Meet Morpheus & Mr. Wobbles
Morpheus’ Story
Acting on an anonymous report of severe neglect, a Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force investigator and the Maries County Sheriff’s Office found the five-year-old dog barely clinging to life. Morpheus weighed just 80 pounds, half the healthy weight for a male Great Dane. His ribs, spine and hips protruded beneath his skin and his collar was painfully embedded in his neck. Covered with untreated sores, infections, parasites and heartworms, he arrived at the Humane Society of Missouri’s Macklind Headquarters so weak that staff feared he might not survive the night.
In spite of a bleak prognosis, Morpheus was met with unwavering compassion. Veterinarians, technicians and animal care staff worked around the clock to clean his wounds and treat his infections. The team removed the embedded collar, revealing a 2½-inch-wide open wound that extended nearly one-quarter of the way around Morpheus’s neck. It was a signal to him that his will to survive would be met with experienced, compassionate care.
The shelter staff began a careful refeeding program, celebrating every small victory. Nearly two months and 43 pounds later, Morpheus was strong enough for foster care. When it came time to find a forever home, his foster family soon realized they couldn’t imagine life without him. Morpheus’s sweetest dream has come true.
Mr. Wobbles’ Story
When the senior Appaloosa gelding was rescued by our Animal Cruelty Task Force, he was on the brink of death. Weighing just 751 pounds, he was so severely emaciated that he required immediate treatment at Mid-Rivers Equine Centre before he was strong enough to continue his recovery at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch.
Even then, his future remained uncertain. Mr. Wobbles repeatedly collapsed in his stall, and staff and dedicated volunteers worked around the clock to help him back to his feet. He required specialized veterinary care, a carefully managed diet because of chronic dental problems and months of patient rehabilitation.
His quiet determination touched everyone who cared for him, especially the veterinarian and her husband, who fell in love with him almost immediately. Mr. Wobbles would require lifelong veterinary care and a specialized diet, making him difficult to place. The couple made a heartfelt promise: if Mr. Wobbles recovered, they would give him a home to live out his life. Through every setback, one thing never changed — his joyful enthusiasm for every meal.
Ninety-four days later, after gaining more than 360 pounds, that promise became reality. Thanks to the compassion of people who refused to give up on him, Mr. Wobbles’ story became one of resilience, healing and the enduring gift of a forever home.
