This sweet little 10-pound dog has been in a shelter in Ontario, Canada for a few weeks now. They thought she had a bladder infection and gave her antibiotics, but her symptoms never got better. She strains, dribbles blood, cries, and wets herself constantly. She is matted and soiled, and in tremendous pain, but wasn't groomed or given pain medication.
A volunteer tried to get her better care for more than two weeks, but without luck, so on Christmas Eve she signed her out to foster her. She posted the story to an email list we're both on, asking for advice on supplements or diet to help treat the bladder infection.
As we usually do, the list owner, Lew Olson, and I jumped in with "Canine UTIs 101," probably somewhat overwhelming the poor volunteer. But we also jumped in with practical help, and paid for her to see the vet up in Ontario. I spoke to the vet this morning, who after examining and x-raying Suzie discovered she has a huge stone in her bladder that needs to be removed surgically. Also, her matting is so bad that they were unable to groom her without anesthetizing her.
We have an estimate of around $983 US to have the vet do a full blood panel, remove the stone, spay her if she's unspayed, and groom her. (It will be less if she's already spayed.) We have a forever home for her, and even a backup home.
I've paid her bill so far, and am willing to contribute a bit more, as is Lew. The volunteer is going to contribute some, and so is her mother. But we need to try to raise the rest from the dog lovers we know, and so we're coming to you.
I checked with IMOM.org, a great organization that helps with emergency medical funding for pets. I knew they wouldn't be able to help this particular dog as she falls outside their guidelines, but I thought they could give me some tips on how to raise this money on my own. They recommended setting up a fundraising page at fundable.com, which allows people to use their credit cards or PayPal accounts to pledge a certain amount of money. If we fail to raise it, then everyone's pledge will be cancelled. Payments are handled by PayPal and are completely safe, and you do not need a PayPal account to pledge.
I know the Web is full of scams, but I have spoken personally to the vet as well as the volunteer, and, well... you all know me. My life is an open book, and this is for real. If you can help, even with ten or twenty dollars, please go to Suzie's fundable.com page and make a pledge. We want to do the surgery no later than Tuesday, as she's in considerable pain (although this kind vet put her on pain meds, unlike the folks at the shelter).
Can you help? Please donate to Suzie's Surgery!
Update: We did it! In fact, we more than did it, and went a couple of hundred dollars over! I'll contact everyone who donated after we hit our goal to see if they want a refund, or for us to use the money for Suzie's other expenses. Thank you so much, everyone... what a wonderful way to start the New Year for this little dog. You're amazing... we raised this money in FOUR HOURS!
Looks like the goal is met and this sweet baby will get it's surgery on Tuesday :-) It was only 1/2 way there when I donated a couple of hours ago. What a great community to meet a goal like this in such a short time.
Posted by: Cheryl | 27 December 2008 at 08:43 PM
Wow. I want to contribute but apparently since the amount has been reached it's not possible to still do so. Is that right? I'm thinking maybe Suzie will need follow up or meds.
Lew has been more than generous to me with information to help me with my elderly rescues, and I have been wondering what I could do to thank her. This seemed perfect, but....
Any way to contribute from here? The site seems to not allow it.
Posted by: Catherine | 27 December 2008 at 11:21 PM
Catherine, I disabled donations when we exceeded the goal as I didn't want to stockpile a bunch of money with no clear use for it. I promise if Suzie needs additional medical care I will post to K9 Nutrition and here as a follow up. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Posted by: Christie | 27 December 2008 at 11:28 PM
I just saw this, so happy you all reached your goal so quickly!
Posted by: TheWeyrd1 | 28 December 2008 at 05:06 PM
wow, I just read this ... I'm so pleased people stepped up and donated. Being this darling dog is a Canadian :0, I'm thrilled you put out the plea for help and that others stepped up. Thank you!
Posted by: Diane | 29 December 2008 at 11:46 AM
I just set up a fundraising page on fundable.com, but then read in a number of places that it is a scam. Did you have a good experience with them?
Sincerely,
Lucy L. Schroth DVM
founder of Veterinary Emergency Funding Mission (www.vefm.org)
Posted by: Lucy Schroth DVM | 30 March 2009 at 12:50 AM
I had no problems with them at all. They sent me my check promptly in exactly the amount I was supposed to get.
Posted by: Christie | 30 March 2009 at 01:04 AM