Meet Miley. She may be just one dog, but her story is a perfect example of the impact treatment and transport for just one can have on many pets—and people!
Miley was living in a Louisiana shelter. Given her heartworm-positive status, shelter staff had little hope for her chances of finding a loving home. With so many animals under their roof, they simply didn’t have the resources to get her the care she needed or the time to devote to finding her the right family.
Then Greater Good Charities reached out, offering to fly Miley and a number of pets like her to New Hampshire last August. Shelters in this area have more space and resources to care for pets like her. Right then, Miley’s second chance began to form.
And hope grew from there. Going beyond transport, thanks to our partners at Boehringer Ingelheim—the maker of NexGard® PLUS (afoxolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel chewable tablets) and HEARTGARD® Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel)—we provided Miley's heartworm treatment, increasing her chances of adoption tenfold again.
By the end of the year, Miley wasn’t just ready for adoption; she had found a loving family and was settling in to her new home. Her family reported back: “Miley is doing amazing. She is the most perfect dog ever.”
We couldn’t be happier that Miley got the perfect happy ending. But the story doesn’t end there.
Thanks to the Save a Heart flight she and dozens of other pets took to the Northeast, space in Miley’s and several other southern shelters opened up for other pets in need. This meant more animals protected instead of on the streets, and more lives saved.
Plus, given Greater Good Charities’ long-established relationships with many of these shelters, these new pets in their care will have similar opportunities for future transport and treatment through Save a Heart.
When we look beyond one dog, we ease pressure on overburdened facilities, create space and flexibility for shelter staff, and help move more dogs more quickly into forever homes.
Since the program began nearly five years ago—with Boehringer Ingelheim’s support from the beginning—Save a Heart has created second chances that weren’t possible before for thousands of shelter dogs like Miley.
Thanks to your support, Save a Heart delivers timely, life-saving solutions where shelters face the greatest strain. By ensuring heartworm-positive dogs receive the care and placement they need, we help shelters focus resources where they matter most—and give dogs like Miley the opportunity to heal, find homes, and thrive.
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.