Hounds and Heroes

Talia

Urgent Support For Talia Overcoming Pneumonia and Distemper

Marina Del Rey, CA • Hounds and Heroes

Talia’s journey has been incredibly difficult, but this sweet girl continues to fight every single day under the care of Hounds and Heroes. After being rescued from a high-intake municipal shelter in San Bernardino County, Talia was diagnosed with both distemper and pneumonia approximately two weeks after leaving the shelter. What began as a routine primary care visit quickly escalated into a medical emergency requiring immediate hospitalization. Talia spent a full week in the hospital, where she began to show encouraging signs of improvement, including better follow-up X-rays. However, her oxygen levels remained dangerously low. Thanks to the support of a medical sponsor, Hounds and Heroes was able to transfer her to a specialty hospital better equipped to provide advanced supportive care. She was safely transported by pet ambulance in an oxygen cage to keep her stable throughout the journey. Talia is now receiving care at Western Veterinary Clinic in Agoura Hills, where her oxygen levels have improved to 96. Since arriving, she has been able to stand, eat small amounts on her own, and is also tolerating her feeding tube well to help maintain her strength while she continues treatment—important milestones in her recovery. Hounds and Heroes also consulted with Dr. Novy, one of the few veterinarians in the country experienced in using interferon injections for distemper. After evaluating Talia, he determined she is a strong candidate for this therapy, which has shown promising results in helping fight the virus. During her initial diagnostics and X-rays, veterinarians also discovered an old embedded pellet, indicating she was shot at some point earlier in her life. Fortunately, this is not affecting her current treatment or recovery, but it is another reminder of everything she has survived to reach safety. While Talia is improving, she is not out of the woods yet. She still requires at least another 48 hours of hospitalization, continued high-flow oxygen support, and ongoing interferon treatments as she continues her recovery. Upon discharge, she will also require a dedicated long-term foster home to support her continued healing and transition out of intensive care. The level of intensive care Talia needs is significant, with hospitalization costs estimated at approximately $5,000 per day. Despite everything she has endured, Talia remains one of the sweetest dogs imaginable—fighting hard, responding to treatment, and showing incredible resilience. Hounds and Heroes is committed to giving her every chance at recovery, but they cannot do it alone. Please help support Talia’s lifesaving care as she continues her fight toward healing. Thank you for standing with Talia and Hounds and Heroes. 5/20/26 Update: Talia Needs Continued Critical Care and Neurology Support Talia continues to fight every single day under the care of Hounds and Heroes, and her medical team is working urgently to give her the best chance at recovery. There has been some encouraging progress in her condition. Her pneumonia is beginning to clear, and her oxygen levels have improved to approximately 94 while using only a low steady flow of oxygen. She has also been successfully weaned off of high-flow oxygen support, which is an important step forward in her recovery. Despite this progress, Talia still requires intensive medical care and additional neurological support as she continues battling complications related to distemper. Her current hospital is continuing supportive treatment, including oxygen support, antibiotics, and care for her feeding tube, but Hounds and Heroes is now urgently working to transfer her to MASH Veterinary Hospital, where a neurologist can evaluate her and begin medications to help manage neurological symptoms, including myoclonus. Talia’s journey is far from over, but she continues to show incredible strength and determination through every stage of treatment. Hounds and Heroes remains committed to fighting for her, but her ongoing hospitalization, specialty care, and transfer needs continue to create overwhelming medical expenses. Thank you to everyone continuing to support, share, and stand beside Talia during her recovery journey. 5/27/26 Update: In Loving Memory of Talia It is with heartbreaking sadness that Hounds and Heroes shares that Talia has passed away. Despite every effort made to save her, Talia’s condition became too severe. Throughout her journey, she received extensive medical care, hospitalization, oxygen support, medications, specialized treatments, and constant monitoring as her team fought tirelessly to give her every possible chance at recovery while keeping her as comfortable as possible. Talia was deeply loved by everyone caring for her, and her strength, sweetness, and resilience touched so many people along the way. While this was not the outcome anyone hoped for, your donations and support truly mattered. Because of you, Talia was able to receive compassionate medical care, comfort, and dignity throughout her fight. Hounds and Heroes is incredibly grateful to everyone who donated, shared her story, sent prayers, and stood beside Talia during her journey.