Dental expenses of dog defender!
Donation protected
Mark Swain is a St. Louis City artist and a community leader who currently serves as President of the Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Association. Mark recently visited my wife's store in Dutchtown and she noticed his front teeth were newly missing. My wife asked what had happened. Mark said he had fought two robbers who tried to steal his Pomeranian and then beat his Golden Retriever who was trying to defend the little dog in Lyon Park. The robbers beat Mark and knocked his teeth out. Mark said he had no money to get his teeth repaired. Yet Mark asked for no help. Lucy pressed Mark to write down what had happened and that she would start a Go Fund Me page to raise money to repair his smile. Mark is a community leader and deserves our help. Please give what you can. Here is Mark's account of what happened.
"On the first Sunday in October, I took my Pomeranian and Golden, to Lyon park as I often do for our walk. I like Lyon Park because it is small and rather private, so I can let the dogs run free. On this day,around 9:30 AM, I got out of the car and let the dogs go. Shortly after that a car pulled up and two young black males drove up and both jumped out of their car at the same time. I knew this was not going to be good. They ran past me and were in pursuit of my Pomeranian. My golden retriever (Cheyenne) reacted and lunged at these guys to protect Kirby and they started beating her. That’s when I stepped in and they began hitting and punching me. Thankfully a trucker pulled up and honked his horn. The two perpetrators jumped in their car and left. I think these men thought they could flip Kirby as he is a beautiful, champion blood line Pomeranian.
However the damage was done in those few seconds. My Golden Retriever Cheyenne was hurt badly and I had cuts and teeth loosened. Some of these teeth have already been removed and others are loose and need removing.
I am on a fixed income and cannot afford the $2800 - 3300 it will take to have my teeth fixed. Anyone who knows me, is aware that I have spent ¾ of my life pursuing an education so I would always have a job. However, life circumstances have destroyed that for me. In 1998, I crushed my right leg in an accident which disabled me. I had worked in nursing at Alexian Brothers Hosp for 25yrs. I rehabbed for 3 years and returned to work as an educator.
Over the next 9 years, I had 3 hit and run accidents. Each accident caused extensive damage to me physically and I ultimately had to go back on disability, after the 3rd accident because of serious, cumulative injury to my spine and knees and shoulder. I do not have support of family as I have have buried both parents and the last of four brothers in January of this year.
I have always been very supportive of the community and have served as VP of Dutchtown South Community Corporation and presently as President of Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Assoc. I love St Louis and our neighborhood and I will continue to work for a sustainable neighborhood and support our animal care and control center and stray rescue. I am also very active in community art.
New teeth would certainly help restore my self esteem and smile and take away a lot of pain."
Organizer and beneficiary
Bill Hannegan
Organizer
St Louis, MO
Mark Swain
Beneficiary
