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WEST AMWELL: Animal group’s work wins $100,000 grant

   The story of Hercules, a pitbull puppy who was found after being doused with accelerant and set on fire in Philadelphia in July, has won the Animal Alliance organization in West Amwell a $100,000 grant from the Petco Foundation.
   Animal Alliance accepted the grant yesterday, Wednesday, to fund its mission to save animal lives in New Jersey and the Philadelphia area.
   The act of cruelty left Hercules with severe burns covering more than 75 percent of his body, Animal Alliance said. The person who came upon the scene rushed the 4-month-old pup to the Pennsylvania SPCA. Shelter intake staff quickly named the pup “Hercules” after the hero in Greek mythology known for his extraordinary strength.
   The SPCA contacted Animal Alliance, knowing the level of care Hercules needed, as well as the expense, was beyond the reach of the shelter.
   Animal Alliance gave Hercules two months of round-the-clock intensive care and treatment for his second- and third-degree burns that put him at risk for life-threatening infections.
   Hundreds of applications were received from animal advocates hoping to adopt Hercules, but the perfect fit turned out to be a veterinarian at Crown Veterinary Specialists who cared for him. Hercules now lives happily with Dr. Amy Zahn and her family in Clinton Township and can no longer feel his scars, according to Animal Alliance.
   Veterinarian Zahn recalled, “In my entire career, I never saw such extensive burns. I was not optimistic, but our team gathered round Hercules, and we gave it our all. When he survived the first night, we knew he was going to fight along with us — he wanted to live.”
   In addition to the risk for life-threatening infections, the dog’s burned skin shrunk and restricted its normal movement. Skin-grafting material for human burn victims was donated by Integra Life Sciences for emergency use. The skin graft took, and his legs regained full range of motion.
   The story of Hercules’ survival made headlines on social media and TV. Many people inquired about adopting him, but were put off by his massive, body-wide scarring.
   Turns out Dr. Zahn, the vet that saved his life, had been thinking all along about making Hercules a part of her family. She and her husband had one easygoing dog, Andy, and two young children, Aidan and Elka.
   ”I worried that he would have residual mental trauma,” she said. “I wanted to show him the love of a family.”
   She brought Hercules home for an audition with the family, and he and Andy hit it off. That sealed the deal.
   Elka, 7, fell in fast love with Hercules. He sleeps in her room, and she sings and reads to him. The scars on his body are prominent, and, as Dr. Zahn predicted, he has some fearful behaviors, but seeing Hercules and Elka together readily shows the love between child and dog.
   Animal Alliance is a nonprofit organization that rescues, rehabilitates and places dogs and cats for adoption, some in an emergency situation. The organization also offers low-cost spay/neuter and pet wellness services through its Planned Pethood Clinic.
   Petco is a leading pet specialty retailer with more than 1,300 locations across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico.