North Star Rescue Inc.
Campaigns
Van Gogh
From Hurt to Hope: Painting a New Life for Van Gogh
Lucedale, MS • North Star Rescue Inc.
Van Gogh was found near a bridge, wounded, alone, and in debilitating pain. The kind stranger who stopped to help him, refused to leave him behind and made sure he got the urgent care he needed. When North Star Rescue stepped up to take him in, they named him Van Gogh in honor of the man, an artist, who saw value in him when no one else did. At the vet, Van Gogh was in rough shape—bite wounds, high fever, infection, and extreme pain in his front leg. X-rays revealed no fractures, but his skin was rubbed raw, and his body was covered in old scars. The vet heartbreakingly suspected he had been used as a bait dog. He started antibiotics, pain meds, and wound flushes to begin the slow process of recovery. Despite everything, Van Gogh is sweet and expressive. He is anxious, but still seeks affection, and even cracked a smile on the way to his follow-up. He is now in a loving foster home, where his wounds are being flushed daily and his pain managed with meds. He has also started treatment for heartworm, but he has come a long way already. North Star Rescue stepped up when no one else would, but they can’t do it alone. Van Gogh’s vet bills are high, and continued support is needed to get him across the finish line. Please consider donating or sharing his story. He’s healing more every day, let’s help him keep going. Update 06/10 Van Gogh is continuing to do really well! His wounds are healing, his spirit is lifting, and he's settling into his foster home more each day. With steady care, he's making great progress and becoming more comfortable and trusting. Thank you for being part of his journey!
Montana and Her Puppies
From Abandoned to Adored: Help Mama Montana and Her Puppies Heal
Lucedale, MS • North Star Rescue Inc.
Montana was found when kind-hearted woman stumbled upon a heartbreaking sight—an abandoned mother dog and her puppies, abandoned and left to fend for themselves. Tragically, one of the puppies had already been struck by a car and killed. Despite the pain of seeing them in such a dire situation, she refused to turn a blind eye. Every day, she returned, bringing them food and water, determined to keep them safe while searching for a solution. But just when it seemed things couldn’t get worse, the unthinkable happened. Over the weekend, she found the mama dog had been shot in the leg—injured, scared, and struggling to care for her remaining babies. Knowing time was running out, she connected with North Star Animal Rescue, who quickly took them in. They are now receiving the urgent care they need and mama can now rest easy knowing she and her babies are safe. North Star Rescue is determined to help this innocent dog family recover and find loving forever homes. This sweet family has already suffered so much, but with your help, they can have a second chance at life. Please consider donating today to help North Star Rescue turn their story from one of heartbreak to one of hope and healing.
Grits
From Suffering to Safety: Help Heal a Survivor of Dog Fighting
Lucedale, MS • North Star Rescue Inc.
Grits was found found lying motionless on the side of the road. At first glance, it looked like he had been hit by a car. But when North Star Rescue took him to the vet and took a closer look, the heartbreaking truth was revealed. This wasn’t just a single accident. This was a lifetime of suffering. His body tells the story of the life he was forced to endure. Puncture wounds cover him—old scars layered over fresh ones, proof of the endless battles he had been thrown into. His mouth is so swollen with infection that he can't even eat. The damage to his body is unspeakable, his pain unimaginable. And yet, despite it all, he still fights. Not because he wants to, but because he was taught to. Thankfully though, someone stopped. Someone decided to care. Instead of suffering alone, he now has North Star Rescue cheering him on, helping carry the burden of healing both emotionally and physically. Grits is now receiving around-the-clock care. Once he is strong enough physically, the real work to heal him mentally will begin. Please donate today to help Grits heal emotionally and physically from a lifetime of trauma. Grits deserves to know that he is safe, loved, and finally free from the living nightmare that used to be his everyday. Together, we can give him the future he deserves. Update 3-26 BIG Thank You from Grits! This boy wants to send a huge thank you to all the North Star supporters who donated to his care. He is doing so much better. He is still healing up physically and mentally, but what a difference from the day he was found it was touch and go!! Please continue to pray for a full recovery. It will take time but he deserves to know love and kindness.
Beau
Blind but Brave: Help Beau Heal and Find Hope
Lucedale, MS • North Star Rescue Inc.
