Upon arrival, Tommy’s echocardiogram confirmed that helium was suffering from pulmonic stenosis. Dr. Gerard Laheney, Animal League America Supervising Veterinarian, explained, “Pulmonic stenosis means that the pulmonic valve, which is the vas that connects the bosom to the lungs, is narrowed. For Tommy, helium really has a fusion of that valve truthful it creates a batch of absorption and forces his bosom to exert acold much effort.”

Tommy wanted to research his world, conscionable similar immoderate puppy his age, but without treatment, helium faced the looming menace of bosom failure. Dr. Laheney outlined the adjacent steps, saying, “Tommy volition person a consultation to spot if he’s a campaigner for a balloon valvuloplasty, which is simply a process that inserts a balloon into the pulmonic valve to unfastened it up truthful his bosom won’t person to enactment arsenic hard. If successful, it could prolong his beingness truthful helium tin person a much mean lifespan.”

Any process had to hold until Tommy grew a small bigger to person the champion accidental of success. Meanwhile, we needed to find a foster location for Tommy wherever helium could beryllium intimately monitored to forestall overexertion. “It’s important for Tommy to interact with the satellite and beryllium socialized,” noted Dr. Laheney, “but astatine the aforesaid time, we request to marque definite helium doesn’t get overly excited.”

That’s wherever foster ma Joanne came in. She took Tommy location and was with him each measurement of the way. According to Giselle Aparicio, Animal League America Foster Care Manager, “Tommy’s foster household went supra and beyond to supply him with a mean puppy life. Tommy was capable to acquisition emotion and compassion astatine a clip erstwhile helium needed it the most. He got to acquisition the beach, car rides, and grew up with 2 kitty siblings whom helium adored. Without his foster parents, Tommy would not beryllium the well-mannered, cheese-loving, handsome young canine helium is today.”

At the extremity of October 2023, Tommy was yet cleared for surgery. He had a creaseless and palmy procedure, and aft 5 months successful his foster home, Tommy was healed and acceptable to find his everlastingly home!

If you’re funny successful learning much astir Tommy, and however you tin marque him portion of your family, Contact our Foster Care Team astatine 516-373-3483 oregon fostercare@animalleague.org.