Community Compassion For Our Thumper Fund

Thanks to our amazing guests and sponsors, we had the best Dressed to the K9s yet! The highlight of the evening was witnessing our community’s compassion for healthy, happy and thriving pets. During the paddle raise our guests helped us raise $100K for the Thumper Fund, a designated financial resource that provides extraordinary care to all of our shelter pets.

This year, the Thumper Fund covered the cost of care for hundreds of pets, each with their own unique history and individual needs. 

Zazu, one of our very favorite C.A.R.E. shelter dogs, is 2024’s grand prize winner for veterinary expenses thus far! Zazu arrived at the shelter after his loving owner fled a violent relationship and was forced to relocate. During his intake at the shelter, Zazu tested positive for both Anaplasma (a tick-borne infection) and Heartworm disease. Both conditions require months of antibiotics and controlled activity, but his prognosis was positive! Then, while living in foster care, Zazu tore a ligament in his right knee and surgery was recommended to repair the injury. To prepare for surgery, it was essential to assess the health of Zazu’s heart. An echocardiogram and 24-hour electrocardiogram determined that in addition to Heartworm disease, Zazu’s heart was plagued with an arrhythmia and ventricular blockage. Zazu was truly up against a wall and hard place. Thanks to the Thumper Fund, our incredible partnerships with local veterinarians, and the team at Roaring Fork Veterinary Surgery, Zazu’s conditions have all been treated. His heart is medicated, and he’s awaiting a second knee operation, but in the meantime, he’s living in a wonderful new home, and is relaxing as every gentle giant should.

The Thumper Fund truly gives shelter pets a second chance at life, and C.A.R.E. cat Olympia was another proud recipient. Olympia is a blind, 15-year-old feline who arrived at C.A.R.E. in desperate need of grooming and dental attention. The C.A.R.E. veterinary team was able to quickly provide a dental with full mouth extractions and a full body haircut. Olympia was feeling so much better that she found a new home after only 16 days at the shelter.

For most Thumper Fund recipients, the animal’s veterinary needs arrive with them to the shelter. But for a beautiful shelter dog named Lumi, her veterinary emergency happened while in residence at C.A.R.E. After 2 months of looking for a new home, Lumi injured her knee and tore a tendon. In order to fully recover, Lumi underwent a TPLO procedure at Roaring Fork Veterinary Surgery and it was a huge success. The team at C.A.R.E. created a full rehabilitation schedule and worked daily to insure Lumi’s after care and limited activity restrictions were complete. The staff at C.A.R.E. grew very close to this sweet, lovable dog and celebrated when Lumi was adopted on her 104th day in the shelter. Her adopter reports that she’s going by a new name, Rooney, and she is doing great! She even made a surprise appearance at Dressed to the K9s.

Thank you for getting Dressed to the K9s and supporting the Thumper Fund!