How Baily the Rescue Pup Fought Back from Cancer

When Baily was found on April 22 in New York City, she was not in good shape: a good Samaritan discovered her weak, sick and bleeding from her uterus. She was immediately taken to the Animal Care Center where it was determined that she had appendicitis, a mammary tumor and pyometra, a life-threatening infection of the uterus.

Surgery can be risky with older pups like Baily, who is believed to be around 8 years old, but the doctors felt it was necessary—so she endured two surgeries in two weeks and somehow came out stronger. That’s when Rebound Hounds stepped in.

A non-profit that’s devoted to rehabilitating rescue dogs and helping them find their ideal adopters (also one of Ollie’s rescue partners), Rebound Hounds took over Baily’s rehabilitation. She had another surgery to remove the tumor on May 7 and has been living with one of their volunteers, Kat Knott, ever since.

Knott immediately became enamored with Baily, calling her a “sweet baby hippo” who waddles everywhere and has a big smile. At first, she was afraid she would be a ‘fospice case’, assuming her bouts with cancer would ultimately get the best of her. Then she started reading more about how much diet can impact pups’ health.

“I knew diet was important to fighting cancer, but I didn’t understand how much food plays a role,” Knott says. “Where the ingredients are sourced from and how it’s processed with nitrate preservatives used to make kibble shelf-stable—those become carcinogens when broken down in the body.” The high temperature cooking used to make kibble also creates carcinogens.

She started feeding Baily raw food, but she didn’t like it. Knott tried cooking her food but “it was a nightmare because I was spending two hours a night making it, and she still wouldn’t eat it!” Knott says. Then she discovered Ollie, through Rebound Hounds and we started sending Baily meals.

Immediately, she noticed a difference: “Baily’s coat looks so much better, and she stopped itching and scratching so much,” says Knott. “She was a little chubby and she seems to be losing weight. And she takes a lot of supplements and pills so it’s easy to hide it in the Ollie food.” But the most important reaction: “Whenever I feed her, she gets so excited! She prances and does the happy feet, wiggles her butt, and makes these cute seal noises.”

If you want to learn more about Rebound Hounds and help support the work they do, go to www.reboundhounds.org. And keep an eye out for Baily, who will be up for adoption soon!