The Aspen Fund was created by Pet Rescue of Mercer in memory of a dog that always put his best paw forward to the world no matter how much pain he might have been in.

Aspen was a Great Pyrenees mix rescued from the S. Ocean County Animal shelter. He was in danger of being put to sleep when the shelter ran out of room. Upon first sight, we had no doubt that Aspen was deaf, but we had no idea just what kind of problems lay below his white, fluffy exterior.

We soon learned that our dear Aspen was the poster pup for the need for responsible breeding as well as spay/neuter laws.

Aspen was so poorly bred that he was a congenital mess. He had bilateral hip dysplasia, bilateral luxating patellas (kneecaps that popped in and out of the
sockets), his top and bottom jaw were never connected which diminished his capacity to feed himself as well as a condition known as mega-esophagus.
Mega-esophagus a condition that causes the muscles of the esophagus to slowly stop working. Aspen was already starting to show signs of the disease and was constantly regurgitating food and water.

With some help from the veterinarians at U of Penn Veterinary, his problems were diagnosed and his jaw was wired so that he could eat properly. However, they didn’t know what else they could do for him. After much heart-wrenching deliberation, we all decided that it would be best not to let Aspen’s last moments of life be moments of pain and suffering. We sent him out of this life with love surrounding him. We sent him out of this life knowing that, for a few months, he knew true love and happiness.

Aspen touched the hearts of everyone that he met. He left pawprints in our souls that will never be washed away. Because of that, we created the Aspen Fund to help other animals receive the medical care that they so dearly need to help them correct or treat congenital deficits as well as injuries that have been left untreated.

These injuries and congenital defects are very often the only thing standing between the animals and a loving, new adoptive home. Very often, without the medical attention that they receive, thanks to The Aspen Fund, they would never be adopted and would face euthanasia in a shelter.

The amount of lives that The Aspen Fund can save is contingent on the generous donations of individuals and corporations. As an all-volunteer, shelterless, non-profit organization, Pet Rescue of Mercer depends solely on donations as our adoption fees don’t even come close to covering the costs of rescuing and caring for the pets that come into our care.

> See just some of the faces the Aspen Fund has saved

Give em' something to smile about! Make your tax-deductable donation to Pet Rescue of Mercer today.