'Tis the season of giving and Operation Kindness – North Texas’ original and largest no-kill animal shelter – has given the gift of life to Garth, a 10-month-old German Shepherd mix. When Garth arrived at Operation Kindness in October as a transfer from a shelter partner in Stephenville, Texas, he was unable to stand. The shelter partner did not have the equipment on-site to treat his injuries, he soon became at risk of being euthanized and the people in Stephenville reached out to Operation Kindness for help.

With the help of the on-site medical hospital at Operation Kindness, Garth has been receiving the medical treatment he needs to improve his walking. The medical team and the consulting neurologist suspect Garth endured a brain injury, possibly from a virus or trauma that caused neurological issues that impact his balance. Today Garth is happy, active and improving his functioning with medication that helps his brain communicate with his body. He still faces and will probably continue to face challenges with his movements and some difficulty walking on slippery surfaces, but has the energy and attitude to overcome these challenges.

“Garth is one of the happiest puppies you will ever meet,” said Jim Hanophy, CEO of Operation Kindness. “He has faced many challenges in his short life, but as soon as you meet him, you will find that he is just as energetic and playful as any other puppy. We are so grateful for the services our on-site medical center is able to provide to injured animals like Garth. We have enjoyed watching his progress and are confident that he will make a wonderful companion.”

Operation Kindness is currently accepting applications to help Garth find a forever home for the holidays. To ensure Garth stays happy and healthy in his new home, Operation Kindness will provide six months of follow-up care to monitor his neurological status. The shelter is also in discussions with a program at Texas A&M Commerce to build a cart for Garth to assist with his walking.

In celebration of the holiday season, Operation Kindness will host holiday pet adoptions at Galleria Dallas and Gift Wrapping for Kindness at Barnes and Noble – Park and Preston, and have holiday gifts available for purchase from Operation Kindness’ Kindness Katalog. To find out more about how to help homeless animals this holiday, visit http://www.OperationKindness.org.