February, 2026:  Once again, we have a case of blatant, long-term abuse! Four year old Athena was found on a porch, locked in a crate and left to live in her own excrement as she slowly starved to death!! Only a monster could purposely carry out such a heinous crime. Luckily, a police officer intervened and she was taken to safety at the local animal control. ACC reported Athena to be horribly emaciated at barely 30 pounds and a body condition score of 2/9 (and that score is quite generous)! She did vomit a sock while at ACC but no abdominal imaging followed. ACC contacted the rescue angels of Doberman Pinscher Rescue of Pennsylvanie (DPRPA) to please, please take her in to hopefully save her life. Even though DPRPA recently took in two very ill Dobes, they couldn't turn their back on Athena, even knowing treatment of her advanced state of decline would most likely be very costly! DPRPA jumped through the hoops they were given and after a WEEK, she was fianlly released to their care! Within 32 hours of entering her foster home, Athena began vomiting again but now she also had diarrhea. She was rushed to an emergency hospital where surgery ensued. Discovered during surgery was another sock with threads attached to her stomach with extension into her small intestine!! This was a SERIOUS obstuction and as you can imagine, her poor small intestine was extemely inflamed! She would've been in terrible pain with the invasive obstruction, the vomiting and diarrhea! During surgery Athena's blood pressure crashed requiring emergency medications and a plasma infusion to stabilize her. She remains hospitalized on blood pressure support as they attempt to wean her meds. Because of the extensive surgery Athena has multiple abdominal incisions, significant diarrhea, severe intestinal inflammation, a feeding tube to rest her intestines, and ongoing ICU monitoring as well a the typical 'hospital room and board with nursing monitoring 24/7. ONLY because DPRPA stepped in was Athena able to survive her deliberate abandonment and starvation. She survived emergency surgery and now needs help with surviving recovery. Even though Athena is currently quite compromised, she is stilll sweet as can be and loves her toys to cuddle with. DPRPA Rescue Angels really need our assistance with Athena's $7,000 and climbing life saving vet expenses. DPRPA are known to step in and save the sickest Dobes. Will you help to honor Athena and the dedication of DPRPA with a donation of any amount?? Please, please!! NO gift is ever too small and ALL are greatly appreciated! You can contribute by clicking on your preferance of USPS or PayPal. In true Doberman fashion, sweetly sitting enjoying the feel of a kind hand... Take a look - just click right here https://www.doberman911.org.   This latest Godesses' namesake, Athena, her DPRPA angels and we at SND are profoundly grateful for your assistance! Beth McCahren, Athena'sSND Case Manager

February, 2026:  Fritzie is a showstopper! When he walked through the doors of Doberman Pinscher Rescue into the loving, diligent arms of Ardis and her army, he had already spent some time in a shelter after his owner died unexpectedly. Sadly, his owner's family was unable to take Fritzie on, but thankfully someone notified Doberman Pinscher Rescue of Fritzie's plight. With the speed of a blue streak flashing thru the sky, Fritzie was whisked off to Ardis's Army and had his intake exam. Fritzie's owner treasured this 7 year old sweetheart of a blue baby, and Fritzie's excellent health is a reflection of the love and care his person enveloped him with. One of the reasons this assessment could be made is that Fritzie has Addison's Disease, which his owner carefully sought treatment for and made sure Fritzie would always have his medication and check-ups. The cost of the medication alone is upwards of $300.00 a month, and Fritzie had his necessary medication and monitoring to keep him healthy. His care requires his caretakers to always be on guard for any physical or emotional changes as well as diligence with the medicine and hormones that keep Fritzie healthy, happy and delightful. Doberman Pinscher Rescue in Fillmore, California is a landmark not only in the Doberman rescue world itself, but a nationally recognized non profit on the front lines of saving Dobermans - and dogs of all stripes - and helping all of them find love, care and homes. They've been instrumental in the betterment of a countless number of lives, saving dogs and placing them, and bettering many, many people's lives as well. When Doberman Pinscher Rescue takes on a dog with medical needs, the organization does it's own fundraising - Ardis tries very hard to never turn a dog away because of medical expenses. But, there are occasions when expenses exceed what the rescue has in their budget or can raise. Doberman Pinscher Rescue relies on Special Needs Dobermans to assist in raising money for these wonderful dogs who would otherwise have to be turned away because of veterinary expenses. How could you say no to dear Fritzie?? He's a sweet, friendly and affectionate guy who so deserves to continue leading a healthy, happy life. With your contribution to SND, Fritzie will continue his good health and pave the way for another chance to be adopted and loved! Please help now - just click on the tab that you prefer to send your gift, USPS or PayPal and instructions will follow. Take another gander at this sweet King of the Blues for inspiration!  Just click right here https://www.doberman911.org. Thank you, Thank you!! Leslie Michell, Fritzie's Case Manager (who just happens to love the blues...)

