Two animals ready for adoption after surviving cancer, reconstructive surgery

CEDAR RAPIDS - After multiple surgeries and veterinary visits totaling nearly $11,000, Penny survived a mammary gland mastectomy and Mama June underwent a serious reconstructive surgery on her nose, which had been ripped open, and both are ready to be adopted.

Penny is a golden-brown and black Yorkie, who was in poor health and needed medical care when she was surrendered by her owner to Adopt a Pal Rescue in July, Jan Erceg, medical case director with Critter Crusaders, said last week. Penny was brought to Crusaders, a nonprofit medical rescue, for help and Erceg took her to Blue Pearl Pet Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

The vets discovered Penny had never been spayed and she had developed multiple masses, which could have been malignant, in her mammary glands on both sides of her chest.

“She also developed a very severe uterine infection and this poor girl was just in some sad shape,” Erceg said. “You know, we take the worst medical cases so we can get these animals like Penny and provide treatment and help them find good homes.”

Penny’s first surgery was on her right mammary chain — a set of five glands along either the left or right side of the body — and she was spayed, Erceg said. The pathology report showed no cancer. She had a second mastectomy and out of six masses, only one was cancerous and removed.

“The sad thing is none of this would have been needed if she had been spayed early in life, which helps prevent mammary cancer in female dogs,” Erceg said.

The Yorkie’s final surgery at Frey Pet Hospital in Cedar Rapids was earlier this month when multiple cysts were removed from her eyelids, Erceg said.

“This tiny girl is now fully recovered from her summer and fall of surgeries,” Erceg said. “She feels great, looks great. Penny is adoptable and has a very sweet, gentle personality.”

Critter Crusaders’ other recent case was Mama June, a black cat who came to them in June with a severe injury that almost tore apart her nose. She was injured on a dairy farm in Benton County, but they don’t know exactly how the injury occurred.

Erceg said they named her Mama June because even though she was severely injured, she had three kittens and continued to care for her babies. One of the kittens died, but the other two were adopted through SAINT Rescue & Adoption Center after June was taken to Critter Crusaders.

June underwent a major reconstructive surgery on her nose and had a lengthy stay at Blue Pearl in Des Moines.

“As you can see in the photos, she completely healed and there’s absolutely no scars or evidence of her horrible injury today,” Erceg noted. “She can breathe through her nose and you know their world is their nose. She had a real will to survive, as all animals who come to us do.”

Mama June is now ready for adoption at SAINT Rescue. Erceg said she’s a “sweetheart” but a little shy. She would be better as an indoor pet because of her trauma.

Penny’s surgeries totaled $7,448 and June’s surgery and vet care totaled $3,489. Erceg said Critter Crusaders pays these bills directly to its veterinarian clinics and hospitals through donations and grants.

None of the pets needing medical care are put up for adoption until they are healthy and medically cleared through the staff and veterinarians. Critter Crusaders pays for all of the medical costs and fees, which are never passed on to the rescues and shelters they help throughout Eastern Iowa.

Once the animals are healthy, they go to a rescue or shelter that takes care of the adoptions. Critter Crusaders isn’t involved in the adoption process.

Erceg said the nonprofit set up 608 vet appointments and advanced diagnostics for animals cared for this year through Nov. 22, which is a “huge” number for them. There have been 94 surgeries and they have helped 127 dogs and cats so far. There are several more surgeries already scheduled for next week, she added.

Critter Crusaders has provided care for animals from 42 rescues and shelters in Eastern Iowa.

Anyone interested in adopting Penny should contact Adopt A Pal Rescue. Mama June can be adopted through SAINT Rescue and Adoption Center, both in Cedar Rapids.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com