Dial 911 for Reno and his Heartworm

Hello! My name is Reno, but my friends call me Wally!  I'm from rural Virginia, spent several months in a shelter, and now I'm in a foster home in Washington, DC. Anyway, I am very sweet and affectionate! All I want to do is be near my person, stare lovingly into their adoring eyes and make them happy. When my person is happy, I get more treats...and I looooove treats!  For a long time, I went without physical contact so I have a lot to make up for, and I sure love to make up for it!  The more physical contact the better... I've been told I'm not a lapdog but I totally disagree. I live for cuddles.

Although I am 9 years old and have this beautiful silver muzzle, I have the energy of a youngin'...at least for short bursts!  I do get overly excited when I first meet other dogs and when I get excited, I get jumpy.  

I'm a lazy guy, too. I love watching the birds from my foster family's porch and snoozing near my humans during the day. I make lots of old man grunts when I'm settling down or trying to get comfy. I like sleeping under the bed and squeezing myself into small spaces. 

I have Heartworm disease and it is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the United States and many other parts of the world. It is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body.  Won't you please help me?