February 26: We are all so saddened to tell you that dear Max was indeed too ill to save at the stage of his neglect. The saving grace is that the DDR Angels were there to comfort and care for him in his final days.  He did not die alone or because no one cared and we thank you for your support and kindness that made that possible.  Rest in Peace dear Max, nothing will ever hurt you again. 
February, 2026:  Stately beauty is the only description for this beautiful fawn gentleman. Estimated to be 10 years old, which is amazing, the boy spent most of his life on a chain outside. Since he is still intact he was probably used as a puppy maker – nothing more. Max was rescued by Dogwood Doberman Rescue (DDR) in Matthew, North Carolina just before Christmas, 2025. He has received extensive veterinary care for issues created by never being taken care of in the first place. DDR sent copies of his 24 pages of medical records to document the multitude of tests to determine and treat why he was extremely underweight. Some of the tests were for worms, thyroid issues, total bloodwork, and a cystocentesis (tube inserted into bladder) to try to get a clean urine sample. Shortly after that, he started urinating blood. He returned to the vet the next day and an ultrasound revealed active bleeding in his bladder. Later that evening he was transferred to an emergency hospital. Further imaging confirmed that his bladder was filling up with fluid but not urine. Cancer is now a topic of discussion, and he remains in the hospital being monitored with hopes he will recover and go home. DDR has been so diligent trying to help this Dobergent - trying every trick in the book to get him to gain weight. The steroids and Doxycycline stopped the mild heart tremors. He tries to bite if his neck is grabbed. Probably residual scar tissue from all those years on the chain. Other than that, he is a typical sweet, loving, loyal Doberman who crosses his paws every time he lays down, waiting for attention and the loving touch he craves. Pages of tests, the vet visits, and the emergency hospital all add up to major money in the end. This Senior deserves every effort (as they all do) and chance to live his retirement years comfortably – we hope you will agree and then help DDR continue their efforts to care for these precious ones.  Anything will help to show dear Max some love after all the bad years being chained and forgotten. Just click on the tab that you prefer to send your gift, USPS or PayPal and instructions will follow. Look at this sweet Senior who just wants to be cared for - just reach out and help do that!! Just click right here https://www.doberman911.org.   We will all  be so grateful!  While Max has your attention, why not drop by his very own Senior Page and send him some Senior treats too!!  THANK YOU!!  Lorri Ketterman, Max's SND Case Manager
SENIOR PAGE:  Mr. Max's Senior Page is right here! Drop in for more pix and send him some more love: https://www.doberman911.org/seniors/cases/nc_maxl.html

February, 2026:  Our newest case comes from Dogwood Doberman Rescue in Matthews, North Carolina. Stunning Thor is named for the Norse deity - the handsome and mighty god of strength, thunder and protection. Our Thor is all that and much more - so much more. This young boy found himself surrendered to a North Carolina shelter by an owner who apparently thought it was a good idea to keep two intact males in the same household as a female dog in heat. Needless to say, chaos ensued and poor Thor got the short end of the stick. This disaster actually resulted in the first step in saving Thor's life. When surrendered to animal control, Thor visited the shelter's veterinary team upon appearing poorly - he is quite skinny, and it was discovered that Thor had part of a blanket lodged in his small intestine and who knows for long. The confrontation between Thor and his housemate actually saved his life - if mighty Thor hadn't wielded his hammer, this obstruction would surely have killed him, slowly and painfully. This beautiful boy, who is guesstimated to be 2 years old or younger is now being cared for by the Rescue Angels of Dogwood Doberman Rescue. His exam, which concluded that Thor was in need of emergent obstruction surgery to remove the blanket. This is a huge surgery; it has the potential of many complications and it requires diligent monitoring post surgery to ensure proper rehabilitation, feeding and exercise. Latest news from NC is that dear Thor has had his surgery and is doing well!! YAAAAY!! Dear Thor's youth is in his favor - he is otherwise strong and has an easy, placid temperament, which will work to his advantage in his recovery... but Thor's surgery must come post haste; every moment surgery is delayed is life threatening. The wonderful folks at Dogwood Doberman Rescue are scrambling for money for Thor's surgery.  They're a relatively small rescue in a rural area and their resources are limited having been slammed with several costly medical cases recently – including Miss Indie who couldn’t be saved. Thor's team at Dogwood has reached out to Special Needs Dobermans for financial help to get Thor the surgery he desperately need ASAP. This is why I appeal to you today for Thor's life... This beautiful young Nordic youngster needs all of our help to get the word out that funds are desperately needed to save his life. Just lose yourself looking into those endless blue eyes of his asking for help. Please, send a donation now to SND so Thor does not need to wait any longer to begin his life anew with his life saving surgery. You can help now, just click on the tab that you prefer to send your gift, USPS or PayPal and instructions will follow. Take a look at this sweet but pained face and you'll want to help, we  all hope!  Just click right here https://www.doberman911.org. Those eyes thank you forever...as do I. Leslie Michell,Thor's Case Manager at Special Needs Dobermans

