A five-year-old pit bull named Libby arrived at The Humane Society for Tacoma Pierce County with a large mass on her front leg, the largest the staff had ever seen. Despite her condition, the staff fell in love with her sweet demeanor and were determined to help her. Upon examination and X-ray, it was confirmed that Libby had cancerous tumours in the bone of her upper right leg, causing reactive inflammation that swelled her leg to the size of a volleyball and made her almost immobile with pain.
Libby, a 10-pound dog, had to have her leg amputated in order to save her life. The community rallied around her and generously donated towards her care. During her recovery, she touched the heart of one of the veterinary technicians who cared for her. The shelter recently shared the wonderful news that Libby found her forever home. Her new mom says there is something in her eyes that begs for love and safety. More pets in need of medical care continue to arrive at Washington State’s largest intake animal shelter, stretching their resources to the limit.