Meet Beluga. When she arrived at a Louisiana animal shelter, she was overweight and heartworm positive, a combination that didn’t bode well for her chances of survival, let alone adoption.
Now, Beluga’s life has changed forever—this adorable girl is an Instagram star!
Her new parents love to take her on adventures, and their active lifestyle is helping with her weight loss journey. Whether exploring downtown or down the coast, Beluga is having a whale of a time, enjoying the happy life that nearly slipped through her paws.
Greater Good Charities is working to save lives like Beluga’s every day through our “Save a Heart” pet transports. Generously sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, the maker of NexGard® PLUS (afoxolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel chewable tablets) and HEARTGARD® Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel), this initiative provides heartworm-positive dogs with critical veterinary care, heartworm disease prevention, and transportation from overburdened shelters to loving arms.
Heartworm disease can be fatal, but it is entirely treatable and preventable. Unfortunately, the disease runs rampant in the South, and often shelters lack the resources to treat and care for dogs who test positive. This means they’re far less likely to get adopted.
How Save a Heart Helps Heartworm-Positive Dogs Get Treatment and Homes
Through “Save a Heart,” Greater Good Charities directly provides shelters with the medication to treat and prevent heartworm, but it doesn’t stop there.
By transporting asymptomatic heartworm-positive dogs to shelters with more space and adopters, we further ease the burden on struggling shelters, freeing up room and resources. Plus, transported dogs find homes more quickly!
We’ve already transported nearly 1,750 dogs like Beluga to safety and second chances through “Save a Heart,” thanks to Boehringer Ingelheim’s partnership from the beginning. In April 2026, we can’t wait to celebrate the five-year anniversary of this lifesaving initiative, and we hope you’ll join us!
Thanks to you, our compassionate community, our work is a flexible, purposeful response to need—ensuring that more animal lives are saved and that the people who care for them are supported meaningfully.
Read Libby's Story—Another pup rescued through our Save a Heart program.
Thinking about adoption a dog with heartworm? Here's what you should know and why it matters.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: NexGard® PLUS (afoxolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel chewable tablets) is safe for puppies at 8 weeks, weighing 4 pounds or more. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and itching. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. Dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infection prior to starting a preventive. For more information, click here for full prescribing information.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: HEARTGARD Plus is well-tolerated. All dogs should be tested for heartworm infection before starting a preventive program. Following the use of HEARTGARD Plus, digestive and neurologic side effects have been reported. For more information, click here for full prescribing information.