Help Save Birdie
Donation protected
Friends, Family, and Kind Strangers,
For those of you who know me have been, for the most part, aware of the unfortunate recent procedures my dog Birdie has, and continues, to go thru.
Here's a brief background story on how incredible and strong my dog is and why I'm here asking for your help...
I adopted Birdie in December of 2009 from Sean Casey Animal Shelter. She was a very sick and skinny 1 year old Doberman/Rottweiler who was left abandoned on the streets of the Bronx. I took her home the day I met her, nursed her back to health and gradually got her weight up another 20lbs.
As the years went by I would notice she liked to eat things, preferably my socks! I thought she was just being a "bad dog" until June 2013 when she stopped eating her dog food and going to the bathroom. I took her to the vet, took X-rays, thought she was constipated and sent us on our way with a fiber diet and some dog version of Pepcid. Her symptoms got worse so I took her back. Another doctor and another X-ray later they found a foreign body wrapped around her intestines and more in her stomach. Two and a half feet of her intestines were removed and surgery on her stomach. They diagnosed her with Pica. Again I nursed her back to health by getting her to gradually eat normally.
Fast forward to October 2013 I noticed similar symptoms, not eating or going to the bathroom. I took her back to the vet where they sent us away because they remembered I had a hard time paying. Wow, thanks! Sorry but $2500 is a lot for me to just drop at once (vets don't do payment plans). Went to another vet and found another foreign body. She had just one incision and it was removed. Her recovery didn't go as well as the first so i let the doctor know when I took her back. They found fluid in her abdomen and she needed an ultrasound, she was sent to the 24hr emergency vet in Carroll Gardens. The Dr. there informed me she would have to undergo a third surgery. Her sutchers had come apart inside her and her body created a pocket of fluid to protect it. They attached a drain pump and everyday it seemed she was producing less and less (starting from 25ml). Last Thursday night they called to inform me they found bacteria in her fluid. Not wanting it to go septic she was sent into surgery again. They ran tests and the antibiotics she was on wouldn't fight that bug. It was a huge set back but she's just too young, just shy of five, for me to throw in the towel. Plus, she's my family!
Birdie is currently producing fluid but it is going down. She's on a new antibiotic that may effect her kidneys, so far tests have come back negative, but has to stay there another two weeks.
My dog is my responsibility and while she always has food, treats, and love, four surgeries and a month stay at the hospital just wasn't something I was financially prepared for. A dear friend of mine suggested this site to me, and while I am a bit embarrassed asking for donations I will leave my ego aside for her.
I ask that you share this with your friends and family that may not know us but are deeply thoughtful people. Thank you to all my friends and family who have been there for me and Birdie, words can't express. If it is an exact 2 weeks I get her back since her last surgery I will be picking her up on Thanksgiving. I really can't think of anything I would be more thankful for than having her back and healthy.
For those of you who know me have been, for the most part, aware of the unfortunate recent procedures my dog Birdie has, and continues, to go thru.
Here's a brief background story on how incredible and strong my dog is and why I'm here asking for your help...
I adopted Birdie in December of 2009 from Sean Casey Animal Shelter. She was a very sick and skinny 1 year old Doberman/Rottweiler who was left abandoned on the streets of the Bronx. I took her home the day I met her, nursed her back to health and gradually got her weight up another 20lbs.
As the years went by I would notice she liked to eat things, preferably my socks! I thought she was just being a "bad dog" until June 2013 when she stopped eating her dog food and going to the bathroom. I took her to the vet, took X-rays, thought she was constipated and sent us on our way with a fiber diet and some dog version of Pepcid. Her symptoms got worse so I took her back. Another doctor and another X-ray later they found a foreign body wrapped around her intestines and more in her stomach. Two and a half feet of her intestines were removed and surgery on her stomach. They diagnosed her with Pica. Again I nursed her back to health by getting her to gradually eat normally.
Fast forward to October 2013 I noticed similar symptoms, not eating or going to the bathroom. I took her back to the vet where they sent us away because they remembered I had a hard time paying. Wow, thanks! Sorry but $2500 is a lot for me to just drop at once (vets don't do payment plans). Went to another vet and found another foreign body. She had just one incision and it was removed. Her recovery didn't go as well as the first so i let the doctor know when I took her back. They found fluid in her abdomen and she needed an ultrasound, she was sent to the 24hr emergency vet in Carroll Gardens. The Dr. there informed me she would have to undergo a third surgery. Her sutchers had come apart inside her and her body created a pocket of fluid to protect it. They attached a drain pump and everyday it seemed she was producing less and less (starting from 25ml). Last Thursday night they called to inform me they found bacteria in her fluid. Not wanting it to go septic she was sent into surgery again. They ran tests and the antibiotics she was on wouldn't fight that bug. It was a huge set back but she's just too young, just shy of five, for me to throw in the towel. Plus, she's my family!
Birdie is currently producing fluid but it is going down. She's on a new antibiotic that may effect her kidneys, so far tests have come back negative, but has to stay there another two weeks.
My dog is my responsibility and while she always has food, treats, and love, four surgeries and a month stay at the hospital just wasn't something I was financially prepared for. A dear friend of mine suggested this site to me, and while I am a bit embarrassed asking for donations I will leave my ego aside for her.
I ask that you share this with your friends and family that may not know us but are deeply thoughtful people. Thank you to all my friends and family who have been there for me and Birdie, words can't express. If it is an exact 2 weeks I get her back since her last surgery I will be picking her up on Thanksgiving. I really can't think of anything I would be more thankful for than having her back and healthy.
Organiser
Katelyn Foley
Organiser
