Former JC Shelter Dog to Become Therapy Dog for Military Veteran with P.T.S.D.
Her transformation “epitomizes the saying ‘it takes a village’,” says Dawn Bibilon, her foster mom through the non-profit F.J.C.A.S.P. organization. She was brought into the Jackson County Animal Shelter in terrible condition and immediately taken to the vet for treatment for the pain of wounds on her back that were apparently from boiling water or oil.
Most people would have probably argued that it would have been better to humanely euthanize her, but after taking one look at her, F.J.C.A.S.P. volunteer Yvonne David could see her potential. David agreed to foster her and help her get through the physical healing which included treatment to her burns and an intestinal issue.
Remarkably Laila was heartworm negative. It didn’t take long and she was starting to hold her head up a little and even bark. It was around that time that a Hounds Healing Heroes spokesperson saw her picture and said “I have seen this broken, existing not living, I am not worthy look in many of the Veteran’s we work with and I knew that I had to do something…”. They did, they accepted her into their program.
But there was still work to be done before she would be able to help. It was time to gain some weight and confidence. That was the job for Laila Jean’s second foster mom, Dawn Babilon. As fate would have it, Babilon had also just rescued a very vibrant Collie mix named Ritzy from the shelter. Ritzy took on the job of teaching Laila how to be a happy, confident, playful pup and it was a success.
After just a couple months, Laila is physically and spiritually healed thanks to a team of people from the J.C.A.S. staff to the foster moms and special dog who was being rescued herself. Now Laila Jean is headed to her forever home, with a very important job of being a companion and therapy dog for a Veteran who suffers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Laila’s treatment cost around $450 plus donations of wound care items. F.J.C.A.S.P is a non-profit 501c3 organization that operates solely on donations from the public and the volunteers who open their homes to foster animals from the Jackson County Animal Shelter. All donations are used to benefit the animals of the Jackson County Animal Shelter.
Visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Jackson-County-Animal-Shelter-pets/288695074487416 to learn more about F.J.C.A.S.P. including ways you can help and to view picture of animals available for adoption. Donations can be mailed to:
F.J.C.A.S.P.
3401 Hammil Farm Road
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Or Paypal at fjcasp@gmail.com or donations can be made to the F.J.C.A.S.P. account at Bienville Animal Clinic in Ocean Springs.
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