Sometimes, a gift can change everything.
When tiny puppy Aaliyah struggled to breathe, her future seemed uncertain. Aspiration pneumonia is not uncommon in small puppies like her, as they are learning how to eat and drink. Her condition was serious, but thanks to the emergency team at Rochester Emergency Veterinary Services (REVS), she received the critical care she needed. To continue her recovery, Aaliyah needed to remain on oxygen—something that can be a challenge outside of a clinical setting.
Thankfully, a foster with an oxygen cage was found, and Aaliyah was able to continue healing in a home environment, while her brothers stayed under the care of Lollypop Farm Foster Care Supervisor, Sue Dusett. Aaliyah began to improve, but she wasn’t quite out of the woods.
That’s when Sue began reaching out to find an oxygen unit that would allow Aaliyah to stay with her siblings and continue receiving the support she needed. After contacting several places, Sue connected with Upstate Medical in Henrietta, which generously agreed to lend us a unit.
Then, something even more amazing happened.
Toni Nolletti from United Oxygen and Medical Equipment called Sue back the very next day. Not only did she offer to help—she donated three oxygen units to Lollypop Farm.
These units are a game-changer.
They convert room air into oxygen, providing a safe and reliable way to support animals who need help breathing. Because oxygen tanks can’t be legally transported to foster homes, options were limited in the past. Now, with these units, we can send animals like Aaliyah home with the care they need.
“I know there have been several times when an animal needed to go home on oxygen, but there was nothing we could do because you can’t legally transport an oxygen tank,” said Sue Dusett. “Thanks to the amazing team at United Oxygen and Medical Equipment, that’s no longer a barrier.”
This incredible gift will allow our foster and veterinary teams to provide better care for neonatal puppies and kittens—and any animal in need of oxygen support.
Because of this simple, life-saving donation, little Aaliyah got her second chance—and so will many others.
