Dog News

Abandoned on a Boston Doorstep, Petie Needs Surgery to Fix Her “Broken Heart”

by Amy Drew

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Petie, pre-makeover. Photo: MSPCA-Angell
Petie, pre-makeover. Photo: MSPCA-Angell

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Matted and miserably shivering, sweet, little Petie was discovered on a cold Boston doorstep the day after Christmas.

Lucky for her, a concerned good Samaritan stepped in, scooping up the neglected Shih Tzu and bringing her to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. There was nary a microchip to be found, and a thorough vetting discovered something even more troubling.

Young Petie, just about 1, suffers from a condition called patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). It’s an un-closed hole in the aorta; in theory — a broken heart.

Now the homeless pup needs a pricey surgery to help her live a normal life. Without it, say docs, it’s likely she will pass away within two years from congestive heart failure.

Staffers at the MSPCA, not surprisingly, have fallen hard for little Petie. They will move forward with the surgery despite her lack of owner or interested adoptees.

“Given her young age and otherwise good health I believe she’s an excellent candidate for a minimally invasive procedure to fix her heart,” Dr. Katie Hogan, a member of the MSPCA’s cardiology team, told People. She plans to enter the body via an artery in Petie’s leg. “This will significantly shorten her recovery time and — perhaps — ensure she can convalesce in a new, adoptive home.”

Petie, post-makeover. Photo: MSPCA-Angell
Petie, post-makeover. Photo: MSPCA-Angell

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The surgery will cost a predicted $3,500, and so the adoption center is collecting donations to help offset the fee. If you’re interested in helping fix Petie’s broken heart, click here.

And if you’re interested in adopting Petie — who “is doing well and resting comfortably here at the shelter,” according to a spokesman — email [email protected] for more information.