February, 2026:  Here's how the story begins.... the Rescue Angels of Dogwood Doberman Rescue, located in Matthews, North Carolina, were contacted by another rescue who had already taken in several dogs from a hoarding case. Among the dogs they rescued were four Dobermans, and it was requested that DDR take two of them. Even though DDR had already taken in SEVEN Dobes in the previous THREE DAYS, they wasted no time in agreeing to care for two more! DDR was told in advance that Indie 'did not feel well' with the symptoms of illness being she *hadn't eaten that morning* but did drink and go to the bathroom. OK, good to know. When seven year old Indie was actually delivered to DDR, the *truth* finally came out. Indie had been VOMITING FOR TWO WEEKS STRAIGHT and losing weight steadily! DDR literally had Indie for less than 15 minutes and she was off to the Emergency vet! Following a full assessment, the plan was for Indie to have an exploratory surgery to rule out a possible obstruction. This is where Indie's diagnosis plummets - not only did dear Indie have an obstruction, but it was also a VERY long foreign body located between the stomach and gut which caused intussusception (literally, her intestines were bunched up like a telescope causing vomiting, diarrhea, intense abdominal pain and lethargy. No wonder she was deathly ill and in pain!). As if that wasn't enough, Indie was internally so full of infection, she was actually septic. A visualized mammary chain that was almost certainly cancer was yet another major issue uncovered. Poor, beautiful Indie's health was already so profoundly deteriorated, there was no way she was going to be able to recover from the extensive surgery. To provide an easy crossing over The Bridge, Indie was lovingly let go. As mentioned above, DDR had just taken in seven new Dobes which all needed, at the very least, thorough exams, labs, and vacinations with some of the Dobes needing even more than generalized new intake care. The significant cost to try to save Indie was $2500 which, with all of the new intakes, is a huge amount at this time for DDR! DDR wanted so much more for sweet Indie and did everything they possibly could to give her a new life. Even though Indie has left us, DDR still has vet/hospital bills to pay on her behalf. Please, if possible, a gift of ANY amount in honor of Indie, would be hugely appreciated! PLEASE remember, NO gift is ever too small! It all adds up and every penny is appreciated! To donate is just a matter of clicking on the gifting tab of your choice, either USPS or PayPal! As always, the dedicated Rescue Angels of DDR and we at SND kindly thank you in advance for your continued generosity!   Here's a look at what might have been the best day of what might have been in her future... So sad but she did not die because NO ONE CARED!  Click right here https://www.doberman911.org. THANK YOU for your support!! Beth McCahren, Indie's SND Case Manager

February, 2026:  Incredibly soulful, searching eyes on this beautiful young DobeGirl. You can see many things - she is trying to figure out what’s happening to her - pain, fear, hunger, and longing for security and love. Sweet Miss Bailey is only at one year old when she and her sister were rescued from an animal shelter. Thankfully, it was by Doberman Pinscher Rescue (DPR) from Fillmore, California. They are a true lifeline for hundreds of Dobes who have needed assistance and they haven’t let money get in the way of helping the dogs. Saving Bailey is hitting them with another very large bill, over $5000 already. Bailey’s sister, Lydia, was spayed and available for adoption right away.  Bailey was in heat, so she had to wait her estrus had passed. DPR was shocked one morning at breakfast time to find that her left rear leg was very swollen and she wasn’t putting any weight on it. No sign of injury or venomous bites to be found on her! The next day, Bailey visited the DPR's trusted Vet and they were expecting to hear “broken leg,” but x-rays showed a very strange image. Bailey’s kneecap was not where it was supposed to be and she had a ruptured ligament. Her patella was severely luxated and will require imbrication suregery where the torn ligament can be repaired which will stabilize the patella while the knee heals. Of course there is no way to guess whether that ligament was going to blow at any time.  Fortunately, it didn't happen on the street or in the pound! No wonder her face looks like that! Surgery is her only option short of amputation which the DPR Angels will try to avoid at all costs! Bailey will need two surgeries to correct her problem patella. The first one is a lateral imbrication so her ligament can heal and be less inflamed, then her second surgery will position the patella back in place. Once she’s past these surgeries and healed (keep a one-year old who feels better quiet – easier said than done!), she’ll be a fantastic family member for some lucky someone. You can tell she’s going to be a real snuggler. Will you please help us help DPR continue their mission to help all the Dobies they can to overcome some of the worst injuries and abuses we’ve seen? They are a bright beacon in southern California for all these pups who need help. But, they need our help to pay the bills for these extraordinary expenses! Please join us in our efforts to assist DPR continue rescuing all the Dobermans they can. Any amount will help. We can turn Bailey’s face into a shiny-eyed, smiling girl - as it should be!  You can, just click on the tab that you prefer to send your gift, USPS or PayPal and instructions will follow.  Take a look at this sweet face and you'll want to help, we  all hope!  Just click right here https://www.doberman911.org. MANY THANKS to all!! Lorri Ketterman, Bailey's hopeful advocate andSND Case Manager

