This little pup was clearly facing a tough battle, but his fighting spirit showed he wasn’t ready to give up. Though it might not always seem apparent, the world is brimming with remarkable people who go above and beyond to help those in need. Kathryn Mongrain, a licensed veterinary technician from Houston, Texas, is one of these incredible individuals. After many years in an emergency room, she shifted her focus in 2015 to caring for babies with special needs, dedicating her skills and compassion to making a difference.
founded “the Bottle Brigade,” a safe haven for all medically or special needs fur babies who need a second chance. Otherwise, they would be euthanized.
Hammy, the master of shamelessness
Tiny Paws Rescue, a nonprofit small breed dog rescue based in The Woodlands, Texas, placed Hammy in Kathryn’s care.
Genny Zygmanik Murphy, founder and executive director of the rescue, needed help with Hammy because he had a cleft palate.
Hammy had trouble breathing during the first few days at the Bottle Brigade. He didn’t look anything like himself.
This little boy was clearly struggling, but he was a fighter and he wasn’t willing to give up.
Kathryn was forced to place him in the incubator.
After a couple of days, when Hammy was feeling a little better, she would gradually remove him from the incubator to let him get used to it.
But he had to go back in and Hammy wanted no part of it.
had the strength to rebel despite being a tiny, sick baby. “He said, ‘Umm, why am I back here?’” Kathryn recalls.
Little Hammy had discovered his voice and was screaming furiously.
“Hammy said he was ready to come out of the incubator,” Kathryn explained. “That baby’s lungs were no longer a problem.”
“He saw the world the moment he opened his eyes and he just wanted to scream. He let you know when he didn’t want to do something, when you weren’t looking at him, and when he wanted your attention.”
He was small, but his voice was strong and he wanted to be heard.
“Every time you talked to him, he would just be sassy,” Kathryn explained.
As soon as he felt better he started running around the house and enjoyed it. Hammy even made a new friend at the residence.
Etta was a 100-pound Great Dane. Although Hammy weighed only 5 pounds and Etta dwarfed her, he sassed her.
It was as if he was completely unaware that she was a hundred times bigger than him.
“He came to work with me at the hospital every day,” Kathryn said. “He had friends everywhere. When we came home from work with Hammy, he was ready to run and play.”
It was almost as if he knew he had a second chance and he wasn’t going to waste it. This little guy was having the time of his life.
When Hammy felt well enough, he returned to Genny, the woman who had led him to Kathryn in the first place.
“Hammy is like a walking miracle and gives me even more faith that my other babies will be able to pull through this too,” Kathryn explained.
He had to undergo two cleft surgeries, but Hammy is now a healthy young man.
Genny posted an update on her Facebook page, saying:
“Guess what, Hammy is now a “normal” puppy!! He can eat and drink from a bowl like any other dog! Hammy is still on seizure meds and has bells on his neck to warn him if he has a seizure, and he has a smokers cough with emphysema caused by his numerous pneumonias. Hammy is such a joyful MIRACLE!!
He is now a healthy and happy dog, just like the others, thanks to these two women who believed in Hammy and were willing to do everything possible for this small and feisty puppy.
Hammy’s journey is shown in the following video:
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