Hamton J. Pig, or Ham, as his mom calls him, came to the shelter last fall after being found stray. Once at Dane County Humane Society (DCHS), he was immediately examined by our Animal Medical Services (AMS) team due to his unusual appearance. After a thorough exam, our medical experts determined that Ham was missing most of his nose and chin most likely due to a combination of illness and congenital deformities. He was suffering from an extreme upper respiratory infection (URI) and had been for some time, resulting in congestion of his nose, eyes and chest.
Little Ham didn’t let this slow him down. He entertained staff and volunteers by purring and doing everything he could to get their attention. While our AMS team was able to cure his URI, due to his severe overbite and lack of a nose, they anticipated he would suffer from chronic respiratory infections his entire life. Ham was going to need a special family willing to take on this responsibility.
Despite his crusty appearance, he quickly caught the eye of Aisha, our shelter resource supervisor, while she was completing her daily checks on the animals. “He was just so friendly and happy, even though he was so sick,” said Aisha. “He stole my heart; I had to bring him home!”
On #GivingTuesday 2017, Hamton J. Pig went to his new home with his new mom. She named him Hamton J. Pig, after a good-natured and naïvely optimistic Looney Tunes character (and due to his pig-like appearance). He still sneezes regularly and needs a special diet due to skin issues, but Ham has thrived in his new home. He loves his dog and cat brothers, as well as his new mom. He keeps her constantly entertained, and is the happiest and friendliest cat she could ask for.
“He is the cuddliest of the cuddly boys,” says Aisha. “He has been a wonderful addition to my family and I cannot imagine my life without this goofy cat!”
Your generosity makes it possible for DCHS to diagnosis and care for animals with medical conditions like Ham. Because of your support, our medical staff was able to address Ham’s needs and prepare his future family for the responsibility of his lifelong medical requirements.
Your support allows DCHS to meet each animal’s unique behavioral and medical needs. Your love of animals helps ensure we have the necessary resources to provide quality medical care, behavior modification, foster care and wildlife rehabilitation. Thank you for all you do, and please consider supporting DCHS this #GivingTuesday!
Your gift will be DOUBLED today up to $30,000, thanks to our matching gift donors! A very special thank you to Robert and Rhoda Bartholomew for their lead donation for the matching gift challenge this year and making this our largest matching gift ever!
Thank you for your patience! Due to all the wonderful generosity this Giving Tuesday, our donation form below may take a minute or two to load.
