Exhausted and short on options after consulting two veterinary clinics, Kristie Pereira made the gut-wrenching decision last year to take her desperately ill puppy to a Maryland shelter to be euthanized. So, she was stunned last week to find the dog up for adoption at the same pet rescue organization where she got it. "I have a lot of questions, but first and foremost, I want him back with me," Pereira told The Associated Press on Friday.
Pereira, who now lives in San Antonio, said she was working from home in Maryland when she paid $450 in late 2022 to adopt a 2-month-old hound mix from Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation. She named the puppy Beau, and the two quickly became inseparable. Beau snuggled next to Pereira as she worked, slept in her bed and even tagged along with her when she would leave the house.
Kristie Pereira and her dog Beau pose for a photo in January 2023 in Laurel, Md. But within weeks, it became clear something was wrong with the puppy, Pereira said. A veterinarian concluded the issue was most likely neurological.
Blood tests showed the dog might have a liver problem, so Pereira was sent home with liver enzymes and told she would "see improvement pretty fast" if Beau's liver was the issue. The dog's condition only worsened. The dog's veterinarian, the clinic's lead veterinarian and an animal emergency room veterinarian all agreed the dog's inability to control his bowels and lift his hind legs pointed to a severe neurological problem, Pereira said.
The cos.