OCALA, FL (352today.com) – When Sprite first arrived at the Humane Society of Marion County (HSMC), she was “hardly more than a bag of bones.” She was battling a condition called Persistent Right Aortic Arch (PRAA), a heart defect that restricted her esophagus and made it nearly impossible for her to eat. On top of that, she was fighting pneumonia.

Shelter staff were amazed she had even made it this far – about 8 months they estimate. But Sprite wasn’t ready to give up.

“She’s a fighter,” says Austin Burnett, Shelter Operations Manager at HSMC. “She all but told us she wasn’t done.”

|Sprite’s second chance: Marion Humane Society pup needs special chair to keep thriving

Since arriving at the shelter, Sprite has undergone life-changing surgery to correct the PRAA, and has received the TLC needed to begin her recovery. When she first came to HSMC, she barely had the strength to stand or walk, and was severely malnourished. Staff believe she is a black shepherd, but her condition impacted her growth to full size.

Now, thanks to her surgery and supportive care, Sprite has gained weight and strength. Weighing in at about 25 pounds, she’s blossomed into a bright, intelligent, and energetic dog who is quickly picking up training.

“It’s amazing watching her become a dog again,” Burnett says.

A black furry dog lays on gray carpet while looking over her paws at the floor.
A black furry dog rests her head on her paws with her eyes closed while laying on gray carpet.
A black furry dog wearing a pink harness with a shaved patch on the left side of her chest stands on gray carpet, sniffing the floor.
Close-up of a black furry dog wearing a collar with a red tag that reads “DO NOT FEED” in bold white letters, along with a smaller label that says “ANIMAL FRIENDLY.” The dog also wears a bright pink harness.
Sprite, a resilient pup from the Humane Society of Marion County, visited North Central Florida Media for some tail wags and photo ops. Courtesy: Sophia Ewers/352today

Sprite’s journey isn’t over yet. To avoid choking, she must eat every meal sitting upright. HSMC has provided Sprite and her foster family with a custom Bailey Chair, specially designed to keep her safe while eating. This chair will go with her to her forever home once she’s ready for adoption.

In the meantime, HSMC is asking the community to support Sprite’s ongoing care. All donations will go directly toward helping her continue to heal and thrive.

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