When Beau was found wandering the streets, he was just a puppy—lost, scared, and suffering. One of his eyes had ruptured long ago, shriveled and useless. The other had just ruptured too, leaving him in unbearable pain and total darkness. Beneath his fluffy coat, he was painfully thin, his body showing the scars of neglect. But Beau’s story didn’t end there. North Star Rescue took him in, wrapping him in love and safety he had never known. For the first time, Beau felt hope. To end his pain, Beau urgently needed surgery to remove what was left of his severely damaged eyes. The surgery went well, and he is now recovering beautifully. Beau rests easily in a foster home, learning how to navigate the world without fear and growing strong and healthy. He has an excellent diet plan to help bring him back to a healthy weight. Despite his blindness, Beau’s spirit is unbroken—he still wags his tail and seeks out cuddles, showing us all the power of hope. North Star Rescue needs your help recouping the costs of Beau's medical care, along with the cost of any future medical bills. Your donation can help Beau heal and learn to live in his new world filled with love. Will you help Beau? Donate today.
Boss
Help Boss, An Emaciated Pitbull Dumped with Massive Cancerous Tumor
Lucedale, MS • North Star Rescue Inc.
North Star Rescue Boss was found as a stray wandering the streets, vulnerable and scared. He had a massive tumor consuming the side of his leg and another mass on his side. He was severely underweight to the point you could see his ribs and even his backbone. Sadly, it is assumed that Boss was likely abandoned or dumped due to his health complications. North Star Rescue brought Boss into their care and took him to the vet. Boss tested positive for heartworm disease and is riddled with parasites. His deformed ears are likely the result of him being a victim of dog fighting in the streets. On top of all this, the vet determined that the mass on his leg was likely cancerous and had been taken over by infection. Surgery was vital to saving his life. The vets performed a long and tiring surgery, but, thankfully, were able to remove the entire mass with clean margins. The cancer had not spread, so there was no need for amputation. Boss will need to go in for a second surgery for another much smaller mass on his side, but he needs time to recover before doing so. He is already feeling so much better and enjoys every mealtime in his foster home. Boss deserves a life filled with love, safety, and proper care- all things that he was denied for far too long. North Star Rescue is determined to help give him this bright future, and they need your help to do so.
Ghost
Ghost is a 8 year old American Pit Bull Terrier in Lucedale, MS, who needs $900 for Malnourishment and Dental Cleaning.
Lucedale, MS • North Star Rescue Inc.
North Star Rescue Ghost was brought into North Star Rescue after they heard his heartbreaking case. It is rumored that Ghost was beaten, starved and used as a guard dog, trained to hate people. His old owners had moved out, and they left behind Ghost, starving and alone. Ghost is severely underweight, having been deprived of food for likely his whole life. He is heartworm positive, which will be treated once he is at a more appropriate weight. His teeth are in heartbreaking condition as well, so he will need a dental. When Ghost first came to North Star Rescue, he did not let anybody get near him. He has begun to trust his caretakers and let them pet him. The rescue will continue to work with this poor dog who has been shown nothing but hatred. Thankfully, Ghost is now safe and has patient caretakers who will give him a chance at a happy, healthy life. North Star Rescue is a non-profit that relies on donations to help dogs like Ghost. Please consider donating to help support Ghost on his journey back to health and trusting humans.
Callahan
Callahan is a two-year-old Labrador Retriever in Lucedale, MS, who needs $2,000 for emergency care after being shot multiple times.
Lucedale, MS • North Star Rescue Inc.
We see the worst of the worst cases of animal neglect, cruelty, and abuse, but what happened to Callahan will forever haunt our team at North Star Rescue. A local homeowner began to smell what he thought was a dead animal underneath their shed, but when they looked with a flashlight, they found a dog trapped and in horrible condition. The homeowner quickly called the sheriff's department, who contacted us at North Star Rescue. We rushed over in the middle of the night to save Callahan. It took some persistence, but we finally got him out. The chocolate Lab was covered in wounds. It appears he was shot with buckshot multiple times. He most likely ran under the shed for protection, then proceeded to get stuck and could barely move. His body began to swell, and his flesh began to rot. We drove him as fast as we could to an animal hospital. The veterinary team gave him a 50/50 chance of making it. Callahan beat the odds but needs constant care. His wounds are healing, but sadly, with this type of injury, the flesh is either dead or continues to die, so it needs to fall off before it can heal. Despite everything he's been through, he is a very happy dog, and his personality blossoms daily. North Star Rescue relies on animal lovers' generosity to help dogs like Callahan. Humans failed him once, but we will ensure they will never fail him again! Please help Callahan on his journey back to health and happy days ahead. Update 7/31 After over two weeks of being at the vet, Callahan is so happy to get to go home! He is doing absolutely amazing. Most all of his wounds have closed up. He still has a couple of small ones that will close in the next day or so. 😊 He will also be starting his heartworm treatment soon, along with getting fixed. We want to get him well so he can be off to his forever home
London
London is a 1 year old Bull Terrier in Lucedale, MS, who needs $800 for Broken Leg - Possible Leg Surgery.
