Briggs

    Vestavia Hilla, Alabama

Male
Age: 9  (DOB 4/25/2015)
14.8#
Progressing MVD 
Hospice Angel

Welcome in, Briggs! Sweet Briggs was found stray in an Amish puppy mill area of Missouri. He sat on stray hold where he was not reclaimed and then transferred into our care. It seems he perhaps made a great escape from a bad breeding operation or was possibly dumped. Either way, he’s made it to safety and loving arms 💕 and his second chance at life begins now! 🙌🏼 Briggs is settling into his foster home in Lebanon, Missouri 🏡 and will undergo his full intake vetting tomorrow. We will share his medical update once all his labwork results are in 💜

JUNE 2, 2024: After a 9 hour drive from Missouri to Alabama 🚘, Briggs is so happy to have his paws on the ground 🐾 in Birmingham, Alabama. He has arrived to his new foster home 🏡 and is on the move, stretching out those legs after the long trek! A BIG thank you to his 4 amazing drivers 🚘 who helped get him here safe and sound 💕 Tomorrow he will meet with our wonderful cardiologist 🩺 where he will receive a cardiac evaluation and echocardiogram so we can learn more about his heart ♥️ after a significant heart murmur was detected at his intake vetting. We will share more when we know more! 💜

JUNE 7, 2024: Things are looking 🆙 for Briggs up after he was found stray, scared, and neglected in the heart of Amish puppy mill country in Missouri. Did he make a great escape? Was he dumped? We will never know his story but we know the next chapter will be his best one 📖 
After a significant heart murmur was detected at his intake vetting, he needed to see a cardiologist for a full cardiac evaluation and echocardiogram which could not be done in a timely fashion in Missouri. Last weekend, he made the trip to Birmingham, Alabama 🚘 and earlier this week he met with our wonderful cardiologist 🩺 
His evaluation revealed that he has severe mitral valve disease, moderate tricuspid valve disease, and mild hypertension. He has a lot of remodeling with severe dilation of both the left ventricle and atrium, moderate dilation of the right ventricle and atrium, severe insufficiency of his mitral valve, and moderate insufficiency of his tricuspid valve. Briggs is not yet in heart failure but was certainly headed that way without intervention. Thankfully has now started on heart medications that will help slow down any further progression of his heart diseases, reduce his pulmonary hypertension, and help to support his heart function. He will return to the cardiologist in 2 months for another echocardiogram to see how his heart is responding to the medications - we hope to see a little improvement 🙏🏻 
While this wasn’t the best report, Briggs is now in excellent hands, getting the very best of care, and intervention has arrived at the nick of time…. and that’s why things are looking up 💜 Briggs is being fostered in Vestavia Hills, Alabama 🏡

JANUARY 11, 2025: BIG snow guy! ❄️ Briggs in Birmingham, Alabama has come to life in the snow and he was so happy to see it still there this morning!
You may remember Briggs was found stray in an Amish puppy mill area in rural Missouri. He had either managed to escape puppy mill life or was dumped by the breeder. He made the trip down to Alabama so he could more urgently see our cardiologist after a significant heart murmur was detected at his intake vetting and concern about advanced heart disease.
His intake echocardiogram revealed severe enlargement and pulmonary hypertension due to severe mitral valve disease and he started heart medications. Unfortunately his recheck echocardiogram did not show improvement and so his medications were increased. He just returned back to the cardiologist for another recheck and sadly despite the increase, he isn’t responding well to medications. At almost 10 years old, it is likely that Briggs has been suffering with heart disease for quite some time and would have benefitted from starting heart medications much earlier which would have been more effective and helped to slow down the progression of the disease. Of course, puppy mills don’t care about heart disease, his health, or his suffering 💔
While Briggs is not yet in heart failure, he’s quickly headed that way and without his recent rescue and intervention efforts he likely would already be in it. Due to the frequency of his echocardiograms, cost of his medications, and his impending heart failure status, we feel it is in Briggs’s best interest to stay in rescue where he will remain in his foster home and under the care of his amazing cardiologist and where we will continue to meet his every need. His foster mom is experienced with heart disease, is equipped with at home oxygen, emergency medications, and is prepared to help him fight this so he can continue to live and enjoy the good life that he’s missed out on for far too long…
Right now, that looks like soaking up every little last bit of snow that’s still out there! He may be a southern boy now, but he’s certainly a midwestern boy at heart!