Bear's Last Chance
Donation protected
This is something I didn’t think I would ever do, but the alternative is to euthanize Bear. I’d like to share his story with you.
I found Bear on a Dog Rescue site toward the end of September. After communicating back and forth we arranged for me to pick him up in Huntington Beach on September 25th, 2020. He was thin, ears infected, and had lost much of the hair on his back end due to flea infestation. I noticed he favored his left hind leg, it was thought that he had been kept in a very confined area with no exercise.
He saw the Veterinarian the following week, I made a list of concerns but he was so frightened she couldn’t really examine him. The Vet prescribed some sedation for him to take prior to the next appointment & rescheduled.
We treated his ears, skin, & addressed his unattached dew claws that he chewed on constantly. He was scheduled to get the dew claws removed, trim his nails and get a deep ear cleaning w/medication packed in both ears at the end of October. While he was under for the above procedure the doctor was going to take films of his hind end to see what was going on with his leg.
Bear was trying so hard to do what was asked of him, I fell in love with him in this short period of time. I had taken him to the beach, on-leash a couple times and then on October 25 (his one month birthday) my daughter and I took our dogs to the beach. I had gotten where I trusted him off-leash in certain areas; he and my daughters’ dog were checking everything out & was really starting to enjoy himself -- he looked happy! Bear was jogging back to me, as he came around my side he started screaming and fell to the ground. I’ve never experienced anything like this in all the years of owning dogs.
We found that he had ruptured the ACL (CCL) in his right hind leg which was his good leg and more than likely ripped the meniscus. The films also showed that sometime in his prior neglected & abused life, he had ruptured the ACL in his left hind leg which explained why he favored it.
Now I’m faced with two surgeries at $3,800 each, over and above the $2000 I've already spent in the last month and a half. He’s a big boy weighing in at 51.2 lb’s so the less expensive remedies cannot even be considered. The other option is to put him down. He’s on pain meds right now and is being so brave but a decision has to be made. I cannot afford those surgeries which is why friends talked me into reaching out with a Go-Fund-Me. This is not something I would normally even consider doing – but it’s a last shot for Bear. The alternative is real but would prefer if it was the very last alternative after exhausting all my resources.
I’d like to take care of the new injury first and then make the call on the second surgery, see if it’s absolutely necessary. Both surgeons recommended the two surgeries. Being realistic, I can only do what I can do as long as he isn’t suffering.
If you love your 4-legged family members as much as I love mine you know how difficult this is.
Any amount will help. I’m so touched by everyone that has reached out and encouraged me to do this….Thank you.
Thank you in advance for your help!
I found Bear on a Dog Rescue site toward the end of September. After communicating back and forth we arranged for me to pick him up in Huntington Beach on September 25th, 2020. He was thin, ears infected, and had lost much of the hair on his back end due to flea infestation. I noticed he favored his left hind leg, it was thought that he had been kept in a very confined area with no exercise.
He saw the Veterinarian the following week, I made a list of concerns but he was so frightened she couldn’t really examine him. The Vet prescribed some sedation for him to take prior to the next appointment & rescheduled.
We treated his ears, skin, & addressed his unattached dew claws that he chewed on constantly. He was scheduled to get the dew claws removed, trim his nails and get a deep ear cleaning w/medication packed in both ears at the end of October. While he was under for the above procedure the doctor was going to take films of his hind end to see what was going on with his leg.
Bear was trying so hard to do what was asked of him, I fell in love with him in this short period of time. I had taken him to the beach, on-leash a couple times and then on October 25 (his one month birthday) my daughter and I took our dogs to the beach. I had gotten where I trusted him off-leash in certain areas; he and my daughters’ dog were checking everything out & was really starting to enjoy himself -- he looked happy! Bear was jogging back to me, as he came around my side he started screaming and fell to the ground. I’ve never experienced anything like this in all the years of owning dogs.
We found that he had ruptured the ACL (CCL) in his right hind leg which was his good leg and more than likely ripped the meniscus. The films also showed that sometime in his prior neglected & abused life, he had ruptured the ACL in his left hind leg which explained why he favored it.
Now I’m faced with two surgeries at $3,800 each, over and above the $2000 I've already spent in the last month and a half. He’s a big boy weighing in at 51.2 lb’s so the less expensive remedies cannot even be considered. The other option is to put him down. He’s on pain meds right now and is being so brave but a decision has to be made. I cannot afford those surgeries which is why friends talked me into reaching out with a Go-Fund-Me. This is not something I would normally even consider doing – but it’s a last shot for Bear. The alternative is real but would prefer if it was the very last alternative after exhausting all my resources.
I’d like to take care of the new injury first and then make the call on the second surgery, see if it’s absolutely necessary. Both surgeons recommended the two surgeries. Being realistic, I can only do what I can do as long as he isn’t suffering.
If you love your 4-legged family members as much as I love mine you know how difficult this is.
Any amount will help. I’m so touched by everyone that has reached out and encouraged me to do this….Thank you.
Thank you in advance for your help!
Organizer
Lori Wooldridge
Organizer
Arroyo Grande, CA