I’m Kathy Swaney, and I’d like to share with you the origin story of Valley of the Sun Dog Rescue through the journey of a remarkable dog named Petey. Petey was a two-year-old Pit Bull I rescued from the Apache Junction Animal Shelter.

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On one of my frequent visits to the shelter, I spotted Petey. He was at the back of his cage, once I sat down and started talking to him he came forward dragging his hind legs. Still full of wiggles and happy Pit Bull smiles, despite his severe injuries and being about twenty pounds underweight. His stance indicated significant pain, and his back legs seemed paralyzed, likely due to spinal cord damage.

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We learned from the shelter staff that a kind woman had rescued Petey from the side of the road after his owner and another man planned to euthanize him due to his injuries. She kept him for three days but had to surrender him due to financial constraints. Further investigation revealed that Petey had been brutally beaten with a baseball bat by a neighbor. The shelter had initially planned to euthanize him.

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Despite the grim circumstances, there was something in Petey’s eyes that compelled me to give him a chance. With permission from the shelter, I took Petey to a vet who agreed to work with me. Fortunately, his spinal cord was not severely damaged; instead, he had significant injury to his rear knees. While the condition was painful, it was treatable with timely intervention. With surgery, Petey had a strong chance of living a normal life.

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While Petey was receiving treatment, I was tirelessly calling around to find a foster home for him. Successfully I found someone willing to help. Petey underwent surgery on January 7th 2000, where the vet repaired his knees by reattaching ligaments and reconstructing the damaged areas.

I was thrilled that the surgery was a success. Petey has started to move around, supported by a sling to protect his healing knees. He showed signs of happiness and well-being. Although he needed physical therapy, his recovery went well.

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Petey went into a loving foster family, who provided him with his favorite pillows and toys. A dedicated young surgical assistant also ensured he received the best care possible. 

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Your support is crucial to continue helping dogs like Petey. Please consider donating to our cause, so we can offer more animals a second chance and provide them with the care they desperately need.