Gladys needs heart surgery

Hi Friends, Family and Dog Lovers, 

I have been fairly quiet about the health problems Gladys has up until now. But, it has come time to share and ask for some help. Gladys was born with a heart murmur. It was diagnosed as moderate aortic and pulmonic stenosis, which is basically enlarged heart valves. About a month ago, she briefly fainted while she was running around and I did a follow up vet visit and learned that it has progressed to severe stenosis. Untreated, her life expectancy is 3 years old (she is currently 2). With surgery, she has up to 7 (or more...because I'm optomistic like that).


Many of you know Gladys, at least through photos and stories on facebook. For those who don't, she is a very sweet smart goofy girl who loves meeting everyone. All people are her new best friends. She will even tolerate me dressing her up like Laura Ingalls Wilder.

I am a devoted dog mom and this is an absolutely heart breaking decision to make. She is too special to me to not give her every opportunity at a longer life. To say it shortly: I need this too.  I need Gladys.  

It is also very humbling to go to my friends to ask for help. I don't ask for help very well. But here I am, doing exactly that. To be upfont: I will probably cry at every donation, every message you send me, and every hug that I get over these next few weeks.  And, I'm crying as I'm typing this - so I'm going to end this.

So, I'm asking for a lot.  This is the high end estimate of the surgery.  It could be a bit lower, but know that any overage I receive, I will donate.  I will do some research about best options but it will go to a group or dog in need.

Thank you so much for any help you're willing to give.  I leave you with this cute face...