Penelope has one eye, a big heart, and a great attitude despite her diagnosis. This ten year old sweetheart had a large mass removed that was impacting her vision and she’s feeling much more comfortable. Unfortunately the tumor was a malignant sarcoma and given its location it is likely to return at some point in the future. But for now she is happy, loving, and ready to be part of a family for the rest of her days. She is looking for a compassionate person to help her check off her bucket list, which is full of simple requests like butt scritches, yummy treats, and bird watching with no depth perception. You can visit her at the Boston adoption center Tuesday-Sunday 12pm-3pm or email cbourgoin@mspca.org for more info about this special lady. (fb)

This is Ekko. He needs our help. He’s just a few months old, full of snuggles and tail wags… but his heart is in serious trouble. When Ekko came to us through our MASS Coalition partner, Berkshire Humane Society, we discovered a loud heart murmur. After a full cardiac workup, our cardiology team diagnosed him with severe pulmonary valve stenosis, which is a narrowing of a valve that’s blocking blood flow and overworking the right side of his heart. They also found a hole between the chambers of his heart. Left untreated, Ekko could go into congestive heart failure at any moment.But there’s hope. Our cardiology experts are preparing to perform a balloon valvuloplasty, a delicate procedure to open the narrowed valve and restore blood flow. The hole in his heart adds serious risk, as he may struggle to get enough oxygen during surgery. But if anyone can help him through it, it’s our team. This is where you come in. Donations from animal lovers like you make life-saving procedures like Ekko’s possible. From the foster family who opened their home, to the medical team preparing for surgery, everyone is ready to give Ekko a chance. Please, help us save Ekko and others like him. Every gift ensures we can keep saying “yes” to animals with nowhere else to turn. (fb)