Rescued Georgia Puppies In Need Of Support, Adoption In Salem

SALEM, MA — A pair of rescued puppies from Georgia at the Northeast Animal Shelter of Salem are in need of a little care and repair before they will become available for adoption next month.

The Northeast Animal Shelter and MSCPA-Angell combined to rescue Coco and Reesie from rural Georgia just after birth with Reesie suffering from a potentially deadly parvovirus. Now both are facing surgery next week to repair a shared rapid heart condition that will be fatal if untreated.

The puppies were brought to the Salem facility on Jan. 16 — along with 31 other animals that will all ultimately be available for adoption — where Reesie was diagnosed with the highly contagious gastrointestinal disease.

While Coco tested negative, he was isolated for 14 days as a precaution, while Reesie was treated for vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration.

Both are now scheduled for surgery for patent ductus arteriosus, a heart condition that if left untreated will lead to congestive heart failure. Angell Animal Medical Center's Dr. Katie Hogan is set to perform the noninvasive heart surgery on both puppies on Feb. 24.

"Now that Reesie has recovered from parvo, they are both good candidates for the procedure," Hogan said. "I expect they will do well, and I'm so grateful to play a role in providing them the bright and healthy future they deserve."

Northeast Animal Shelter is seeking donations to cover medical bills for the puppies — which are expected to exceed $10,000. Donations can be made to the Northeast Animal Shelter here.

They will be available for adoption, separate homes, between 10 and 14 days later. Anyone interested in adopting the puppies should email heartpuppies@neas.org.

"Both of these puppies have endured more than their share of challenges in such a short period of time, and they're just two of the hundreds of animals we've helped since our affiliation with NEAS was announced," Mike Kelley, Director of Adoption Centers and Programs at the MSPCA-Angell and Interim Executive Director for Northeast Animal Shelter. "We're only able to meet their extensive medical needs because of the generosity of donors, and I'm grateful to everyone who steps forward to help them."

Kelley said the puppies will do best in homes committed to socializing and training them — and ensuring that they receive a recheck four to six weeks after their procedures to ensure their hearts are healthy.

"If all goes well, we may not need to see them at all long-term — or we may recommend annual follow-up exams," Hogan said.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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