January, 2026:  Beautiful little Remi is all of 61 pounds, and she's all sugar. She should weigh more given her stature.  This lovely little lady is about 5 years old, surrendered to a Valencia county shelter in New Mexico in poor condition. The reason? Her so-called owners attempted to breed her without a permit or prenatal care... sadly, that is the least of Remi's troubles. When Remi came in for her shelter spay, she began to bleed uncontrollably so you can guess that she would not have survived there. So, deus ex machina-like, in step the Angel Warriors of High Desert Doberman Rescue from Belen, New Mexico, to take Remi under their wings. Evidently, bleeding disorders like the dreaded vWd which is not that uncommon in Dobes had not been ruled out.  Now, her wonderful rescuers at High Desert Doberman Rescue are dealing with a very sick little lady. She is skeletal, her coat is dry, sparse and a mess and there are major concerns about her bleeding issues... how she's survived this long is a genuine testament to Doberman strength. Dear Remi is going to need critical care as her hematocrit was very low and getting lower but at least, she's maybe stabilizing and it's thanks to HDDR for their swift action that is saving her life! She's now resting more comfortably but she remains hospitalized in CCU as more tests are pending to better assess her condition. This is an extended hospital stay at an emergency veterinary hospital. She is getting the best of care, but it is draining a huge amount of funds from High Desert's budget and may reach $10-12K!! Exploratory surgery is on the horizon as well as transfusions of blood given her for an already dangerously low hematocrit. Because High Desert Doberman rescue makes every effort to save a Dobe's life, they're not afraid to go to the ends of the earth to save lovely Remi. They are counting on the compassion and generosity of all of us in the Doberman Community. The wonderful people at High Desert have asked Special Needs Dobermans to help fundraise money to offset Remi's ongoing care.  We're hoping you will join us in this race to save a precious life.  You can, just click on the tab that you prefer to send your gift, USPS or PayPal and instructions will follow.  When you look at sweet Remi's picture, know that there are many people now fighting to save little Remi's life. Please share Remi's case with everyone you know and tell them of our mission at Special Needs Dobermans.  Because of your donations, networking and devotion, you will provide life-saving help to Dobermans in rescues like dear Remi. Just look at sweeter than suger Remi here for a little inspiration!  Just click right here https://www.doberman911.org.Thank you to all!! Leslie Michell, Remi's hopeful advocate and friend.

January, 2026:  Beautiful name for a beautiful 3-year-old girl. Her past life certainly was not ideal as whoever had her didn’t spend the time to teach her how to be a calm, respectful girl. For about six months Athena has been with a fantastic foster working with Dogwood Doberman Rescue (DDR) out of Matthews, North Carolina. She was finally learning how to go from her fearful, extremely reactive state to a well-mannered lady able to go on walks and have fun! Of course, now that she is finally getting out of that fear state, with confidence growing she is branching out and curiously exploring what she can do and get away with. Finally getting some long suppressed puppy energy spark back! She’s really starting to thrive with love and an alpha human. Now that she is finally showing more of her personality, she decided that chewing on cloth things was a great thing to do. The Greek Athena was the goddess of wisdom, logic, intellect, and strategic warfare. She temporarily went askew of that description and unfortunately ate some cloth item, and it caused an obstruction. She had never chewed on cloth items before. She was rushed to the Emergency Vet and had to have the obstruction surgically removed. Athena is still at the clinic recovering from her surgery but is doing well. Anytime the word surgery is muttered, it means big bucks being paid by the Rescue and threatening their very budget. Since Athena could not outwit and conquer the cloth thing, DDR is now faced with a huge surgery and ER care bill until she is released. Won’t you please help put a toothy smile back on this Doberman goddess’ face and donate what you can to help pay for her trying to impress Zeus with her feats? All you have to do is click on the tab that you prefer to send your gift, USPS or PayPal and instructions will follow. Very soon with your kindness, she will heal and will be able to dazzle her forever family with the typical Doberman intellect and love and show much of a goddess she really is! And, you'll be reassuring that DDR can continue to do its fabulous work for our Dobermans!  The entire pantheon of Greek Gods and Goddesses will THANK YOU!! Look at the real Goddess Athena's namesake for a smile!   Just click right here https://www.doberman911.org.   Thank you for your support!! Lorri Ketterman, Athena's SND Case Manager

January, 2026:  I don't even know where to begin so I'll just get straight to the point. This precious pup is only NINE months old. He, along with his sister, were being given away for free on social media with the excuse of "owner states he works too much and the dogs have diarrhea so I don't want them anymore!!" (So just give your sick dogs to any Tom, Dick or Harry and then who cares what happens to them!)  Fortunately for the siblings, the awesome volunteers of Bella and Sunshine Rescue in Ontario, California were made aware of them and immediately went to save them from whatever fate could've transpired. When one of BSR's directors arrived at the house to pick up the dogs, she was horrified to see that they were walking skeletons and REEKED of urine and feces. There were multiple people at the house, so it was no secret that the pups were being slowly starved to death, but no one cared to intervene. BSR later found out that along with not having food and water, the pups had lived all of their nine months, outside, in a crate, sitting and laying in their own waste. When it rained, the crate tray became a slurry of rain water, urine and feces that they had no choice but to live in for days until it finally dried up. If you can bear it, a picture of this squalor may be shown on our fb page.  No wonder their smell was atrocious! With a lot of love, patience and groceries, progress was happening. Then, suddenly, Vector's urine was deep red in color. As suspected, Vector had a UTI, however, xrays revealed much more than a UTI... Vector has a very enlarged liver and an abdominal mass that is displacing his internal organs!  And he's still just a baby!  Antibiotics were started and a needle biopsy is scheduled for diagnostics. A treatment plan will be developed from there. BSR has recently taken in several Dobes with extensive medical needs and could really use some help from our SND family!! Donations are the only way rescues survive and we sure don't want any to drown because of veterinary bills. A donation of ANY amount would be greatly appreciated to assist with getting Vector the care he needs to survive. All you have to do is click on the tab that you prefer to send your gift, USPS or PayPal. Instructions will follow. The Dobes, rescues and we at SND thank you ever so much for ANY contribution you can provide! Take a look at this Prince as he began to recovering from living in hell.  Just click right here https://www.doberman911.org.   THANK YOU as always for your caring!! Beth McCahren, Vector's SND Case Manager

