ Tuesday! Adopt these two adorable four-legged friends from Speak St. Louis Animal Rescue and St. Charles City Animal Control.