POTTSVILLE, Pa. — In this week's 16 To The Rescue, we meet a 13-year-old pit bull/mix who is looking for a loving and comfortable family to spend her final days with.
"Not many people go looking for a hospice dog. It's hard to get them adopted. Any way we can get her name out and her story out would help us," said Haley Weist, Hillside SPCA.
Emma is a senior dog, but rescue workers at Hillside SPCA near Pottsville say she still acts like a puppy. She lived in the same home all her life, but about three weeks ago, her family surrendered her. Now, she needs a new family to give her a second chance, and rescue workers say it will be worth it.
"So lucky, I love her to the moon. She's the best. Oh, I'm gonna cry," said Weist.
Haley Weist is the dog manager at the shelter in Schuylkill County. Her shift ends at 3, but she stays until after six some days just to spend time with Emma. That is the impact she has had on all of the rescue workers here.
Rescue workers say Emma's family didn't have the means to take care of her, which is why they gave her up. Emma is now in the early stages of kidney failure.
"Her skin is also kind of funky. When she first came in she smelled so bad so we do give her medicated baths, just every other day, but probably in a home it'll be better. So due to her age, and the severity of the blood work and her kidneys, the vet does not feel it is safe to spay her, so anyone who adopts her, she will be unspayed but that's only due to medical issues," Weist explained.
There are no other animals in Emma's home. But rescue workers say that as she's gotten older, she doesn't really like being around dogs or cats anyway. She can go to a home with kids and would actually probably prefer it since she sort of acts like a puppy herself. Emma even likes going on hikes.
"Seeing a dog be in such bad shape physically and internally and her just being so happy is amazing," said Weist.
That's why rescue workers do everything they can to keep her happy. They give her treats when she wants them. They don't know how much time Emma has left, but they want that time to be the best it can be.
"Comfortable and happy and just loving her, that's all we really want," Weist said.
If you think you can give Emma what she needs for her final days, you can find her adoption information by clicking HERE.