January, 2026:  Just when you think you’ve seen the worst of everything, you might think: “What evils will some humans do?” Is this ignorance alone? Likely poor Tongo is a glaring example of that or purposeful neglect and cruelty which is even worse! This so sweet 4-year-old Doberman male was found wandering the streets of Georgia in horrible pain. His hair mainly gone and bleeding tracts of mange all over - it's hard to tell he's a Black Doberman. But, that’s only part of his problem. Thankfully, he was picked up and taken to the shelter where more than a little diligence and compassion arranged to get him to the loving arms of Dogwood Doberman Rescue (DDR) from Matthews, North Carolina. In addition to horrible mange and awful body condition – very thin, Tongo is harboring a hidden secret. The shelter had him x-rayed and a foreign body was revealed in his gut. He was rushed to an Emergency Clinic ($$) to be stabilized until surgery could be arranged at a different specialty/emergency clinic nearby. He was scheduled for today, January 22nd. Tongo has a long way to go but first this life-saving obstruction surgery. Then aadressing the mange which is horribly painful. It is caused by burrowing, carnivorous Demodex mites creating microscopic mazes of tunnels in the skin creating severe itching. It’s like an ant farm expanding beneath Tongo’s skin. As horrible as it sounds, it’s even worse for poor Tongo. He’s not only itchy but lethargic, depressed, not hungry, and losing weight and that “thing” in his gut is just making it worse to be sure. He feels like just giving up but DDR is there to hold him up and give him all the long-term care, love, and medical help he needs. Mange takes a very long time to heal and take a lot of dedication to complete the treatments. Needless to say, his trips to the ER and subsequent surgery is not cheap! Treating mange isn’t as costly as surgery and ER care, but the care and treatment does take a toll on Dogwood’s resources. Please, won’t you help hold up dear Tongo and send a donation to help him recover and thank DDR for their dedication in saving this wonderful boy? Please be part of Tongo’s journey and send anything you can to help us now by choosing either USPS or PayPal for your loving touch.  Soon he will get his hair back, the crusty globs will fall off, his skin will recover, he will eat proper food and gain weight, and he will find a loving home. Here's his sad 'before' picture which is the beginning of his Trip to Wellville!!  Just click right here https://www.doberman911.org. THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!  Lorri Ketterman, Dear Tongo's SND Case Manager

January, 2026:  Gorgeous, blue Queen Cleo is only two years old and is already facing a very serious medical issue! Background: Cleo has a horribly infected left rear leg which was oozing pus. Her previous owner doesn't know how this awful wound came to be, but states it might have been a bite from one of the other pet dogs in the home. Cleo was taken to a large, corporate hospital for treatment. The veterinarian there prescribed an antibiotic for the infection but never did a C & S (culture and sensitivity) of the drainage to see what the drainage actually was and what the proper treatment would be to heal it.  No surprise, the antibiotic was of no help. The same vet also noted a nodule/mass on the side of her torso and ruled it a lipoma because 'she is too young to have cancer'! Say what??? But I digress... Cleo's owner spent a 'few thousand' (by their report) in attempts to have her wound treated at a large corporate veterinarian practice, but that amount of money doesn't go to far in those practices. The prior owner then made the decision to take Cleo to an animal shelter since they no longer had funds for further care.  By the time she got to the shelter Cleo's drainage was actually running down her leg, she was lethargic, had tremors, had stopped eating and was crying and whimpering in pain!  I can't even imagine how terrific her pain was to be exibiting all of those signs - we all know how Dobes are pretty stoic in hiding their pain). Bella and Sunshine Rescue located in Ontario, California, became aware of Cleo and rescued her from the shelter the same day she was scheduled to be destroyed. Cleo was taken straight to their primary vet clinic. BSR's vet knew immediately the nodule was NOT a lipoma, did a needle aspiration and checked it microscopically. Diagnosis won't be positively identified until the specimen is checked by pathology, however it looks to be a fungus called cryptococcus (which would explain why the previous prescribed antibiotic was ineffective). Culture has now confirmed cryptococcus! The side effects of this fungus are: dissemination causing lesions, swollen lymph nodes, poor appetite and tremors. It is rare in dogs, however when it does affect a dog, Dobermans have more of a reaction to the fungus than other breeds and 'young' dogs are even more susceptible to it. Now to the wound debridement, the vet stated that as he opened the wound to clean it, what he visualized looked like 'hamburger meat'. He removed as much damaged tissue as possible while also doing his best to not removed too much as that could cause future ambulation problems. The debrided tissue and the drainage from the leg were also sent to pathology. As pathology had already identified and confirmed cyptococcus, Cleo will have amphotericin (a powerful antifungal which if given is by IV) followed by two additional antifungals. To add more to the ever growing vet bill - Cleo is being boarded at the veterinarian's office due to needing to be in a clean environment as well as daily dressing changes in clean surroundings. As you can see, the angels of BSR have taken on a giant debt to SAVE young Cleo's life, and would be forever grateful for ANY donation towards her vet bill that you could possibly spare. Please remember, NO DONATION IS EVER TOO SMALL, it all adds up. BSR, SND and especially MISS CLEO are most grateful for your continued generosity in helping to save these innocent lives! Please join us by choosing either USPS or PayPal for your gift to this Beautiful Blue Queen!! Join us please! Here's another look at this sweet lady -  Just click right here https://www.doberman911.org. THANK YOU as always!!  Beth McCahren, Queen Cleo's SND Case Manager

