A very special puppy reached another incredible milestone on November 28th. On this happy day, her name is Sasha and she celebrated her 12-week birthday.
Most puppies take the age of three months for granted. But for Sasha, who was born with hydrocephalus, a cleft lip and a cleft palate, every day is a blessing.
Since her birth, Sasha has been under the qualified care of Marie DeMarco, a rescue worker for cats with special needs. His rescue organization, FURRR 911, represents Rescued, Rehabilitated and urgently rehomed felines.
DeMarco specializes in the care of sick, injured or special needs cats as well as in bottle feeding orphaned kittens. She describes these essential circumstances as “perfectly imperfect.”
When she saw Sasha, she knew that the puppy would fit in perfectly – despite the fact that she was a dog!
”She has been a fighter from the beginning and has overcome several difficulties in a short time on this world,” DeMarco said on Facebook. “I have been worried and stressed as an adoptive mother, I have lost a lot of sleep and I have grown a few new gray hairs, but none of that matters when I look into her eyes.”
Given the terrible illness she has just overcome, the tiny puppy now weighs a little over two pounds, which is a reason for excitement. Upper respiratory tract infections are common in puppies with cleft palate, and Sasha was no exception.
She suffered from fever, nasal congestion, vomiting, an infected eye and weight loss. Sasha could not afford to lose weight at a weight of just over a pound!
DeMarco became even more anxious when Sasha did not improve after a course of antibiotics. The fragile puppy’s temperature had returned to normal, but she was still lethargic, trembling on her paws and reluctant to feed herself.
DeMarco sent Sasha back to his neurologist, worried that her problems were caused by hydrocephalus.
With the instructions of the specialist and a rigorous daily routine of medication, fluids and tube feeding, Sasha began to recover. By the time her 12-week birthday arrived, she was back to her feisty, snuggly self!
”Sasha is a very calm and reserved puppy,” says DeMarco, who will most likely move from Sasha’s adoptive mother to her permanent mother. This is not your average puppy. She loves to sit next to me or on my foot.”
Sasha has a difficult journey ahead of her with no promises, but she is surrounded by a huge amount of love, commitment and support.
“This puppy is a great source of inspiration,” DeMarco added. “Despite her congenital malformations and her state of health, Sasha turned out to be a fighter with a strong determination to live.”
Sasha’s fans can follow her development on Facebook and donate to her care by visiting the FURRR 911 website.
Update: Sasha crossed the Rainbow Bridge in March 2018, shortly after turning 6 months old. She has offered love and pleasure to her human, canine and feline friends throughout her short life. Sasha’s memory is kept alive thanks to the rescue of FURRR 911, which has now taken in additional puppies with cleft palate.
Gina Gencarelli, a volunteer photographer, took Sasha’s amazing birthday photos.
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