At Heartland, every day brings animals in crisis to our door—sick, scared, and in desperate need of medical care. We never know who will arrive next, but we do know one thing: their survival depends on us being ready to act, no matter the cost.

DONATE TO OUR MEDICAL FUND

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Twirl was hospitalized at Veterinary Emergency Group and on oxygen for 4 days. By Saturday evening, the vets at VEG had weaned her off of the oxygen she had been dependent on, and her breathing rate held steady. She had made it through the worst of it.

 

That night, Twirl was discharged and is enjoying the comforts of her foster home again! We are so glad we could help this deserving girl make it out alive.

 

The cost of Twirl’s hospitalization exceeded $8,000.

Donations to our Dr. Do More Fund go directly to animals like Twirl who are in need of critical care. Please consider making a donation today.

Garnet

June 2026 – When Garnet first came to us from Chicago Animal Care and Control in February 2025, we knew he needed help.

He was overweight, battling an upper respiratory infection, needed extensive dental work, had multiple masses that required removal and biopsy, and suffered from chronic skin issues that had likely gone untreated for years.

But what we didn’t know then was that Garnet’s greatest challenge lay ahead.

Despite receiving medical care and eventually finding an adoptive home in May of 2025, Garnet’s skin condition went from stable to worse over the next several months. He was itchy, uncomfortable, prone to recurring infections, and no one could seem to find the answer. His family loved him deeply, but the endless appointments, treatments, and uncertainty became overwhelming. Eventually, they made the heartbreaking decision to return him to our care.

This is where many dogs fall through the cracks.

Not because they aren’t loved. Not because they aren’t worth saving.

Because answers are expensive.

When Garnet came back to us, we promised we wouldn’t stop until we figured it out.

Over the last five months, he has been back in our care, Garnet has undergone dermatology consultations, specialized testing, surgery, biopsies, rechecks, and various medications and treatments. Our veterinary team and his foster family worked tirelessly to get to the bottom of his condition. The cost of his care exceeded $5,000.

But thanks to supporters like you, we were able to say yes to every test, every consult, and every next step.

Today, Garnet’s alopecia and skin infections are resolved and well managed on medications; every mass has been biopsied and excised with clean margins; and he has remained symptom-free for months. Most importantly, he feels good.

You’d never know, looking at his smiling face, just how much it took to get here.

The truth is that dogs like Garnet are why our medical fund exists.

Not every dog needs emergency surgery. Not every dog needs life-saving critical care. Some dogs simply need a rescue willing to keep searching when the answers aren’t easy, and donors willing to make that search possible.

Your support gives dogs like Garnet access to the kind of care many families simply cannot afford. It enables us to pursue diagnostics rather than guessing. To consult specialists instead of settling. To heal dogs instead of managing symptoms.

Because every dog deserves more than a temporary fix.

Every dog deserves answers.

And every dog deserves a chance to finally feel better.

If you’d like to help us continue providing life-changing care to dogs like Garnet, please consider making a gift to our medical fund today.

Garnet’s adoption fees are waived: We’re excited to partner with the Rosenthal Family Foundation to help more dogs like Garnet find homes this summer. Thanks to their generous support, adoption fees will be waived for dogs weighing 40 pounds or more from Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) from June 13 through July 31. Read more about Garnet >

Emmer

April  2026 – When Emmer arrived at Heartland after being surrendered to Chicago Animal Care and Control, she was shy and sad. But within hours, her true personality burst through: a water-loving, playgroup-starring party girl who just needed to feel safe.

Still, something wasn’t quite right. We noticed Emmer experiencing moments of panic and confusion.

An MRI revealed that Emer was born missing half her brain, a rare condition called hydrancephaly. The missing portions were replaced by fluid, causing a buildup of pressure that explained her behavior.

With the right treatment, Emmer has improved tremendously. She turned one last October and is now thriving in foster care, taking weekend trips to splash in Wisconsin lakes. She deserves every possible chance — will you help us give her that?

Emmer’s adoption fees are waived: We’re excited to partner with the Rosenthal Family Foundation to help more dogs like Emmer find homes this summer. Thanks to their generous support, adoption fees will be waived for dogs weighing 40 pounds or more from Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) from June 13 through July 31.