Just as Lort Smith changed my life, they can change other animals’ lives. But they need your help to do it. And they must, because a life of pain and suffering is no life at all.

I’m Rosie, a 10-year-old brindle staffy and I’m keen to tell you my story. I was living quite happily with a family in Melbourne when one day they brought another dog into the home. I was not used to being around other dogs, and did not know how to properly interact with them. I was a little nervous, unsure and scared, so I let out a growl.

Well, my carers did not like that and very quickly they bundled me up and dropped me off at Lort Smith. As you probably know, the folks at Lort Smith are compassionate animal lovers and they have been so kind to me. Not for a minute were they going to give up on me.

I have had all sorts of long-term health issues with my skin, eyes, ears and mouth. The care you get at Lort Smith is just incredible. I have been made to feel so special. I am now on lifelong medication that is really helping.

At one stage I had to go through a major dental procedure. I had six teeth removed including a canine tooth. The operation took more than two hours! Dentists are so scary and at first I was frightened. But the operation went smoothly and my mouth doesn’t hurt anymore.

I have also had multiple lumps removed. The vets didn’t like the look of these lumps and carried out further investigation. I had an x-ray, biopsy and a CT scan. The result wasn’t good news – I was suffering from bone cancer!

The vets did lots of talking and carried out more examinations. They decided to embark on an operation which has never before been carried out at Lort Smith!

The surgery itself took two hours. There were two surgeons and two senior nurses. I felt tremendously important, although I found the lights and the strange machinery to be a little overwhelming! All of the staff members were so kind and caring, I knew I was in the best possible hands.

Maybe I was a bit naïve, but I imagined that as soon as the operation was over, I’d be able to get outside and run around. Unfortunately this was not the case and I had to spend two days in the Intensive Care Unit.

I could see they were trying to be nice. And they certainly were caring for me, but the whole thing was just such a pain. It was so boring. After all, no one wants to be sick. And no dog wants to be cooped up in a hospital.

After that I went in to foster care with a very nice woman named Kate. She works for Lort Smith in their Adoption Centre and is also a dog trainer!

Kate was extremely attentive but I still felt terrible. I didn’t have my normal energy. I couldn’t get out and run around. Then, about four days after the operation, I began to breathe rapidly. I couldn’t stop. Kate acted quickly. It was an emergency. She packed me in the back seat of the car and drove me back to Lort Smith. More treatment began. They were determined to get me better.

After six days in ICU, I was going down-hill rapidly. I heard them say, I was anemic. I had low protein levels and the oxygen in my blood was critically low. The next thing I knew, they were giving me a blood transfusion.

I had never even heard of a blood transfusion before but let me tell you something: it worked like magic. It’s been the best thing for me. I was allowed home three days later. And very soon I was feeling like my old self.

These days, I play in the backyard and when I go for a walk, I’ve got all the energy I need. At the local park, I am faster than quite a few of the other dogs.

Thanks to the team at Lort Smith, and all that they have done for me, I’m now feeling better than I have in a very long while. Thanks you for reading my story.

Love from Rosie x

PS. If you make a donation, it will help more animals just like me.