Healing Tommy’s Heart
At just five months old, little Tommy’s heart was laboring tirelessly to keep him alive. Born with a severe heart murmur that put him at risk of sudden death, Tommy desperately needed surgical intervention to mend his heart defect. Our journey to save Tommy began when our shelter partner, Second Chance Animal Rescue in South Carolina, notified us of his condition, knowing that we would spare no effort to help. Tommy was quickly transferred into the hands of our Rescue Team, who transported him on our Mobile Unit to our Pet Health Centers.
Upon arrival, Tommy’s echocardiogram confirmed that he was suffering from pulmonic stenosis. Dr. Gerard Laheney, Animal League America Supervising Veterinarian, explained, “Pulmonic stenosis means that the pulmonic valve, which is the vessel that connects the heart to the lungs, is narrowed. For Tommy, he actually has a fusion of that valve so it creates a lot of resistance and forces his heart to exert far more effort.”
Tommy wanted to explore his world, just like any puppy his age, but without treatment, he faced the looming threat of heart failure. Dr. Laheney outlined the next steps, saying, “Tommy will have a consultation to see if he’s a candidate for a balloon valvuloplasty, which is a procedure that inserts a balloon into the pulmonic valve to open it up so his heart won’t have to work as hard. If successful, it could prolong his life so he can have a more normal lifespan.”
Any procedure had to wait until Tommy grew a little bigger to have the best chance of success. Meanwhile, we needed to find a foster home for Tommy where he could be closely monitored to prevent overexertion. “It’s important for Tommy to interact with the world and be socialized,” noted Dr. Laheney, “but at the same time, we need to make sure he doesn’t get overly excited.”
That’s where foster mom Joanne came in. She took Tommy home and was with him every step of the way. According to Giselle Aparicio, Animal League America Foster Care Manager, “Tommy’s foster family went above and beyond to provide him with a normal puppy life. Tommy was able to experience love and compassion at a time when he needed it the most. He got to experience the beach, car rides, and grew up with two kitty siblings whom he adored. Without his foster parents, Tommy would not be the well-mannered, cheese-loving, handsome young dog he is today.”
At the end of October 2023, Tommy was finally cleared for surgery. He had a smooth and successful procedure, and after five months in his foster home, Tommy was healed and ready to find his forever home!
If you’re interested in learning more about Tommy, and how you can make him part of your family, Contact our Foster Care Team at 516-373-3483 or [email protected].