January, 2026: Welcome back dear friend Mitchell! His stunning face may look familiar... it's difficult to forget a gentleman so handsome and gentle. Mitchell is a former Special Needs Doberman alumnus from 2023 when he was rescued and loved by the wonderful people at High Desert Doberman Rescue in sunny New Mexico. As a highly esteemed resident, Mitch continues to charm every individual he meets. Now somewhere around 11 years old, he's been doing very well and retains the magic of catching everyone’s love with his princely ways. He's everything a beautiful senior Doberman is known to be - and then some. Recently, Mitchell somehow injured his natural tail, lacerating it and despite immediate intervention by his caregivers, developed an infection. His tail was always a “happy” one (bent at an angle, likely from a very old injury). We all know that with advancing years, small mishaps and misadventures take longer to mend. Mitchell's tail is not healing properly, leaving him vulnerable to recurrent infection which could easily spread to other areas in his body. Mitchell's veterinarian feels the most favorable approach to help him would be amputation of the tail to avoid compromising his overall health. As spry and happy as Mitchell is, the tail does put him at risk...amputation is the best solution to keep Mitchell healthy and happy. Of course, this is still surgery, and it's expensive. Mitchell will need the full work up for the operation including senior blood panels, careful monitoring, medications and dressing changes. High Desert Doberman Rescue has saved and homed many, many lovely Dobermans from all over America's Southwest. As a non-profit, they rely on the generosity of their donors to not only find Doberman homes, but they also rely on the public generosity to house and care for their permanent residents like Mitch. Mitchell has been a longtime resident and is adored by everyone at High Desert. Please, make a donation to Special Needs Dobermans to help him not only have his surgery, but to assist High Desert Doberman Rescue to continue to .shelter, love and care for Dobermans like Mitchell. Just look at that priceless face and send a donation SND's way for Mitchell's late in life crop. His eyes will smile even more, and his brand new nubbie will wag and wag and wag some more!!  Won't you please join us by choosing either USPS or PayPal for your gift to Mr. Mitchell! We're hoping you will and here's another look at this Handsome Gent!  Just click right here https://www.doberman911.org. As a Senior Gent, you can also visit him on his own Senior Page below and send him some more love anytime!! Thank you!! Leslie Michell, Mitchell's proud SND Case Manager X2
SENIOR PAGE:  Mr. Mitchell's Senior Page is right here! Drop in for more pix and send him some more love: https://www.doberman911.org/seniors/cases/nm_mitchell.html