Lucedale, MS • North Star Rescue Inc.
* North Star Rescue Inc * London was rescued after being thrown from a bridge. The person that discovered her called North Star Rescue to help. We went out in the pitch black night to locate her in-between thunderstorms. We are unsure how long she was lying out there, but she was in the exact spot they told us about. She wouldn't move anything but her eyes. London was frozen in fear and pain. London's back leg is severely broken, but fortunately, there are no spinal issues. She is currently in a cast and next week will be re-examined to see if surgery is necessary. She is receiving pain medication along with around-the-clock care at Davis Veterinary Hospital in Mississippi. London is new to us, and she is still scared to death. It took her almost 48 hours to even trust us enough to eat something. We cannot imagine what life she had before, but we intend to give her the best chance at a great one going forward. She is starting to warm up to us more each day, and we love seeing her tail wag - finally! North Star Rescue relies on donations in order to help dogs in need. Please consider helping London to prepare for whatever medical journey she has ahead. She was failed by humans and thrown away like trash. Together, we will show her that she deserves to live a happy, wonderful life, like all innocent animals.
Raven
Raven is a 1 year old American Pit Bull Terrier in Lucedale, MS, who needs $2,000 for Surgery for Broken Pelvis and Leg Fractures
Lucedale, MS • North Star Rescue Inc.
* North Star Rescue * Raven has roamed the streets for a while, with no place to call home. She is a neighborhood stray that relies on hopping from house to house, desperately begging for her next meal. She has had a tough life fending for herself. Raven was found by one of these families in a horrific state. She was dangling upside down, her leg all twisted up and caught in a wire fence. She was crying out for help, desperately trying to escape. The homeowner rushed to get wire cutters to cut the fence away from her leg, setting her free. Her leg was completely twisted backwards, rendering her unable to walk. North Star Rescue came across her case, and immediately stepped in to help her. They got her to Magnolia Animal Clinic in Lucedale, Mississippi. Raven needed emergency surgery for the fractures throughout her leg and pelvis. They were able to stabilize the bones with pins and a rod. It was a miracle that her leg could be saved given the condition it was in. Raven has been nothing but full of gratitude. She is so sweet and very docile. Since she is a stray, North Star Rescue does not know much about her, but they knew they had to step in and help her. A special thank you to Dr. Dean at Magnolia Animal Clinic for coming in after hours to evaluate this sweet girl. North Star Rescue relies on donations to help innocent animals like Raven. They need your help to support Raven, and so many others, on their journey back to health.
Zelda
Zelda is a 5-year-old Pit Bull in Columbia, MS, who needs $2,000 for Tumor Removal and Leg Amputation.
Columbia, MS • North Star Rescue Inc.
Zelda was found in a horrifying condition roaming the streets in a busy town in Mississippi. For several months, humanity failed her. They ignored her cries for help as she wandered through the densely populated town, in very poor health. Until one day, one caring person stepped in and connected Zelda with North Star Rescue. Zelda was quickly rushed to the vet clinic and received the care she so desperately needed. The vets said it was absolutely incredible that she had survived this long. Despite the neglect Zelda has endured in her short five years of life, Zelda has an incredibly docile nature. She sits calmly, basking in the attention her caregivers give her, quietly but so excitedly wagging her tail. She is as sweet and gentle as they come. This poor girl has the largest tumors Davis Veterinary Hospital has ever seen. Zelda carried around the 9 pound tumor for years, leaving a trail of blood everywhere she went. Fortunately, there are no signs of cancer anywhere in her body. Her leg was amputated as the tumor had so severely damaged it. She is heavily heart worm positive, full of hookworms, and severely anemic. It is heartbreaking how many people must have passed by this poor dog, yet chose to do absolutely nothing. Please help by donating to rewrite Zelda's sad narrative.