Give Life a Chance by Cynthia Jones The School of Veterinary Medicine in Columbia confirmed my diagnosis by phone and we were on the road. We arrived at the medical school at 8:00 PM. The first diagnosis was $500 a puppy for intensive care; recommended stay – three days. They assured us more puppies would fail. “The prognosis is guarded,” the intern said. “What does that mean?” I asked. “One of these puppies will die,” she said. “So will others in the litter. You are at $250 now, what do you want to do?” All l wanted was to give life a chance. I didn’t want to make the puppies live; I wanted to buy them a day. I wanted to buy time, time so life could have a chance to reenter their tiny bodies and restore them for an unknown future. Time; a chance...would life follow in death’s footsteps? Would death move on and whisper, “I am just passing through. I am on my way to somewhere else…to somewhere else.” Death, as it turned out, was on her way to somewhere else. She didn’t take any of our babies. And you, you turned my leap of faith into belief. Financial aid began immediately. Checks, credit cards, cash contributions...in a short time, the Columbia medical bill and the following hospitalization were covered. As we negotiated the night in Columbia, the young Vet and her supervisor began to figure out ways we could lessen the cost of treatment. They agreed to strive for one night for two puppies at, hopefully, $300 per puppy. A friend came to Columbia and helped us learn how to put needles into tiny necks and give the other babies life-sustaining fluids. Just after our puppy crisis, I was asked if we were a no kill shelter. I said, “We are not only a no kill shelter, we are no die shelter.” And that, dear friends, is a luxury. I thank you for the privilege of Giving Life a Chance. It is a blessing for me and for the dogs under our care. When death becomes the only option for a sick or injured dog, I won’t be able to continue this work.
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It was a trying three-hour drive to Columbia. I held two tiny, one-pound puppies in my arms and fed them with a syringe; water every 15 minutes…a tiny amount of water. Their eyes had opened just the day before this unanticipated trip. When I went to check on Mom and the puppies at the end of our August staff intensive, two puppies were failing. Limp, lethargic, unresponsive and uninterested in food, I knew they were in trouble. It was Sunday and our vet was not available. Although there are other vets in the area, their advice wouldn’t assuage my fears or calm my knowing – these puppies were dying. 
That was the moment we took a leap of faith...not faith in medicine or faith in life, but faith that we were not alone in our desire to save these babies’ lives. If we were going to spend money we didn’t have on puppies who might not live, we needed help. We could give them time and care, but we couldn’t cover the immediate emergency costs or pay for the medical care that would follow. How would those who support our work respond to our fund raising request? Would you think we were crazy? Would you think that our choice was irresponsible? Or...would you agree that life deserves a chance? 
On Monday morning, a new doctor arranged to have the litter transferred to our vet in Houston, MO. As predicted, two more puppies went critical on the trip; both recovered. By Thursday, Life had claimed the litter; puppies and Mom came home. I will be forever grateful to all of you for saying “Yes, give life a chance. Yes – we are with you as you do this crazy work of valuing life and enabling a shelter dog’s puppies to live.” 
Just after Juliet’s puppies were out of the woods, Ed, a young Labrador-Hound mix, came down with Parvo. Parvo is the virus all dog-lovers fear. It is an infectious killer and the reason those puppy vaccines are so important. Ed was taken to the hospital; his litter mates have been taken out of the pack while we try to assure that this illness won’t spread to other dogs. You might wonder why we are having so many health problems. I am beginning to realize that an abandoned dog is death’s prey. Starvation, fleas, ticks and parasites; vaccines can’t protect a malnourished dog with no immune system. After five days in the hospital, Ed is beginning to regain his strength. With your help, we gave life a chance and...life took it. At least five puppies will live the rest of their lives in the light of your blessing. Thank you from us all.