UPDATE NOVEMBER 4: After undergoing life-saving heart surgery, Ricky spent about a week recuperating in his foster home. He even lost a baby tooth during his recovery. His foster brought him in for a check-up and our veterinarians cleared him for his next big adventure: adoption!

When we heard from the cardiac team at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana, Illinois, that Ricky was making friends with the group quickly, we weren't surprised. He's a very sweet puppy who befriends everyone he meets! But when they shared photos with us, we had a hunch a very special bond was already happening. Ricky had made an instant connection with a vet student on his medical team. She reached out after Ricky returned back to Wisconsin to see about adopting him. And we couldn’t think of a better outcome for this special pup.

The vet student has a 2-year-old pup, Stella. "I've noticed she's been very lonely, so I've been wanting to get her a friend she can socialize with," she shares. "I saw Ricky and instantly fell in love with him (and those ears!), and just knew he'd be a perfect addition to the family."

She continues, "I understand how difficult it may be to adopt dogs out, especially those who may have health conditions. I just knew Ricky and I crossing paths was meant to be. Being a veterinary student and having had the training and knowledge already on his condition, I knew I could make a difference in adopting him, so I did."

Even though his heart surgery was able to decrease the pressure gradient across the pulmonary valve by almost 75%, the pressure gradient can still change as Ricky gets older. His new family can monitor Ricky to make sure he stays in good health while living a happy life filled with lots of love. 

Ricky not only has a new family to love, but he also has a new name – Beni. "We are slowly but surely getting used to our new home," his family adds.

UPDATE OCTOBER 24: Ricky is back in Wisconsin and is currently resting and recovering with his foster family.

Ricky, who was born with a severe heart defect, traveled with his foster family earlier this week to the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana, Illinois, the hospital that was able to take his case the soonest. Fortunately, we acted quickly — his pre-surgical evaluation and echocardiogram confirmed the defect was significant.

While some puppies celebrate turning 5 months old with treats and fun times, Ricky spent his special day undergoing a life-saving procedure. 

The surgeon on Ricky’s case shared, “With the severity of Ricky’s heart disease, there was a high likelihood he would have experienced clinical signs of his heart disease during his lifetime. Likewise, this disease would have significantly decreased his potential lifespan.”

We’re all thrilled the surgery was a success! After the procedure on Wednesday, Ricky stayed overnight for observation.

Ricky was a perfect patient and quickly made friends with the entire veterinary team at the University of Illinois. Everyone who met him fell in love with his happy, wiggly personality.

As he continues to heal in Wisconsin, his foster will bring Ricky to DCHS so our veterinary team can continue to monitor his recovery.

We are grateful to the veterinary team at the University of Illinois for taking Ricky’s case so quickly and performing the procedure.

Thank you to everyone who donated, sent well wishes, and helped make this life-saving surgery possible! Because of you, Ricky’s heart is on the mend and his future is bright and full of hope.

UPDATE OCTOBER 22: Great news! Ricky underwent surgery this afternoon at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana, Illinois to repair his heart defect. The procedure took nearly two hours to complete. We received word that Ricky made it safely through surgery and it was a success! 

Prior to going into surgery today, the veterinarian said Ricky was very patient and friendly with staff. 

We hope to have more updates to share with everyone tomorrow.

Thank you all for your donations and positive thoughts! 

UPDATE OCTOBER 21: Ricky began his big journey today -- one that will save his life! He and his foster mom made the approximately four-hour trek to the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana, Illinois. This afternoon, Ricky underwent a pre-surgical checkup and echocardiogram with cardio specialists there. They confirmed Ricky's heart defect is quite severe, and it's good we got him in as quickly as we did.

Ricky was born with a severe heart defect called pulmonic stenosis, which causes a narrowing in one of his heart valves, forcing his heart to work much harder to move blood to his lungs. Without treatment, Ricky faces a life of uncertainty: fatigue, fainting, and even sudden heart failure resulting in death. 

The vet team cleared our now-tired friend for heart surgery tomorrow -- a procedure that will help his heart work more efficiently and allow him to live the full, active life every puppy deserves. 

