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The ASPCA reports that Gidget, a two-year-old Yorkshire Terrier rescued in New York City, underwent surgery on February 11, 2026, to correct a congenital portosystemic shunt. She recovered well and needed fewer medications afterward; the supplied report does not say whether she has been adopted or provide a full account of her later recovery.
Gidget, a two-year-old Yorkshire Terrier rescued in New York City, recovered well after February 11, 2026, surgery to close a congenital blood-vessel abnormality that bypassed her liver, the ASPCA reports. The case involved months of monitoring and treatment after her rescue, as the condition can cause dangerous neurological effects if left untreated.
According to the ASPCA, the New York Police Department rescued Gidget after a witness reported seeing her owner kick and punch her on a sidewalk days before Halloween. When she arrived at the ASPCA Animal Recovery Center, she was thin, had matted fur and had a recent history of blunt-force trauma. The source does not provide the exact date of her rescue or report the outcome of any investigation into the alleged abuse.
Veterinary testing found anemia, an unusual type of urine crystal and changes in liver values. An ultrasound and consultation with an internal-medicine specialist identified changes concerning for congenital portosystemic shunt (cPSS), the ASPCA said. Gidget also had an inconsistent appetite, occasional vomiting and periods of lethargy. She was monitored and treated while staff worked to help her gain weight.
After care at the ASPCA’s Pawling, New York, rehabilitation center and further monitoring in New York City, Gidget had surgery to close the vessel bypassing her liver. The ASPCA said a liver biopsy showed decreased blood flow, consistent with the diagnosis. She recovered well and did exceptionally well as her medications were reduced. The source describes the medical care and foster-home search but does not provide a confirmed adoption outcome.
Why the Shunt Needed Treatment
A cPSS diverts blood from the intestines around the liver, according to the ASPCA. The liver normally processes substances carried in that blood; when it is bypassed, compounds such as ammonia can build up and affect the brain. The organization says this can lead to lethargy, seizures and, if untreated, death.
Gidget’s case also illustrates why veterinary teams considered more than the reported trauma. Her lab results, digestive symptoms and imaging findings prompted investigation of a separate congenital condition. The ASPCA says surgery can correct cPSS when a single bypassing vessel can be identified; Gidget’s outcome followed that surgical approach, but the report does not establish how often it succeeds in other dogs.
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From Rescue to Surgery
The ASPCA’s account describes care across several of its programs. Gidget was first treated at the Animal Recovery Center in New York City. She moved to the Recovery & Rehabilitation Center in Pawling on December 4, 2025, where staff monitored her neurological health, gave medications timed around meals and controlled dietary protein.
The ASPCA said staff also prepared for possible neurological episodes and responded to occasions when Gidget collapsed after activity, which the veterinarian attributed to low blood sugar, another complication associated with shunts. After about a month in Pawling, she returned to New York City and continued to receive close care, largely in foster care, while awaiting surgery. The operation took place on February 11, 2026.
In the report, the ASPCA explains that reduced liver blood flow can affect growth and nutrition. It also notes that treatment required coordination among veterinary and foster teams, including finding suitable low-protein enrichment items that Gidget would accept. These details come from the organization’s account of her care.
Gidget’s Longer-Term Outcome
The ASPCA report says Gidget recovered well after surgery and tolerated a reduction in medication, but it does not provide details of her longer-term health, follow-up test results or whether she was ultimately adopted. The supplied material also ends while describing how foster caregiver Jessica L. became involved, so it does not establish what happened next in that placement.
The source attributes the rescue to a witness report that Gidget’s owner kicked and punched her. It does not include a police statement, court records or information about charges, so the allegation’s legal status is not clear from the material provided.
Follow-Up on Her Recovery
The ASPCA’s report describes continued care after surgery but does not announce a later milestone or provide a schedule for follow-up. A further update from the organization would be needed to confirm Gidget’s continuing health, whether her medications were stopped, and whether she was placed permanently with a family.
For now, the confirmed endpoint in the source is that Gidget recovered well from surgery and did well as her medications were reduced. Her adoption status and longer-term medical outcome remain unreported in the supplied account.
Key Questions
What condition did Gidget have?
The ASPCA said tests and an ultrasound raised concern for congenital portosystemic shunt, or cPSS: an abnormal blood vessel that lets blood from the intestines bypass the liver.
When did Gidget have surgery?
The ASPCA reported that Gidget had surgery on February 11, 2026, to close the vessel that bypassed her liver.
How did Gidget do after the operation?
The ASPCA said she recovered well and did exceptionally well as her medications were reduced. The report does not give longer-term test results.
Was Gidget adopted?
The supplied ASPCA report does not confirm an adoption. It describes a foster-care arrangement connected to her recovery but does not state the final placement outcome.
Source: aspca.org
