Every dog’s journey through GRRIN is a little bit different. Some dogs come in and can get adopted out to a loving new owner right away, but some dogs may first need a little extra care. Marley is one of those dogs who needed a little extra help, and both GRRIN and a loving foster family stepped in to give him what he needed.
In October of 2022, 10-year-old Marley was found wandering as a stray and was taken to the Midlands Humane Society in Council Bluffs. Later that month, he was picked up by a GRRIN volunteer and brought to his GRRIN foster home.
When Marley arrived at his foster home, he immediately attached himself to mom. He was curious and friendly to dad, their two dogs, and even their two cats. A wonderful, gentle dog with good manners, he took very little time settling in. His foster family realized almost immediately that all of them were smitten by this sweet boy and he obviously was home.
Marley had been placed on multiple medications at the shelter, and the family continued those prescribed for an ear infection and hot spots on his skin. At his first visit to the family veterinarian, Dr. Courtney Knott at the American Animal Hospital, he was started on new medications to help with his continuing ear infection. But his ear infection just didn’t seem to be getting any better. His foster family tried for four months to get his ear infection under control, but medications just weren’t working. Eventually, the family took a 3-hour winter drive to Mission, Kansas on February 25th so that Dr. Eric Wilson of Mission Veterinary Emergency and Specialty could perform a total ear canal ablation and bulla osteotomy, which involved the complete removal of the ear canal and middle ear. This surgery was necessary because of the severity and duration of the infection, and also because the infection was resistant to most antibiotics.
Marley is now deaf in his right ear, but he’s happier than they’ve ever seen him and is finally pain free. He is recovering nicely at home with his foster family with no serious adverse effects.
His foster family (now his forever family) shared, “We are so grateful for the generosity of GRRIN and the skill and caring that all of the veterinarians and their staff demonstrated while taking care of our awesome dog.”
Read more about Marley’s medical journey and care he’s received. GRRIN is so grateful to have generous donors who help pay for extreme medical care, however if Marley’s story moves you and you’d like to make a donation in his honor, visit https://grrin.org/donate/ to offset the cost of his surgery.
