We have a very long story to tell, but I will try to keep it brief.  I am going to start off by saying that I have always hated Go Fund Mes, because I am not typically someone who likes to ask people for financial help.  I hate admitting to the fact that we need help financially, and I hate airing my personal business out like this.  I also think that people asking for money for planned expenses is tacky.  However, we were not expecting or prepared for this, and we need some help.  To all the dog lovers out there: please consider helping us out.  There is absolutely no pressure, there will be NO hurt feelings if you ignore this request, and it will not in any way effect our friendships.  

"We" are Mike and Steph Vertucci and we have been married for a year and a half.  A few months ago, we started the search to add a new member to our family: a beloved dog.  

Alice's story:  We adopted an 11 month old adorable little Shorkie (Shih tzu/Yorkie mix) and have named her Alice.  Her owner surrendered her to a shelter with no information.  When we first met her, we instantly fell in love.  we bonded with her immediately and knew she was the right dog to bring into our family.  

We were told that she had a condition called Cherry Eye (detachment of anchoring tissue on an ocular gland that's sometimes referred to as a "third eyelid") and that the necessary surgery would be done prior to her adoption.  We were also told that she was recovering from a skin issue from having a flea infestation and allergy.  No big deal right?  Everything seemed manageable.  We did research on Cherry Eye just to be sure we knew what we were getting into, and it sounded very common and like no big deal.

Boy were we wrong.  Over $1500 later, we are still dealing with some major issues.  The vet that performed her Cherry Eye surgery did it poorly.  For over a month now, Alice has been given steroid drops five times a day to bring down the inflammation and infection.  A double eye infection!  This was supposed to be a normal surgery.  She also has scaring on one of her eyes from the bad surgery.  This is giving her low vision.  The medications are very expensive and who knows how long we will have to continue them.

Now...her skin... This is where it gets really crazy.  Flea infestation?  No way.  Environmental allergies?  Not that either.  Alice has lessions all over her skin that are getting worse and worse.  They are bleeding and scabbing without her even itching.  Her skin is paper thin.  She shakes and she bleeds.  It is terrible.  The poor girl is clearly in pain.  

Next steps: we need to do some blood work and testing.  This will hopefully lead us down a path of answers.  She may have an immune disease.  We need to test her organs.  We need to check her thyroid.  We need to rule out liver cancer.... So much.  She will be going to see specialists and doggie dermatologists.  

Why we are asking for donations:  These tests are expensive.  It's really adding up and going to continue to do so.  We need to be able to pay for these things to determine what is wrong.  Her eye medication is still an expense.  Her pain medications are expensive.  There is so much going on with this poor girl.

We are going to do everything we can for this poor girl.  She is only a year old and has been through so much.  Putting her down in NOT an option for us.  She is a member of our family.  However, there is a point where we just can't pay anymore...

Please help.  You have no idea how much it would mean to us and how thankful we would be.  ANYTHING and EVERYTHING helps.  No ammount too small.  Let's get this poor doggy some help and work to give her a pain free life!!