Pawsome Southern Rescue

💔 Pancake Update — The Hard Side of Rescue 💔

Sadly, our suspicions about sweet little Pancake were correct.

After his examination and X-rays today, we learned that what Pancake is dealing with is much more severe than the typical Swimmer Puppy Syndrome we had hoped we could rehabilitate.

There is significant compression in his chest, and his muscles have been constricted for so long that his little body simply cannot do what would be required for normal swimmer puppy rehabilitation. His legs will not cooperate with the positioning and exercises necessary to correct his condition.

We went into this appointment hoping for a plan.

We wanted exercises, therapy, braces—anything that would give this little guy a fighting chance.

Unfortunately, sometimes there just isn't a fix. 💔

Pancake is also expected to grow into a very large dog. With his inability to get himself out of the prone position, his future would mean an increasingly difficult life as his body grew. We have to consider not only whether we can keep an animal alive, but what that life would actually look like for them.

And this is the part of rescue that absolutely breaks your heart.

Our hearts want to say, "Try everything. Don't give up."

But rescue can't always be about what OUR hearts want.

Sometimes we have to step away from the heartstrings and ask the hardest question of all:

What is best for the animal?

We have to consider Pancake's future quality of life. We have to consider the pain and difficulties he would face as he continued to grow.

We have to love him enough to make a decision that hurts us so that he doesn't have to hurt. 💔

So sadly, we will be saying goodbye to our precious little Pancake. 🥞🐾

He won't have to scoot anymore.
He won't have to struggle to eat or drink.

He won't have to live trapped inside a body that won't cooperate with him.

Instead, we'd like to believe that when he closes his eyes here, he'll open them somewhere his little body finally works exactly the way it was supposed to.
Run, Pancake. Run as fast as those little legs will carry you. 🌈🐾

You were only with the Pawsome family for a very short time, little man, but you mattered. You were loved. And we are so incredibly sorry that we couldn't fix this for you.

This is the side of rescue that no one ever gets used to. 💔

We do still have a balance at the veterinarian's office from Pancake's care, X-rays and evaluation. If anyone would like to help us with his final expenses and remaining veterinary balance, we would be incredibly grateful.

🏥 Houston Lake Animal Hospital: 478-971-4700

💙 Venmo: -SouthernRescue

💚 CashApp: $PawsomeSR

💛 PayPal: [email protected]

Please keep Pancake, his caregivers, and our Pawsome family in your thoughts today.

Sometimes saving them doesn't mean we get to keep them.

Sometimes saving them means loving them enough to let them go. 💔🌈🐾

Run free, sweet Pancake. This time, nothing is going to hold those legs back. 🥞🌈🐾

🐾 Happy Tuesday to all of our AWESOME Pawsome family! 🐾

Yesterday was another adventure… because apparently that’s just what our lives look like around here lately! ❤️‍🩹 We took in a few new pups that we’ll be introducing you to, but right now we want you to meet the little one who needs us the most.

🥞 Meet Pancake. 🥞

Pancake was born June 23rd and initially seemed to be a normal little puppy. As time went on, his owners began noticing that something wasn’t right. His condition appeared to resemble Swimmer Puppy Syndrome, and knowing that we’ve successfully worked with swimmer puppies before, they reached out to us for help.

Of course, we said we would try. ❤️

We thought helping Pancake through Swimmer Puppy Syndrome was going to be our next adventure. Unfortunately, once we got him into our care, it became obvious that we may be dealing with something much more serious.

Pancake’s chest wall is very flat, similar to what we see with swimmer puppies, but his hips appear to possibly be fused or severely abnormal. He cannot move his body like a typical puppy. Instead of walking or crawling normally, he basically scoots himself around.

Even simple things like eating and drinking have become a challenge because of the way his little body is positioned.

We immediately made him an appointment, and today at 11 AM we will be at Houston Lake Animal Hospital for a consultation and X-rays. We need to find out exactly what is happening inside Pancake’s tiny body, how extensive the abnormalities are, and most importantly… whether there is anything we can do to help him.

We honestly don’t know what answers we’re going to get today.

🙏 Please say a HUGE prayer for our little Pancake. 🙏

We’re hoping there is an option we haven’t thought of. We’re hoping there is something that can be corrected, treated, managed, or improved. Right now, we just need answers.

If anyone is able to help toward Pancake’s veterinary bill today, every single dollar is greatly appreciated. His first step is X-rays and a full evaluation, and we’ll go from there based on what the vet finds.

🐾 Ways to help Pancake:

🏥 Houston Lake Animal Hospital: 478-971-4700
💙 Venmo: -SouthernRescue
💚 CashApp: $PawsomeSR
💛 PayPal: [email protected]

If you aren’t able to donate, please share Pancake’s story. Shares, prayers, donations, and support all matter more than you know.

Thank you for always standing behind us and helping us help the voiceless. ❤️🐾

We’ll update everyone as soon as we know more about our sweet little Pancake. 🥞🙏

🥰🐾🥰🐾🥰🐾🥰🐾🥰🐾

🐾❤️ HAPPY MONDAY TO ALL OF OUR AWESOME PAWSOME FAMILY! ❤️🐾

We had two very special babies join the Pawsome family this weekend, and they came with a little bit of a surprise.

We were originally contacted about taking in two blind puppies. From the pictures we were sent, we assumed they were likely double merles because of their mostly white coloring.

When they arrived, we quickly realized they aren't just blind...

They are also DEAF. 💔

Please help us welcome Helen Keller 🤍🐾 (white with merle markings) and Ray Charles 🤍🐾 (the mostly white baby) to the Pawsome family!

