January • Eighteen starving horses and donkeys are rescued in Vernon County. Seven deceased horses were found on the property and many of the live horses appeared to be severely underweight, with the only food being low-quality hay. One horse, thought to be deceased, was so underweight he was unable to stand. Today, that horse is now known as Tumbleweed, a Barn Buddy Ambassador at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch.
Tumbleweed the horse on the day of rescue
June • The Humane Society of Missouri rescues Sonny, a Boxer puppy, who had severe burns on his face, his ear and the left side of his body. Whimpering from excruciating pain, he was transported to the Humane Society of Missouri’s headquarters, where the veterinary staff immediately began treating his gruesome injuries and making him as comfortable as possible. On Sept. 20, Sonny was adopted into a loving forever home with four other rescue dogs.
July • The Humane Society of Missouri’s Macklind Avenue Headquarters serves as an emergency shelter for pets affected by the Midtown fire. The five-alarm fire occurred at a multi-unit apartment complex, friendly to college students and their pets. HSMO rescues and cares for several dogs, cats, and even hamsters in the days following the devastating fire.
November • Responding to a call from the St. Louis City Police, the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force dispatched an investigator to the scene of a severely injured dog that had been tethered to the back of a truck and dragged along Highway 55. The puppy, a five and a half month old male pit bull mix, was in shock and suffered from severe and traumatic injuries including exposed tissue and bones. The Humane Society named him Trooper, and he has developed a world-wide following, spreading his message of perseverance and compassion to people everywhere.
HSMO’s Veterinary Medical Centers become the Animal Medical Center of Mid-America, to better reflect the practice’s position as one of the largest veterinary practices in the Midwest, open to the public, with proceeds helping homeless animals at the Humane Society of Missouri.
