Help Support Dolly

Friends & Family of Mike Dukeshire & Laura McNally are asking for your love, support and help in any way you are able.

The young couple welcomed their dream dog, a golden retriever puppy, less than 3 weeks ago.

What the couple did not know is the the small 10 week old puppy was born with a diaphragmatic hernia.
This is a small hole in her diaphragm that over time grew and her organs began to shift inside her diaphragm, including her stomach and lungs, causing it to be life threatening. (Read the full story, below)


Dolly was rushed to the ER where she underwent a surgery that she had only a 50/50 chance of surviving.

Luckily the gorgeous little warrior survived the surgery and has since been able to breathe on her own.

She is still in the ICU.

As we all know unexpected pet costs can be crippling for anyone.

The young couple is just starting their lives together and so family and friends have decided to come together to raise money to keep on helping Dolly to properly heal.

Here are the costs Laura and Mike are facing to save Dolly:

- ICU stay
- 24 hour doctor fee
- Medication
- Surgery
- Anti vomiting meds
- Antibiotics
- Sedation medicine to keep her calm
- X rays
- Blood work daily

Totalling close to $10,000 at this point.
Updates to come when they pick Dolly up to come home!


Please help support Dolly's healing journey however you can! Even a small amount appreciated. 




Here is the full story in Laura's words:


Dolly Dukes was born May 13, 2018 from two golden parents who live at a golden retriever breeder up North.
She was 1 of 12 puppy's -- 6 girls and 6 boys.


Dolly found her forever home with us on July 8th and we found the puppy we had always dreamed about.
July 9th Dolly was checked out by the family vet who gave the thumbs up on the healthy pet check.
Dolly spent 18 happy smiling golden days at home.



Day 19 after going for her morning walk Dolly began vomiting.

The vomiting was only saliva. Reading online said this was very normal for puppies likely ate too much grass. When the vomiting become dry heaving and nothing coming up we started to worry that maybe she ate something more then grass.

In the one hour waiting the vet appointment Dolly started trying to hide which is extremely out of character.
When we arrived at the vet the vets face told us something was very wrong. Dolly's breath sounds were shallow and heart rate was way too fast.
Blood work and x-rays showed Dolly's organs had all migrated to her chest cavity which was crushing her little lungs.

The emergency vet hospital explained this was a extremely difficult surgery and they themselves could not operate. We would need to be sent to a special hospital with a top specialist.

Before leaving our family vet they laid out all our options warning us how expensive this surgery will be as well as her fears with of the surgery.
We were given the estimate of the surgery or the option to lay our 10 week old puppy down.
We decided to fight for our baby & new best friend.

The car ride from Burlington to Mississauga was horrible she was hardly breathing we had to hold her with her head elevated while not touching her stomach / chest.
During this scary 20 minuet ride she smiled and waged her tail because she was with her two favourite people.

Once we arrived safely Dolly was taken to be placed on a breathing tube as the new hospital new how much we was struggling for air.

Mississauga vet professionals started preparing Dolly for her big surgery.
When we met with the doctor who explained the the surgery and was able to draw us a picture of what was happening . We received a best case and worst case quote.

We had to signature some very scary documents about Dolly in surgery and resuscitation.
It was all very fast because Dolly needed the surgery urgently.

Moments before the surgical team took her we got to kiss her. She was all tubed and wired. They had her sedated on the table. Meeting the nurses surrounding her we felt they were going to care for her like she was there own.

They thanked us for getting her in so quickly and for choosing to fight for this little puppy.
Dolly was in surgery for 2.5 hours.
She had what is called a diaphragmatic hernia that doctors confirmed she was born with.
This is a small hole in her diaphragm that was over time organs began to shift.
Dolly's spleen was taken out because of a important blood vessel they did not want to move, removing the spleen was the better choice.

Doctors told us Dolly's organs had likely been shifting for several weeks it wasn't until the stomach got caught in the hole did we see symptoms.
Dolly is fighting the fight in the ICU still the nurses and doctors say her tail wags every-time they visit and check on her.

She is getting stronger everyday.
Doctors believe Dolly will make a full recovery.
Our house is empty without Dolly -- we didn't realize what a light she is in our home. 
We are so excited for Dolly to be strong enough to come home.