Fort Worth shelter dogs become ‘blood brothers’
When 2-year-old Cyrus came to the Fort Worth Animal Shelter with a mangled leg and an infection, staff workers didn’t know if he would survive.
The small pup with piercing amber-eyes was in bad shape and needed to have his leg amputated and a blood transfusion. Workers speculated that he had been hit by a car.
His lifesaver was 1-year-old Rocker, another pitbull-mix at the shelter, who donated blood to Cyrus about two weeks ago, said Sandy Shelby, superintendent of the Chuck Silcox Animal Shelter in Fort Worth.
Rocker didn’t even need to be sedated to donate the blood.
“Getting that fresh blood was like giving him life, literally,” Shelby said. “The next day we saw a transformation that is hard to put into words. Cyrus came back to life the next day — he was happy and wagging his tail.”
Cyrus got to meet Rocker the day after surgery and the two became instant friends, Shelby said.
“It was almost like they new they were connected in some way,” Shelby said. “They started licking each other in the face, and they had never even met before. It was just so sweet.”
Shelby said they would like to see the “blood brothers” go to the same forever home, if possible.
However, Shelby warned that Rocker, who is young and has that puppy energy, will need an active home to keep him busy. Cyrus, with his injury, will need to rest while he recovers and learns how to walk on three legs.
The priority will be making sure they find homes that will provide for the needs of each, Shelby said. The shelter will be taking applications through the weekend for the dogs, and the staff will make a decision on their new home Monday.
“We get so many amazing, beautiful animals and every one of them has a story,” Shelby said. “But this is really a story that has touched a lot of us. We watched this dog come in and we didn’t even know if he would make it through his first night.”
“To see Cyrus now, starting to learn to walk on three legs and starting to feel better, it really is our Christmas miracle.”
Caty Hirst, 817-390-7984
About the shelter
▪ To fill out an application to adopt Cyrus and/or Rocker, visit the Fort Worth’s Animal Care and Control Center at 4900 Martin Street, Fort Worth.
▪ The shelter is open this week from noon to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
▪ The adoption fee for all the animals at the shelter is $10 through the end of the year.
▪ The city will also start its first foster program next year. Those interested in volunteering to be foster parents should contact the shelter at 817-392-1234.
This story was originally published December 23, 2014 at 5:51 PM with the headline "Fort Worth shelter dogs become ‘blood brothers’."