'Hero dog' facing euthanasia finds a home after community rallies to get her adopted

A special dog known for saving other animals by donating blood was in need of her own miracle recently. The dog, named Ivy, came close to death but was spared by a guardian angel.

Ivy is a beloved one-year-old mixed-breed cur who The Smith County Animal Control and Shelter in Texas has deemed its "Hero Dog".

"She is a very sweet girl that has an abundance of energy," Kaylee Collins, a shelter assistant at Smith County Animal Control and Shelter in Texas shared.

Ivy joined the shelter on June 2 and was a part of its "Hero Dog" program, a blood donor initiative for dogs in partnership with Tyler Animal Emergency Clinic.

Local veterinarians rely on donor dogs who undergo testing to give blood to animals in need. They are a lifesaving resource in moments of desperation for both owners and shelters.

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Ivy faces euthanasia

Talks of euthanizing Ivy started after she kept getting passed up for adoption due to the shelter being overcrowded. In a last attempt to save her, Ivy was entered as a participant at the nonprofit organization "Saving Animals from Euthanasia."

Ivy's story made rounds on social media asking people to help her find a home once she was available for adoption on June 2nd.

“If the dogs are adopted it is up to the adopter whether or not they would like to keep them in the Hero Dog Program,” Collins said. “If they do, they will receive free rabies vaccines and heartworm preventative for that dog as long as they donate.”

On July 21, Ivy found a home.

"We are committed to rescuing as many animals as we can from kill type shelters, and to relocating them in preparation for their adoption," the organization's site reads. "We are committed to working with the public and shelters to discover and reduce the real causes of companion animal euthanasia. We are committed to the raising of awareness, the education and the development and implementation of effective programs that reduce both the numbers of unnecessary births and the destruction of the great number of adoptable animals."

To claim a dog, you can contact the administrative office of Smith County Animal Control from Monday to Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.