Pennies for Penelope

The reason for this page is to help raise money to save Penelope's life. Penelope is a 4-year-old miniature dachshund who suffers from a fatal liver disorder called a portosystemic shunt. She was diagnosed on September 12, 2014. It is my mission to get Penelope the surgery she needs as soon as possible.

But lets rewind. I want to tell you the whole story.

My fiancé and I adopted Penelope in November, 2013. She came from a puppy mill where she was neglected, over bred, and potentially abused for her entire life. When we adopted her she was full of fear, having never had any positive human interaction in her life. We committed ourselves to rehabilitating her and have worked tirelessly to do so ever since. We have made incredible progress with her. She has become a happy, silly, and confident little dog.

At the beginning of September she began acting a little strange. She would sleep with her mouth open and stare at walls. We chocked it off to being one of her many oddities, but over the next few days the neurological symptoms became more and more persistent. Soon she was obtunded, drooling heavily, had her mouth agape, and was walking into walls. We rushed her to the hospital. She was admitted for 2 days as they ran a plethora of tests. By the time they confirmed that she had a portosystemic shunt, our bill had reached $2800. She now needs a CT scan that will determine the exact location of the shunt, and then surgery to fix it. These will cost $6800. Until then, we will be minimizing her symptoms with a combination of medications and special diet.

With this surgery, Penelope will be able to live the happy, healthy life she deserves. Penelope has had a rough start, but has proven to be a fighter and survivor. Please support Penelope in having the opportunity for survival. She needs your help.