Left Behind in a Kennel—Brody Needs Emergency Care

Brody was found abandoned on the side of the road, left behind in a kennel like he was disposable. Unable to stand or walk, he had no way to seek help. No voice. No escape. Just waiting.

This is Houston stepped in immediately, and Brody was rushed to the emergency veterinarian, where he is currently undergoing extensive diagnostics to determine what’s happening medically and how best to help him heal. Despite being microchipped, the listed owners have refused to help—ignoring calls and texts and even hanging up on ER staff. But that doesn’t change what matters most right now: Brody needs care, comfort, and a chance. And he has that with us.

With his microchip, we learned Brody is 6 years old. His body condition is poor—he’s extremely thin and will need a careful refeeding plan. He is still unable to stand or walk on his own. X-rays show no obvious fractures, but he does have severe hip dysplasia and is in significant pain. The veterinary team has started him on a continuous pain medication protocol to keep him as comfortable as possible. CT scans have been sent out for radiologist review, and while one area appears concerning, we are waiting for official results before jumping to conclusions.

His bloodwork is stable, but he is heartworm positive and also battling giardia, hookworms, and a severe urinary tract infection, with sandy debris present in his urine. Additional testing, including a urinalysis and culture, is pending.

What we DO know is this:

Brody is eating well. He’s taking his medications. He’s warm, comfortable, and surrounded by patient, loving veterinary staff, who are gently earning his trust after everything he’s been through. Given the trauma he’s endured, his hesitation is completely understandable—but he is safe now. Can you imagine being dumped in the middle of nowhere, confined to a kennel, unable to walk, and completely helpless? Brody didn’t deserve that. But from this moment forward, he will only know care, kindness, and compassion.

You can help Brody heal. Every tax-deductible donation goes directly toward his emergency care, diagnostics, medications, and whatever he needs next on his road to recovery. Every single dollar truly makes a difference.

He may have been left behind—but he is not alone anymore. We’ve got you now, Brody.

2/21/26 Update

Brody’s MRI finally gave us some answers — and like so much of his journey, they’re complicated.

The imaging shows parasites or parasite-related lesions in his C2 vertebra (the second cervical vertebra in his neck, on the right side). The good news: this does \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\_not\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\_ appear to be cancer or a tumor, which means surgery is not being recommended.

Because Brody tested positive for heartworms, our veterinary team suspects that migrating parasites could be the cause. Heartworms, roundworms, and other parasites can sometimes travel through the body and lodge in unusual places. We’ve been advised to test for toxoplasmosis and neosporosis to better identify what we’re dealing with — knowing the exact parasite will help determine the most effective treatment plan. If we can successfully treat the infection, there is a possibility that some of his mobility could return.

However, the MRI also revealed decreased cerebellar cortical volume — meaning there has been loss of brain tissue. Unfortunately, brain loss is permanent and will not regenerate. The changes seen do not match congenital cerebellar hypoplasia (which would present as a lifelong “wobbly” gait), and instead suggest a past infectious process.

On top of that, Brody has bilateral degenerative changes in both shoulders — arthritis likely caused by years of compensating for his severely malformed hips that are not properly seated in their sockets. His body has been working overtime for a long time 💔

Treating for toxoplasmosis, neosporosis, or even possible fungal causes does not guarantee improvement in mobility. That said, we \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\_have\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\_ seen slight improvement in his rear function since he’s been with us at NVC — and we’re holding onto that hope.

There are still so many unknowns:

• How much strength can he regain?

• Will he ever be able to fully support his own weight?

• How much is the brain change contributing to his mobility challenges?

Only time — and treatment — will tell.

What we do know is that cognitively, Brody seems bright and engaged. His attitude has improved tremendously, and for the first time in his life, he’s experiencing consistent love and care. That alone makes every step worth it.

The radiologist reviewing his scans has over 20 years of experience and told us Brody falls in the top 5–10% of most unusual cases he’s seen. Leave it to us to welcome another medical mystery — but giving dogs like Brody a chance is exactly why we exist.

2/27/26 Update

Brody’s medical care has now surpassed $10,000 — and we are still searching for answers to his paralysis.

He was dumped in a kennel on the side of the road like he was disposable. But to us, Brody is not a number on a bill. He is not a “case.” He is a life. And he is worth showing up for.

Since his MRI revealed parasite-related lesions in his C2 vertebra, degenerative joint disease, and permanent cerebellar changes, we’ve known this would not be a simple recovery. We are continuing targeted testing and treatment for possible toxoplasmosis, neosporosis, and other infectious causes, while also managing his heartworm disease, arthritis, and chronic pain.

And now, Brody has started hydrotherapy. Watching him in the water is both heartbreaking and inspiring. You can see how badly he wants to walk. His back legs try to move. His body strains with effort. The drive is there — the will is undeniable. In the buoyancy of the water, where gravity isn’t working against him, we’re seeing flickers of movement and determination that give us hope.

Hydrotherapy will not reverse the brain tissue loss. It may not fully restore his mobility. But it gives him the best possible chance to strengthen what function remains, build muscle, and improve his quality of life. It gives him dignity. It gives him opportunity.

People sometimes ask, “How much is too much?” Our answer remains the same: his life is not a number. Brody is here. Brody is trying. Brody is worth it. If you believe that abandoned dogs deserve every possible chance — even when the path is complicated and expensive — please consider donating to Brody’s continued care. Hydrotherapy, ongoing diagnostics, medications, and specialty support are significant costs, but they are giving him hope.

He was left behind once. We will not leave him behind again. Please donate and share Brody’s story.

3/22/26 Update

From the moment Brody was found abandoned on the side of the road — left in a kennel, unable to stand or walk — we promised him he would never be alone again. And thanks to all of you, he wasn’t.

Over the past weeks, Brody received everything we could possibly give him. Extensive diagnostics. Specialist consultations. MRI imaging. Medications. Treatment for parasites. Pain management. Hydrotherapy. Careful refeeding. Endless comfort and love. His medical care surpassed $10,000 as we searched for answers and fought for any chance at improvement.

Despite the complicated findings — parasite-related lesions in his cervical spine, permanent cerebellar changes, severe hip dysplasia, arthritis, and multiple infections — Brody continued to try. In hydrotherapy, he pushed his legs. He stayed bright and engaged. He ate well. He showed us every day that he hadn’t given up. We held onto that hope right alongside him. But over time, Brody’s body began to tell us a different story. Despite treatment, therapy, and dedicated medical care, his progress plateaued. The effort it took just to exist became exhausting. The conditions affecting his brain and spine were simply too much for his body to overcome.

After much consultation with his veterinary team — and with Brody’s comfort and dignity as our only priority — we made the heartbreaking decision to let him rest. Brody became too tired to keep fighting, and we gently helped him pass peacefully, surrounded by the people who loved him.

While this is not the ending we had hoped for, we take comfort in knowing that Brody did not leave this world abandoned, scared, or in pain. He left knowing warmth, kindness, soft blankets, gentle hands, and voices telling him he mattered. He left knowing he was loved.

Because of your support, Brody received weeks of compassionate care, advanced diagnostics, pain control, and therapy that gave him every possible chance. You gave him dignity. You gave him comfort. You gave him a family when he had none.

He may not have gotten the long future we dreamed of for him, but his final chapter was filled with love — and that is because of you.

Run free, sweet Brody. You were never disposable. You were always worth it.