Last year, Maui the German Shepherd was surrendered to his local Humane Society after four years spent in a loving home. Just after turning three, Maui began suffering from epileptic seizures, and his family desperately hoped the shelter could provide the care they could no longer afford. Sadly, the entire state of Indiana, along with many other parts of the US, is facing a devastating crisis – overcrowded shelters driven by backyard breeding, excessive owner surrenders, and a high stray population. As a result, the shelter couldn’t offer Maui the support he needed, especially with staff only available up to 10 hours a day. Due to his seizures, Maui was placed on rescue-only status, but for over a month, he was shown little interest, enduring the overwhelming and unfamiliar shelter environment that only added to his suffering. By the end of January 2025, Maui’s time was running out, and he faced euthanasia due to overcrowding and his high medical needs and he was officially given a euthanasia deadline.
Luckily, hope shined through when Creekside Animal Rescue and small business owner Megan of Balanced Behavior K9 stepped in and pulled Maui just in time. Now, he’s in a warm, loving foster home, monitored 24/7 with cameras, receiving his medications twice daily, and thriving happily alongside his foster doggy siblings.
As another complication, Maui was born with a malformed toe on his right hind foot, probably from poor breeding. This causes him pain if he runs and plays for too long. Thanks to the dedication of Balanced Behavior K9 and a generous donation from Kenney Orthopedics of Columbus, IN, Maui now wears a stabilizing brace when needed. This life-changing device allows him to walk properly, prevents painful open wounds, and lets him play until he’s happily tired—an impressive feat for such an energetic boy.
Maui’s favorite pastimes include chasing the ball in his foster’s fenced yard, embarking on car rides with the windows down, and watching the movie Wicked. He’s got a big crush on Elphaba and a strong opinion about the Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz. Maui has completely charmed his household, convincing everyone to watch his beloved movie several times a week, and recently, he was even given his own CD player to listen to the soundtrack anytime he desires, which has become especially helpful during his medical visits.
Since his rescue, Maui has undergone multiple adjustments to his medication under the expert neurology team at the VCA Advanced Care Center of Fishers, IN. He’s had to stay overnight several times due to serious breakthrough seizure clusters, each stay costing around $2,000—not including the high doses of daily anticonvulsant medications he needs to keep him safe.
His seizures are grand mal, involving full-body convulsions and a total loss of awareness. When he wakes, his vision is blurred and he struggles to recognize where he is or who’s with him. His general lack of coordination (likely from previous seizure activity) is worsened considerably following these clusters. Watching these episodes is scary, and experiencing them must be even scarier for him.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of his neurology team and foster family, Maui now has a rescue protocol with up to five escalations before hospitalization, and it’s making a difference! Recently, they successfully stopped a seizure cluster at home and he has been seizure-free for nearly three weeks.
Just when it seemed Maui was finally on the mend, he developed gastrointestinal issues, sending him back to the VCA for diagnostics and treatment. His mounting medical bills weigh heavily on the small, dedicated team at Creekside Animal Rescue. Maui’s journey to healing depends on our help. Please consider donating a few dollars or sharing his story—your support can make all the difference. Maui is a truly special soul, a boy so many have given up on, but we refuse to join that list. Together, let’s give Maui the hope and love he so desperately deserves.
