
RV Rat Damage and update on Sadie.
Donation protected
Sadie has pulled through her surgery in great shape. Her staples will be removed this Friday the 23rd. However, I am basically stuck here at Buenos Aires NWR waiting for my SSN payment. My credit card is maxed out and my savings account is drained. I was able to find a veterinarian who did Sadies surgery for about $2000 less than anticipated, so I have reduced my goal from $7500 down to $5500. I have already used the first $1500 received to pay for Sadies initial visit and tests. I need $2000 to cover the actual surgery. The another $2000 is needed to cover the damage caused by the rat to my RV, food supply, and clothing. Here are some photos of the criminal Rat taken with my trail cam.



Without a wiring diagram I have to try to match up colored wires and connect with shrink wrap connectors and hope it works there are many wires with the same colors so I have to try and trace them back to origins both ways. You can see where the rat has stashed the various items including a whole container of trail mix it took in one night. It is also chewing on my house plants destroying a beautiful ivy plant I had raised for the last three years.





Hi, I'm Mike, a 75-year-old RV enthusiast, sharing my journey with Sadie, my cherished 10-year-old Golden Retriever. We've been on an amazing four-year RV adventure since October 15, 2019, but recently, an unwelcome guest—a persistent rat—joined our expedition. The funds will help to repair the RV as well as cover Sadies surgery.
Since October, this rat has wreaked havoc, damaging wires, stealing and damaging food, destroying shoes and clothing, and disrupting our nights. Despite multiple attempts, traps, and sprays, we've been unable to rid our RV of this intruder, impacting our enjoyment and posing a threat to Sadie's and my health. Exhausting my emergency fund, I now need assistance for repairs, part replacements, and potential surgery for Sadie due to chest lumps.
The rat's destruction has left us with a malfunctioning heater, a non-functional rear-view camera, and unresponsive leveling jacksas well as a damaged tow-dolly. Severe wiring damage, coupled with the lack of schematics for my 2003 RV, complicates repairs.
Despite reaching out to local pest control in Tucson, the response has been limited. If we can't eliminate the rat, I may have to abandon our cherished RV life and the friends we've made along the way.

Living solely on my SSN check, covering RV payments, leaves little for essentials like food and gas. Your support can help my recovery, ensuring a stress-free journey for Sadie and me. Your generosity will not only save our RV adventure but also contribute to Sadie's health and well-being.
Organizer

Michael Rath
Organizer
Tucson, AZ