These babies didn't ask to be born deaf and blind. They don't know they're "different," and they certainly don't deserve any less of a life because of it.

They will learn to navigate the world in their own way, and we will make sure they get the medical care, love, patience, and understanding they need while we work toward finding each of them the perfect forever home. ❤️

And now for our little Monday educational moment...because maybe, just maybe, one day people will STOP backyard breeding dogs they have absolutely no business breeding. 😡

🧬 WHAT IS A DOUBLE MERLE?
A double merle can occur when two dogs carrying the merle gene are bred together. With a merle-to-merle breeding, each puppy has a 25% chance of inheriting two copies of the merle variant.

The problem isn't simply that these puppies may be mostly white or have unusual coloring. Double merles have a significantly increased risk of serious congenital hearing and vision abnormalities.

👂 DEAFNESS
Some double merle puppies can be deaf in one or both ears because pigmentation plays an important role in normal inner-ear development.

👁️ VISION & EYE ABNORMALITIES
They may be born with serious eye abnormalities, including abnormally small or underdeveloped eyes, colobomas and impaired vision — sometimes resulting in blindness.

🐾 WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

Because this is largely preventable through responsible breeding practices and appropriate genetic testing.

Breeding dogs should NEVER simply be about putting two pretty dogs together, making puppies and selling them.

Genetics matter.

Health testing matters.

Knowing what you're breeding matters.

The lives you are creating MATTER.
Helen Keller and Ray Charles are now living with the consequences of breeding decisions they had absolutely no control over.

But hear us loud and clear:
❤️ THEY ARE NOT DISPOSABLE.

❤️ THEY ARE NOT LESS DESERVING.

❤️ THEY CAN STILL HAVE AMAZING LIVES.

❤️ AND WE WILL FIND THEIR PERFECT PEOPLE.

They may experience the world a little differently, but they're officially PAWSOME babies now, and we've got them from here. 🐾❤️

Their journey is just beginning, and we would greatly appreciate any help toward their veterinary care and needs.

💕 To donate toward Helen Keller & Ray Charles:

🏥 Houston Lake Animal Hospital: 478-971-4700

💙 Venmo: @yahoo.com

💚 CashApp: $PawsomeSR

💛 PayPal: [email protected]

If you aren't able to donate, PLEASE SHARE their story. Sharing not only helps these babies — it might educate someone who is considering breeding their dogs and prevent another litter of puppies from facing the same challenges.

Welcome to the family, Helen Keller & Ray Charles! 🤍🐾

You two may not be able to see or hear us...
but we promise you're going to FEEL just how loved you are. ❤️

Happy Adoption Day to Little Girl AKA Lilly!🐾

Y'all look who got adopted today!!! We are over the moon for Bing B**g and his new dad. Friends of Warner Robins Animal Control Canine Clubhouse, Perry GA Warner Robins Animal Control

Congratulations to Bridgette on her adoption today!!

👑🖤 Her Royal Tiny-ness is now accepting applications for loyal subjects.
At just 12 weeks old, this sleek black beauty may be tiny, but someone forgot to tell her. She is absolutely convinced she's at least 100 pounds, runs the kingdom, and deserves a standing ovation every time she enters a room.
Need your lap? Too bad—it's already been claimed as her royal throne.
Think you're in charge? That's adorable.
She marches through life with the confidence of a lion, the sass of a queen, and the charm to get away with all of it. One minute she's issuing royal decrees, the next she's curled up in your lap like the sweet little princess she insists she is.
If your home is missing a tiny dictator with a heart of gold, unlimited confidence, and enough personality to fill a mansion, your queen has arrived.
👑 Warning: Side effects may include laughing daily, surrendering your favorite chair, and happily obeying the cutest ruler you've ever met. 🐾🖤
Dawn is the whole package. She is a lap princess who doesn't mind showing her siblings who is in charge. Her adoption fee is $300.
We only do adoptions at PetSmart on Saturday from 11-3 and Sunday 1-4. Adoptions are on a first come first approved application basis.

Looking for a little shadow in your life? Come meet Ginger Anne. She wants a home of her own to be with her people. She is so sweet.

🐾 MEET EGGNOGGY — 1,696 DAYS AND STILL WAITING 🐾

Yes, you read that right. 1,696 days. 💔

Eggnoggy is 5 years and 8 months old and currently holds a title we desperately wish she didn’t have — our longest resident.

For 1,696 days, she has watched other dogs come into our rescue, find their families, and head off to their happily-ever-afters. And somehow, this beautiful girl is still waiting for someone to finally say, “Eggnoggy, it’s your turn.” 🥺❤️

Eggnoggy is a sweet girl who absolutely loves kids and gets along with other dogs. We would recommend a home without a dominant female dog, simply because Eggnoggy likes everyone to know she’s a confident lady herself. 😉

She has also completed heartworm treatment and is ready to put that chapter—and hopefully her long wait for a family—behind her.

At 5 years old, Eggnoggy has spent such a huge portion of her life waiting. Nearly 1,700 days without a forever home is long enough.

She doesn’t need another temporary stop.
She doesn’t need another person to scroll past her picture.
She needs HER person. Her family. Her forever. 🏡❤️

Please help us make Eggnoggy our next HAPPY ADOPTION ANNOUNCEMENT! Even if you can’t adopt her, sharing this post might put her picture in front of the person she’s been waiting 1,696 days to meet.

🐾 Come meet Eggnoggy at PetSmart in Warner Robins on Saturday from 11 AM–3 PM or Sunday from 12-4! Her adoption fee is $250. We only do adoptions at Petsmart and are a first come first approved application basis.

❤️ 1,696 days waiting. Let’s make sure she doesn’t reach 1,700. ❤️