Salem Puppy With Heart-Shaped Nose Needs Your Help

SALEM, MA — A Georgia rescue puppy in Salem with a heart-shaped nose needs help fixing his little actual heart.

Bradley traveled more than 1,100 miles from rural Georgia to Salem in March along with 37 other Northeast Animal Shelter rescue dogs. A health check on the gravely ill puppy revealed a pulmonic stenosis disorder that can cause sudden death if not mitigated.

"His condition is so severe that we had to determine if surgery would even be an option for him," said Dr. Lindsey Rynk of the Northeast Animal Shelter. "None of us were prepared to give up, however, so we turned to the MSPCA-Angell for help."

The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell Memorial offered the guarded hope of surgery from Dr. Katie Hogan, who has treated the disorder more than 60 times in her career, and could provide the chance at a second chance for Bradley.

"PS is a challenging diagnosis for any dog and without surgical intervention may prove a fatal condition within a couple of years," Hogan said, "and Bradley's case is very severe, but we're hopeful that surgery will save him from immediate danger and prolong his life."

Bradley has a life-threatening heart condition called Pulmonic Stenosis. Without surgery, he’s at high risk for a heart-related episode… or even sudden death. Although the procedure is risky, we believe he deserves the chance to live. Will you help? https://t.co/B7KcIeN4TZ pic.twitter.com/hPea75xvia
— NE Animal Shelter (@NEAnimalShelter) April 7, 2021

Bradley's surgery, which includes a minimally invasive procedure called a balloon valvuloplasty, is scheduled for April 13. To cover the $7,500 cost, the NEAS is asking for public donations.

"Even if the operation is a success — and we'll do everything in our power to ensure the best outcome — it is still possible that this condition will shorten Bradley's lifespan," Hogan said. "But given all he's been through, he deserves every chance we can give him, and he's going to be in very good hands."

If all goes well, Bradley will be available for adoption about 15 days after the surgery. A shy dog, he will do better in a quieter home with an owner committed to his ongoing cardiology care.

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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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