January 1, 2026:  Look at what Baby New Year brought to SND! A bouncing baby Girlie of two months! Unfortunately, she is a product of BYB’s who many times bring cash stock from unvetted, genetically and sometimes fatally flawed Dobermans into the world. In this case, Kitty has PDA Patent Ductus Arteriosus. PDA is where a normal fetal blood vessel (the ductus arteriosus) fails to close between upper chambers of the heart after birth, causing extra blood to flow directly to the lungs. Essentially a hole in the wall between the upper chambers of the heart causing blood to flow and mix between chambers and go directly to the lungs. Luckily this can be treated going in through the femoral artery to close the hole an alternative to open-heart surgery. While this is certainly a less expensive procedure, it is still quite costly. Meanwhile little Kitty is trying to be her baby self and is a wild child until she tires out more quickly than normal. Bluegrass Doberman Rescue’s (BDR) Vet cardiologist confirmed the diagnosis and said she needs the surgery sooner rather than later. She is now on medicine to keep fluid out of her lungs, as well as the expensive pimobendan heart medicine. Since she is a special case (yes! She is very special!), she will have to be taken out of state to the Ohio State University for a final echo, evaluation, and surgery. Thank goodness the very loving Dober Angels of BDR in Louisville, Kentucky stepped in after they were contacted by a Vet in Tennessee because the breeder suspected a heart issue. Miss Kitty, Marshal Dillon is now in the house! They signed her over to BDR. BDR’s Vet diagnosed little Kitty’s problem after a partial echocardiogram. Luckily BDR had a wonderful and patient foster for this bundle of squirms, puppy breath, and those sharp little teeth! Kitty will be getting her surgery on January 14, 2026 after the Vets at OSU agree that the surgery is what she needs. Then this sweet baby can go back to her foster mom Kristin the next day to recover and become the gorgeous and heathy girl she was meant to be! Now we have the easy job… to donate whatever we can towards the very expensive surgery and treatment for this baby. Kristin has the hard part – trying to keep this whirlwind semi-calm for 4-6 weeks while she recovers from the surgery. This baby is full of herself and loves to play, as any puppy should! Please join SND as we raise funds for BDR to cover these costs. They are the main Doberman Rescue for many Mideastern states. You can tell that they are a trusted resource as they were contacted by a vet from outside their state to get help for Kitty. Please donate anything you can. The final bill will be over $8000 after all is said and done, assuming no setbacks. Please join us by choosing either USPS or PayPal for your gift to this littlest angel! We're hoping now that you'll NOT be able to resist helping Miss Kitty and here's another look at this kitten!  Just click right here https://www.doberman911.org. Thank you, thank you!!!!!  Lorri Ketterman, Miss Kitty's SND Case Manager

January, 2026:  Look at what 2026 brought for Miss Violet!  Not a happy prospect, but fear not!  Bella and Sunshine Rescue will make sure she'll get what she needs to be healthy!  The mass she came to BSR with turned out not to be problematic.  She's still a bit over an ideal weight and it was time to try and discover why.  She's developed signs which could turn out to be a throid antibody issue or more seriously, Cushing's disease.  Cushing's will be an expensive disease to treat but it is NOT hopeless!  BSR and SND will do our best (with your help of course) to get Miss Violet stable and happy once again. Please join us once again in giving her a hand!  You can choose either USPS or PayPal for your kindness to Miss Violet.  She's now a Senior and has her very own Senior Page (check out the link below) and also a spot as Cover Lady on our home page - just click right here https://www.doberman911.org. Thank you, thank you!!!!!  SND Case Team, Miss Violet's SND Case Managers
SENIOR PAGE:  Miss Violet's Senior Page is right here! Drop in for more pix and send her some more love right here: https://www.doberman911.org/seniors/cases/ca_violet.html
April, 2025:  Look If we had a flower for every innocent animal that has needed our help, our lives would be full of beautiful sights and smells. Sweet Violet IS a beautiful flower coming into our lives but she is fighting for hers right now. She is a gorgeous 8-9 year old Senior Lady, grossly overweight at 102 pounds – she should likely weigh about 65-70 pounds! She was thankfully shared on a shelter’s social media and spotted by Bella and Sunshine Rescue, (BSR) in Ontario, California who came to her aid. When they saw the post and saw that she had had an ulcerated mass on her left torso which was removed by the shelter - she looked so doped up, tired-looking and sad. The shelter didn’t send the mass to pathology so it is not known what it was. When BSR came to pick Violet up she had severe pneumonia and even though the shelter had her on antibiotics she wasn’t getting better and not eating. Luckily, one of BSR’s sweet fosters, Dedri, stepped up to help even though she had just lost a foster the week before. BSR took her to the Vet and they switched her antibiotics but her lung x-rays didn’t look good. The pneumonia was obvious but there was something else going on. The Vet couldn’t tell if it was the aftermath of that mass on her torso or if she actually has a cancer (possibly metastatic) as well. Three weeks later her pneumonia has improved but she was put on another 14-day treatment to make sure. Now everyone is holding their breath that her lungs will look better and they are not dealing with a hospice situation. After her first round of antibiotics with BSR, she finally started eating and started to show her personality. She is adorable, wiggly and a booper! Now it’s a waiting game to see if this flower continues to grow and be healthy or just brings beauty into our world for as long as she can. She is a fighter with a terrific attitude and a lot of love to share. Please help BSR with a donation to help with the care of this very special girl! BSR has always been there to help Dobermans, at great expense. But they can only continue this great work if we all pitch in to help!

