Benjamin Buttons Second Chance
Donation protected
I'm not normally one to ask for help, I am the one to offer it - to those that can't help themselves, and to those whose life I know I can make a difference.
I have taken on, raised, rescued and saved a number of animals throughout the years, and I do this on my own accord. With no donations, this has all been out of my own pocket and self funded, and expenses I have had to cover from elsewhere. I get by, and I make do.
For this first time, I am reaching out and asking for help. I have gotten by until this point, doing my best for little Benjamin Button, the story of whom I will share shortly. The bills have been adding up, and I have been paying them off as I go - however one big opportunity has risen, and with that - comes one big bill to support it.
Now, the story of little Benjamin Button. At just 6 weeks old, a tiny 570g Cocker Spaniel puppy, found himself in my care. He was bright, alert, cuddly, and had a wagging tail.
The runty pup had had so many initial potential concerns; heart murmur, liver shunt, hydrocephalus, hip dysplasia, significant inguinal hernia with bladder involved - the odds were against him.
On day 1 of being in my care, euthanasia was recommended.
Now, I’m the biggest advocate for ending suffering, and helping them along when they have no quality of life, can’t be cared for, and are in pain with no cure, or potential for rehabilitation. I’ve had to do it before, and I’ll have to do it again.
But this one, it didn’t feel right.
It was only day one, he was happy, not in pain or suffering.
I took the stance that time may be limited, and to give him a happy life - no matter how short it may be. It will be hard, costly, and there will be heartache.
My point of view was that I will eventually recover from heartache, but once the decision is made to euthanise a happy puppy - he will never have the chance to recover from that.
He won’t have the opportunity to get through it.
Concerns for heart murmur cleared, but the very real worry of a liver shunt was present. Being such a small pup, I figured I’d grow him a little more, run bloods at 12 weeks to determine if he had a liver shunt, and then sadly say good bye, when there was an indication his organs were starting to fail him.
The results returned: and there was no indication for a liver shunt
During this time however, he had lost mobility of his hind legs, and was no longer able to weight bear.
Great veterinary minds suggested neospora to be a potential cause: further bloods were taken and labs were run, to which the diagnostics returned a negative result.
Concerns for hydrocephalus reduced, his hernia seemingly repaired itself, he was growing and one of the happiest puppies in the world.
Radiographs have since revealed a deformed femur - the xrays are remarkable.
Against all odds, he is here, he is incredibly happy, and his tail wags for every waking minute.
I have invested in wheelchairs, sourced puppy treadmills, physiotherapy, and consulted number of vets from Sydney and surrounds.
To date, I have spent over $2000 to get little Benny Button here - and against all odds, here he is.
I am not expecting reimbursement for the fees I have already spent, but am seeking assistance - to have the chance to potentially better his life from here.
Now, at 4.5 months old, happy go lucky little BB has been lucky enough to meet with one of the most amazing orthopaedic surgeons in Sydney. This adorable little disaster, who seemingly had no hope and no chance - even has the surgeon nodding his head.
He saw the spirit in this little cutie, and that I wanted to genuinely assess the options. If there even were any options.
Never having personally seen a case such as this before, great consideration, research, creativity, and thought had to be put in to this.
With the option of major surgery, potentially being able to straighten Benjamin Buttons hind legs. Though he will never be normal, this is Benny Buttons best chance, at least pretending to be normal, and getting as close as he can, to potentially being able to weight bear one day, and even properly be fitted to a wheelchair if needed.
This innovative surgery is the chance we had hoped to be given, and at least have as an option.
The issue is, this baby boy is growing - and needs to be operated on as soon as possible.
The estimate for his CT scan and orthopaedic surgery totals $9185.59.
Being a vet nurse and taking on rescues, the surgeon has kindly provided a discount, in order to help achieve the surgery - however this is still over $9000 I don't have available and set aside, in the rescue fund I personally save and put towards.
Any help to give this puppy a true chance at life, is truly appreciated.
Little Benjamin Button deserves the chance at having this surgery, he doesn't deserve to be euthanised - when he is still such a happy, loving, care free puppy - who sees the best in everybody. I hope everybody can see the best in him too.
