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Monty’s journey of hope and healing was made possible through your generous support
When Monty arrived at Lort Smith, his life was hanging by a thread. At only two years old, the American Staffordshire Terrier was fighting for his life in our Intensive Care Unit after major abdominal surgery.
Exhausted both emotionally and financially, Monty’s owners made the heart-breaking decision to surrender him into our care. They knew it was his best chance to survive.
Wasting no time, our dedicated vets and nurses rallied together to provide the veterinary treatment Monty needed. Each day, we were touched by his strength and spirit until, finally, he came through.
A few days later, Monty relocated from our Animal Hospital in North Melbourne to our Adoption Centre in Campbellfield to start the next phase of his journey to a better life. Our team provided round-the-clock care, ensuring his physical wounds heal and his spirit remains unbroken.
But Monty’s journey was far from over.
Day in, day out, Monty patiently waited for his turn at a happy ending, but as a larger dog, many found his strength and size overwhelming. Sadly, when animals spend too much time in a shelter environment they can become stressed.
But Lort Smith doesn’t give up on animals like Monty.
We knew there was a loving family out there who could give this young dog a happy life. He just needed a bit more support from us first.
To give Monty the best chance, our behaviour training team worked closely with him each day to build his trust and confidence around people and other dogs. With patience and care, Monty slowly improved until we could find him a foster carer. Our network of compassionate foster carers provides animals with a much-needed respite from the shelter and gets them used to a home environment while they await adoption.
“It takes a village to help animals like Monty. By spending time in a home environment, he received the love and normalcy he needed for a lasting recovery. Our foster network plays a key role in these transformations.”
– Mandy, Lort Smith Adoption Centre Manager
Through social media and community outreach, we shared his story, capturing the hearts of many and eventually connecting him with the perfect match, Molly, a vibrant individual who works at a dog day-care centre. She was just the right fit for the dog’s energetic and loving personality.
“Monty is doing so incredibly well. He’s settled right into my family and work environment. He comes to work with me every day and loves it; he is so good with all the dogs and is a fan favourite with the staff members.”
– Molly, new owner
Last year, Lort Smith rehomed 631 animals with loving new families and matched 679 animals with dedicated foster carers. Many of them were surrendered to our hospital in need of urgent veterinary care. Thankfully, we could provide almost $650,000 worth of vital treatments and give them a second chance.
Stepping into our most ambitious year yet, we anticipate 2024 will be even busier. It is not just about treating animals; it’s about transforming their lives, ensuring more stories like Monty’s have a happy ending.
Lort Smith Animal Hospital is a not-for-profit organisation without ongoing government funding. Support from generous people like you can help provide each vital service from recovery and rehabilitation to foster care and rehoming for animals like Monty, who deserve a second chance.
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Donate today to give more animals like Monty a second chance at life.