Lake Haven Volunteers Arrange for Puppy Surgery in Florida

Lake Haven dog fosters, Kay VanderBaan and Renee Henry, have been fostering Maya, a 16-week-old rat terrier who suffers from a urinary tract abnormality that causes urine not to empty properly into the bladder.  The abnormality is causing complications for Maya - not to mention a messy "puddle" problem for her fosters.  Due to the complex procedure to fix the problem, area clinics would not perform the surgery.  Michigan State's vet clinic could help, but the costs would be a financial drain on Lake Haven's ability to help other pets in need. 

Lake Haven volunteer, Kathy Brown, found a unique alternative to help Maya.  She contacted Ratbone Rescues Inc., a nonprofit which specializes in rat terrier rescues.  They had agreed to help Maya via their veterinary partners, but there was one problem: the rescue is in Florida. 

That didn't stop Brown, however.  She wrote to Animal Rescue Flights, a group that helps connect animal shelters with pilots willing to fly pets where they need to go for help.  Pilot Scott Peters agreed to fly Maya, and on January 23, she was bound for Florida.  Maya was very nervous, but settled in on the plane before takeoff. 

The departure was bitter-sweet for VanderBaan, Henry, and her son, Jackson.  They had planned on permanently adopting Maya.  Yet after Maya's surgery, she will be adopted out in Florida.  Henry is quoted in the Grand Rapids Press as saying, "It was hard...  Very hard. We had her since she was five weeks old."

Lake Haven would like to extend its deepest gratitude to Ratbone Rescues and Animal Rescue Flights.  If it wasn't for them, Maya would not have this chance for surgery. 

Maya at the airport with Jackson (her favorite little boy)

Lake Haven volunteer, Renee Henry and Pilot, Scott Peters

Click on the Grand Rapids Press article below to read the full story. 

For updates on how Maya is doing now and to become a sponsor for Maya, click here.