I have taken on, raised, rescued and saved a number of animals throughout the years, and I do this on my own accord. With no donations, this has all been out of my own pocket and self funded, and expenses I have had to cover from elsewhere. I get by, and I make do.
For this first time, I am reaching out and asking for help. I have gotten by until this point, doing my best for little Benjamin Button, the story of whom I will share shortly. The bills have been adding up, and I have been paying them off as I go - however one big opportunity has risen, and with that - comes one big bill to support it.
Now, the story of little Benjamin Button. At just 6 weeks old, a tiny 570g Cocker Spaniel puppy, found himself in my care. He was bright, alert, cuddly, and had a wagging tail.
The runty pup had had so many initial potential concerns; heart murmur, liver shunt, hydrocephalus, hip dysplasia, significant inguinal hernia with bladder involved - the odds were against him.
On day 1 of being in my care, euthanasia was recommended.
Now, I’m the biggest advocate for ending suffering, and helping them along when they have no quality of life, can’t be cared for, and are in pain with no cure, or potential for rehabilitation. I’ve had to do it before, and I’ll have to do it again.
But this one, it didn’t feel right.
It was only day one, he was happy, not in pain or suffering.
I took the stance that time may be limited, and to give him a happy life - no matter how short it may be. It will be hard, costly, and there will be heartache.
My point of view was that I will eventually recover from heartache, but once the decision is made to euthanise a happy puppy - he will never have the chance to recover from that.
He won’t have the opportunity to get through it.
Concerns for heart murmur cleared, but the very real worry of a liver shunt was present. Being such a small pup, I figured I’d grow him a little more, run bloods at 12 weeks to determine if he had a liver shunt, and then sadly say good bye, when there was an indication his organs were starting to fail him.
The results returned: and there was no indication for a liver shunt
During this time however, he had lost mobility of his hind legs, and was no longer able to weight bear.
Great veterinary minds suggested neospora to be a potential cause: further bloods were taken and labs were run, to which the diagnostics returned a negative result.
Concerns for hydrocephalus reduced, his hernia seemingly repaired itself, he was growing and one of the happiest puppies in the world.
Radiographs have since revealed a deformed femur - the xrays are remarkable.
Against all odds, he is here, he is incredibly happy, and his tail wags for every waking minute.
I have invested in wheelchairs, sourced puppy treadmills, physiotherapy, and consulted number of vets from Sydney and surrounds.
To date, I have spent over $2000 to get little Benny Button here - and against all odds, here he is.
I am not expecting reimbursement for the fees I have already spent, but am seeking assistance - to have the chance to potentially better his life from here.
Now, at 4.5 months old, happy go lucky little BB has been lucky enough to meet with one of the most amazing orthopaedic surgeons in Sydney. This adorable little disaster, who seemingly had no hope and no chance - even has the surgeon nodding his head.
He saw the spirit in this little cutie, and that I wanted to genuinely assess the options. If there even were any options.
Never having personally seen a case such as this before, great consideration, research, creativity, and thought had to be put in to this.
With the option of major surgery, potentially being able to straighten Benjamin Buttons hind legs. Though he will never be normal, this is Benny Buttons best chance, at least pretending to be normal, and getting as close as he can, to potentially being able to weight bear one day, and even properly be fitted to a wheelchair if needed.
This innovative surgery is the chance we had hoped to be given, and at least have as an option.
The issue is, this baby boy is growing - and needs to be operated on as soon as possible.
The estimate for his CT scan and orthopaedic surgery totals $9185.59.
Being a vet nurse and taking on rescues, the surgeon has kindly provided a discount, in order to help achieve the surgery - however this is still over $9000 I don't have available and set aside, in the rescue fund I personally save and put towards.
Any help to give this puppy a true chance at life, is truly appreciated.
Little Benjamin Button deserves the chance at having this surgery, he doesn't deserve to be euthanised - when he is still such a happy, loving, care free puppy - who sees the best in everybody. I hope everybody can see the best in him too.
Organizer
Lauren Goodman
Organizer
Blacktown, NSW