Because we believe that miracles can and do happen

Assessment & Diagnosis

Mayday believes that every dog deserves a chance, and that miracles can and do happen.  As a result, Mayday routinely takes on dogs that other organizations can’t or won’t, and they are often in immediate need of medical attention for extreme conditions.  Many are near death and require critical care. Medical conditions Mayday has treated include starvation, Valley Fever, cancer, anemia, tick-borne illnesses, mange, paralysis and extreme neglect/malnutrition.  In addition, old abuse injuries, deformities, neurological issues, and trauma are not uncommon. At the same time, behavioral issues such as extreme fear/shutdown and aggression towards people & other dogs are often present. 

The process to address a dog’s immediate needs at intake includes in-depth diagnostics performed by a veterinarian as well as specialists in internal medicine, neurology, oncology, orthopaedics, and behavior to determine if the dog can be brought to health - or what can be done to bring them to the best life they can live.  Mayday never gives up, unless treatment is unsuccessful and quality of life is unrecoverable for the dog. Some dogs just arrive too late, but many could have been saved earlier. 

Addressing Medical & Behavioral Needs

Medical procedures Mayday has provided include major orthopaedic repairs (hip, cruciate tear, amputations), brain surgery, spinal surgery, chemotherapy, antifungal injections, reconstructive surgery, and screenings (MRI, etc.).  Mayday has relationships with several local care providers. 

To address behavioral issues, Mayday often provides training tailored to a particular dog’s condition - from obedience training to intensive board & train courses.  Specialized training has also been provided for issues such as blindness. Many dogs need to learn how to live in the world of humans and continuous effort is put into acclimatization.  The goal isn’t to make the dog normal, it is to make them function as well as they can and find a home that can successfully manage that. 

Cost of Care

Of course, there is a cost associated with this care.  A single medical treatment can cost as much as $15,000-$20,000.  Costs for housing some dogs in a volunteer-maintained offsite facility is well over $2000 per month.  In high capacity situations, boarding is sometimes utilized at a cost of up to $300 a week. Mayday has an incredible network of fosters that provide loving care for many dogs, and though Mayday offers to subsidize routine expenses like food, many fosters carry some burden themselves.

Your generous gift can help rehabilitate a dog today.