Born With a Broken Heart, Xena Needs Surgery to Survive

Xena came to us as an owner surrender—not because she wasn’t loved, but because her family simply couldn’t afford the life-saving care she needs. And now, she’s depending on us.

At just 6.5 months old and only 4 pounds, Xena is full of life, love, and puppy energy. You would never guess anything is wrong… but inside, her little heart is working overtime.

Xena has been diagnosed with PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus)—a serious congenital heart defect. This means that a blood vessel near her heart that is supposed to close after birth… didn’t. Because of this, her heart is forced to work much harder than it should, and over time, it can lead to heart failure if left untreated.

The good news? This condition is treatable with surgery. The heartbreaking part? Her surgery is estimated at $9,000. Without it, Xena’s future is uncertain. With it, she can live a long, happy, completely normal life.

We are doing everything we can—but we simply do not have the funds to cover this on our own. We are urgently trying to raise the money to get her into surgery as soon as possible before her condition worsens.

Please, if you can donate—even a small amount—it truly makes a difference. If you can’t donate, sharing this campaign could be what saves her life.

Xena deserves a chance. She deserves to grow up, to play, to love, to live the life every puppy should have.

5/26/26 Update

Xena recently went in for her post-op checkup after undergoing lifesaving surgery for her PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus), and we are overjoyed to share that her heart murmur is GONE.

For a puppy who once faced an uncertain future because of a serious congenital heart defect, this is an incredible milestone. Thanks to her surgery, Xena’s heart is no longer working overtime the way it once was, and she is already showing everyone just how strong and resilient she truly is.

She still has a couple more important follow-up appointments ahead of her, including another echocardiogram with the cardiologist as well as a recheck with her surgeon. These visits will help determine what her long-term outlook will be and ensure that everything has healed properly. Right now, everyone is hopeful that the valve has fully closed and that Xena is on her way to living the long, happy, normal life she deserves.

And true to form, Xena is already back to being her spunky little diva self. She currently has no restrictions and was even finally able to enjoy a much-needed bath after everything she has been through.

As she continues through her recovery and follow-up care, donations are still deeply appreciated to help cover her ongoing cardiology appointments, imaging, and surgical follow-up expenses. Every bit of support continues to make a difference for this tiny fighter.

6/14/26 Update

We are thrilled to announce that Xena has found her forever home! She has officially been adopted and is settling beautifully into her new life. The future that once seemed uncertain is now filled with love, comfort, playtime, and all the happiness every puppy deserves. Watching Xena go from a fragile puppy facing a life-threatening condition to a healthy, beloved family member has been nothing short of amazing.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who donated, shared her story, and cheered her on throughout her journey. Your generosity helped make her surgery and recovery possible and gave her the chance to live the long, happy life she was meant to have.

While Xena's story has the happy ending we all hoped for, her veterinary expenses did not end with surgery. Her cardiology evaluations, echocardiograms, surgical follow-up appointments, and ongoing medical care have left the rescue with significant outstanding veterinary costs.

If you are able, please consider making a donation to help cover the remainder of Xena's medical expenses. Every contribution allows us to continue saying "yes" to animals like Xena when they need us most.

7/15/26 Update

When Xena first came into our care, she was just a tiny 6.5-month-old puppy weighing only four pounds, facing a life-threatening congenital heart defect. Her family loved her deeply but simply couldn't afford the specialized surgery she needed to save her life.

Today, we are overjoyed to share that Xena's story has the happy ending we all hoped for. After undergoing her lifesaving PDA surgery and making an incredible recovery, Xena has officially found her forever home in Tampa. She has settled in beautifully with her new family, who have given her a new name—Adriene—where she now has her very own Rocky to share life with.

The once-fragile puppy who faced an uncertain future is now living exactly the life every dog deserves: surrounded by love, enjoying adventures, and making up for lost time as a cherished member of her family.

While Adriene's surgery was a tremendous success, her journey isn't quite over. She will continue to see her veterinary cardiologist every six months for routine checkups to ensure her heart remains healthy. These follow-up visits are simply part of making sure she continues to thrive for many years to come.

We cannot thank our supporters enough for making this incredible outcome possible. Every donation, every share, and every word of encouragement helped give this sweet little girl the second chance she deserved. Because of your compassion, a puppy who once faced heart failure now has a bright future filled with love, happiness, and endless tail wags.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in Xena—now Adriene. Your generosity didn't just save her life. It gave her a lifetime of love.