Ben, 3 years old, was scheduled to be euthanized due to a pre-existing medical condition when he was “surrendered” to the Rowan County Animal Shelter. He requires medication for congestive heart failure, which the Tortorellas agreed to sponsor. Ben is truly one of “Bear’s Angels.”
A sweet pit bull, Ben, came to Rowan County Animal Control in North Carolina as a stray. It was clear to the staff he had been through a lot in his young life (3 years). He is in Congestive Heart Failure due to untreated heartworms. No one ever cared about him enough to give him monthly preventative, or to get him vet care when he started to decline. Most shelters would have already euthanized him due to his condition, but there are some pretty special people there who could see he is a loving dog. The vet said he could live a good life for a few more months to even a few years with medication. He’s on heart medication that will hopefully relieve some of the fluid in his belly, and help him to feel good.
The Tortorellas’ financial commitment to help with his medical costs encouraged a local rescue, One Dog at a Time, to save him.
“Thankfully with your sponsorship commitment for medicine for Ben his life was saved,” said Jamie Stivers of Rowan County Animal Shelter. “We made sure that he went to a rescue that would give him the life that he deserved and not to one that would stick him in boarding and take the money.”
*** UPDATE: While Ben’s heart issues remain the same, as the medication only masks his symptoms, he is comfortable. The vet told Nina Dix, who is caring for Ben permanently, he will be one of those dogs that just doesn’t wake up one day.
“But sometimes, my heart looks at Ben and wonders if there is anything wrong with him,” Dix said. “I do not limit his exercise or time outdoors since he loves it so much. I am just gonna let him be a dog that has people who love him. And if his last day is tomorrow, he got a chance to know love and happiness thanks to Christine’s donations. I could not have afforded to put out that much money on one dog. He is a awesome soul and he has given us all a whole lot more than he has taken.”