Ricky was a trooper traveling with his foster to Urbana. We know he can get a little motion sickness sometimes, so the DCHS vets gave him some medication to help with the trip. He rode in the car well, sleeping the whole time. After his arrival at the veterinary hospital, Ricky was his wiggly self as he quickly made new friends. It's safe to say the vet team on his case is smitten with him. Who could blame them? We at DCHS are, and we think you may be, too.

After Ricky's life-saving surgery, he'll stay overnight at the veterinary hospital for observation. He should be released on Thursday, when his foster will drive him back to her home to continue his recovery. Thank you to our community for helping us heal Ricky.

There's still time to Help Ricky Heal and support his journey toward a brighter, healthier future. 

Make a donation online by clicking the "Help Ricky Heal" button. You can also mail or drop your donation at DCHS's main shelter (5132 Voges Road, Madison, WI 53718). Checks should be made payable to DCHS with "Ricky" in the memo.

Please send Ricky positive thoughts as he goes into surgery tomorrow. Keep an eye on this story and our social media for updates.

ORIGINAL STORY POSTED OCTOBER 16: Ricky was wiggly, sweet, and full of energy and curiosity, just like any other puppy. He arrived at Dane County Humane Society in early August on a transfer from an overcrowded shelter. It was a good thing this 11-week-old puppy made the trip, because our team quickly discovered that Ricky needed more care than most shelters could provide. 

During his first exam, our skilled veterinary team treated him for a skin condition and kennel cough, common ailments for dogs coming from overcrowded shelters. While those issues were easy enough to manage, they also noticed something much more serious, a prominent heart murmur that would need additional assessment. Our team took x-rays and ran a cardiac enzyme test that indicated Ricky's tiny heart was under great strain.

A few days later, Ricky visited the cardiology team at UW Veterinary Care, where specialists confirmed that he was born with a severe heart defect called pulmonic stenosis. This condition causes a narrowing in one of his heart valves, forcing his heart to work much harder to move blood to his lungs. Without treatment, Ricky faces a life of uncertainty: fatigue, fainting, and even sudden heart failure resulting in death. 

Despite everything, Ricky has remained cheerful and full of life. During his month at the shelter, he received specialized care from our Canine Behavior Team, who provided extra enrichment, playtime, and training to keep him happy and engaged. The shelter can be a stressful place, especially for a young puppy with medical needs, but Ricky thrived thanks to our staff and volunteers’ patience and care. At DCHS, we see every animal as an individual, and Ricky’s resilience reminded us just how important personalized care is. 

In early September, Ricky was placed in the home of a foster volunteer while we determined his medical plan. His foster family helps monitor his health while giving him a break from shelter life in a home where he can continue to grow and learn. His foster mom says, “He truly loves everything and everyone,” including the other dogs and cats in his home. He’s getting spoiled plenty and even sleeps in bed with his foster parents.  

Ricky's foster family brings him to DCHS for regular checkups with our veterinarians to manage his heart medication and make sure he’s still doing well. Ricky is playful, affectionate, and eager to explore, but he needs careful monitoring while we wait for his next step. 

DCHS’s veterinary team was determined to find the right expert to perform Ricky’s heart surgery. After exploring several options, they connected with the cardiac specialists at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, who were able to take his case sooner. On October 22 – when Ricky turns 5 months old – he will undergo a specialized heart surgery that will help his heart work more efficiently and allow him to live the full, active life every puppy deserves. 

This life-saving procedure is costly, and we need your help to make it possible. DCHS is raising $7,850 to cover the cost of Ricky’s surgery and ongoing medical care. Your support will make this surgery possible and give Ricky the strong heart and happy future he deserves. 

Please consider giving today to Help Ricky Heal and continue his journey toward a brighter, healthier future. 

After his surgery, Ricky will return to his foster home to continue healing. Since this will take some time, we kindly ask that the public watch our website for updates to Ricky’s status and not contact our Adoption Center at this time. Thank you for your patience and support! 

Any additional funds raised will be used to continue the work our Animal Medical Services team does every day to provide high quality medical care to thousands of companion animals each year.