It is so frustrating, but this happens in shelters all the time. They have to hold a dog for a minimum of 3 days and can't legally treat it. In the meantime, the dog is suffering. The problem is that until the dog is in a shelter for at least 3-5 days - it is an owned pet and it isn't until after that hold period that the dog is determined to be "abandoned" and they can legally treat it (if they can afford it). If it was a child, they could get two doctors to sign off - but an animal they feel is not worth the effort. SAD

It is not the shelters fault - they are regulated by local laws and many times have no choice. To have a rescue take the dog - you are probably going to have to raise enough money to cover all the vet costs. It is a sad reality, but if a rescue takes a dog that costs a thousand dollars - then they can't take 4 other dogs that just need standard vet costs and it could mean that these dogs are PTS. It is a sad reality - but a true one.