December, 2025:  Doberman Pinscher Rescue has ended the New Year with another wonderful save. Someone brought Apollo to a shelter in California claiming they "found" him wandering, coughing and feeling miserable. While we all can be grateful that he was taken off the streets, it's often the case that the "wandering, homeless dog" is not actually not without a home. This is suspected in Apollo's case.  Apollo is around 7 years old and is dealing with a very poor body condition. He's a blue Dobe, but because of color dilution alopecia and nutritional neglect, one can hardly tell what color his coat is. Sadly, that is not Apollo's only problem. This beautiful boy has a raging case of pneumonia which has settled into his lungs accompanied by all the miseries of sneezing, coughing,chills and nasal discharge. He looks terrible and yes, he is miserable. Luckily, Apollo was brought to Ardis's Angels at Doberman Pinscher Rescue in Fillmore, California with the help of a retired colleague.  Now the battle has commenced to save this dear boy. As mentioned, his body condition is poor BUT he is eating and his behavior is not a reflection of how sick he really is. He's friendly, affectionate and not terribly lethargic. He's been put on the big guns for medications and so far, he's tolerating them well and showing some signs of improvement. Now, we wait for the drugs to do their magic. Doberman Pinscher Rescue NEVER says no to a critically ill Doberman when possible and their track record reflects the countless Dobes they have saved from oblivion. Their website tells of an amazing history of saving, rehabilitating and rehoming Dobermans for decades. Thank you, Ardis and your army of dedicated volunteers for the lives you have SAVED and made so much better. DPR has teamed up with us at Special Needs Dobermans to help fundraise for Apollo's continued care, and we ask your help in raising donations to finance Apollo's veterinary care. He's an ever-so-sweet wonderful gentleman just on the threshold of his golden years... Please, help make those years shine. You can join us by choosing either USPS or PayPal for your donation. Need a picture of SWEET for inspiration? Just click right here https://www.doberman911.org. Thank you!! Leslie Michell, Apollo's Case Manager

December, 2025:  Although everything that has happened to this poor 5 year-old girl makes it seems like her life is just terrible suffering and of course, having babies over and again, then finally, there comes along some Dober Angels to rescue her just before the new year. Doberman Pinscher Rescue (DPR) of Fillmore, California had been eyeing her online at a shelter knowing that they would have to go the extra mile to save her. Transport would be required, but fortunately a retired colleague who was closer to the shelter picked her up so she could begin getting the care she needs and the love she’s craving. Everyone at the shelter remarked how sweet she is which made it even harder for DPR to wait until they had a foster to pull her. Cindy was in the shelter with a nonfunctioning, at an angle, rear leg and some mammary masses. During her exam, it was found that she could not extend her leg, so she had to be sedated to do x-rays. After various tests, the consensus is that her leg may have to be amputated because of the severe contracture of the muscles. For right now, she is on pain meds to keep her comfortable while DPR contacts a specialist to look at her. The Vet said that her injury was long-standing so it could have been from being hit by a car and just never taken care of. Think PAIN and lots of it! If DPR hadn’t agreed to her rescue, she surely would have been destroyed since shelters cannot keep injured dogs alive as they just do not have the staff or money to treat them all. Sad but true… DPR is truly Cindy’s angels. There have been many tests run so far (which are expensive) but many more will be needed to determine the best course by a specialist before amputation. And then and only then can the mammary masses be addressed by removal with biopsy. All of this care is very expensive as we all can imagine. DPR is very active in rescuing Dobermans in California - especially those with obvious medical needs. We all need to pitch in whatever and whenever we can to help them keep paying the bills so that our precious Dobermans can be saved. Please donate anything you can to help pay for Cindy’s outcome towards a happy life with a loving family. You can choose either USPS or PayPal and you'll be joining us on the Cindy Team!  Just Look at this precious Lady here and you'll agree she's just yet another Doberman worth saving!! Just click right here https://www.doberman911.org. THANK YOU, THANK YOU and Happy 2026!! Lorri Ketterman Cindy’s SND Case Manager

December, 2025:  Moxie is still just a baby at approximately 7 months old. She was loose and roaming around on Georgia roads before she was hit by a car and left there. She was picked up by animal control and then lay in a local shelter for a week with a broken tibia and fractured pelvis until Doberman Underground (DU) of Aurora, Ohio became aware of her plight and came to her rescue. Can you imagine the pain after the shock wore off? On Christmas Eve, DU arranged to take her under their wings and a wonderful volunteer drove from Georgia to West Virgina on Christmas Day so that DU could get her to the ER. Poor Miss Moxie but like her name - she has a lot of moxie.  She's now on very good drugs for pain and with many miles behind her, she is finally safe and being cared for.  Once at the ER it was evident her rear leg couldn’t be saved – it was shattered. She was hemorrhaging a lot but made it through the amputation surgery well where recovery can begin under the care of her vet team. She is still at the emergency vet hospital in case she needs a transfusion and to manage her pain. The lump of coal in Moxie’s stocking has changed into a beautiful, bright future. She is going to be loved and spoiled. Her sweet little picture was showing pain and being scared will change to shining eyes and maybe she’ll even give the Doberman smile! Please help DU to cover the bill for caring for this beautiful youngster. It’s already over $3000 and it will continue to grow as long as she must stay in the hospital. We think you’ll agree that the DU Angels really went above and beyond to rescue this girlie so please, won’t you join them in this extraordinary mission to save Moxie? Every and any little bit you can donate really helps! Without DU, Moxie would have been destroyed due to her injuries. Now she will grow up to be healthy and loved by some lucky family. It will literally be a happy new year for Moxie and many others if we can help DU remain solvent. Join us and please donate now. Just choose either USPS or PayPal and you'll be on the Moxie train to Wellville!  Look at her here and imagine what she can become with a little help from her friends!!. Just click right here https://www.doberman911.org. THANK YOU and Happy 2026!! Lorri Ketterman Moxie’s SND Case Manager