Doozer's Journey

My name is Doozer, a very fitting name for a big, floppy, lazy Labradoodle. In my pictures, I look like a big Polar Bear (pretty cute if I must say so). I didn’t always look this way. I am a Rescue Dog.

This is my story and maybe you can help us;

I was rescued, with my twin sister, from a backyard breeder in Tennessee. That was my obvious job for my first year. PAWS Rescue of Chicago found us – sorely underweight and covered in feces. Luckily us dogs supposedly live in the present because I don’t want to remember that part of my life!
(My life before mom was difficult)

I became a TV star as soon as I arrived in Chicago – I’m sure it was my dashing looks (no autographs please)! I was featured on live TV as a promotion for PAWS big summer event, WoofStock, an event to get us all adopted! My pet Mom saw me on the website and couldn’t get to WoofStock fast enough to adopt me! She waited in line and spotted me and just knew I was the guy for her (I did say that I have stellar good looks right?). She elbowed her way through all the potential adopters, filled out the forms with a shaking hand, bound and determined to take me home. And that she did….within a couple hours we were family!
(Our first family photo after mom adopted me!)

My first year with mom was a challenge. I never was aware there was a special place to go to the bathroom?? I really had no manners. I didn’t know how to take a treat or navigate stairs. Mom had her work cut out for her. I came home with a bad ear infection and infected neuter site. We had a hard time finding food that agreed with my stomach. I laid down a lot because I got tired easy. I had no muscles because I grew up in a cage. We had many, many trips to the vet to get me healthy. And did I tell you I only weighed 36 pounds!? I was way underweight for my size. Mom learned quickly how smart I am when we worked with this great trainer–I learned quickly to be a good buddy. I still like to chew on wood in the house but we are working on that. I really bonded with mom and have become a great watchdog for her.
(Don't I look great after my first real haircut?!)

That first year with Mom was challenging but turned out to be great! We walked and played and I got great treats and toys. Everyone in the neighborhood loves me (because I’m so cute you know). I grew a lot too. I gained lots of muscle. I weigh almost 70#’s now. Just right for my size.
(Look how great I am at chasing the ball!!!)

Here’s that bad part of the story, I got sick. Last summer I started getting sick. First the allergies hit despite trying all kinds of non-allergy foods. I get “Hot Spots” frequently and am miserable when that happens. I have to take Antibiotics often. Then, I became really sick. I was tired, didn’t want to play anymore. I threw up and had bad diarrhea. It went on for a long time. Mom was beside herself. We saw the vet over and over all summer and into fall. We had lots and lots of tests. I was getting weaker and weaker. Mom really didn’t think I was going to make it and I could tell her heart was breaking. Then last October they finally found out that I have Liver Disease. That was not much of a relief for my Mom. The vets said surgery wouldn’t help me. They made recommendations for special Liver Diet Food, Denamarin supplements and Lactilose, more frequent small meals, and that I need to urinate more often.
(Mom loves me, and works hard to keep me healthy)

My Mom knows the resources in our household are slim. She wants the best for me. I don’t think she expected I would grow to be a small pony! I don’t think she expected I would eat as much as I do! I don’t think she expected my hair grows thick like a sheep and my nails grow like daggers and she would need a groomer to keep me the handsome guy I am! She knew a Dog Walker was important since she works long hours to support us and since I need to go out more frequently and to be fed again mid-day, this became vitally important. She knew routine vet checks would be part being a responsible pet Mom. But she sure didn’t figure the cost of keeping me healthy with my problems.

So, Mom set out to research, determined to find cheaper sources of supplements, food that wouldn’t make me sick, cheapest groomer and I have the best Dog Walker who has given Mom a big break, but still, the cost of keeping me healthy is too much for my Mom now., with pay cuts and rising costs.
The best part of all of this is that with all of her research and special diet she has made me healthy again! I may not have licked (Get it? Licked? Haha!) the Liver Disease, but I am strong, playful like a puppy and have energy again. But all of this has caused h er finances to become depleted. The round figure is approximately $350 - $500.00 a month for everything to keep me healthy (and looking handsome!). Now my Mom is facing surrendering me again to a rescue or finding another family for me, because the funds to keep me healthy are just not there. Mom worries the stress in a rescue again and inferior diet will kill me and she is dying inside with the thought of being without me.
(Look at how healthy I became!)

This is where you come in. Can you help us stay together and keep me healthy? I have a lot of good years in me yet. I may even be “star quality” and do a movie on my life story someday, but I need to stay healthy. Your help will get me the following which my mom spends on me each month:
-Special Diet Dog Food: $80
- Supplements (SamE, Milk Thistle): $35
- Lactilose $15
- Allergy pills (Apoquel): $96
- Groomer (to keep me looking great and help with my "hot spots"): $55
- Dog Walker (to take me out and to feed me mid-day): $200

Will you help by donating money for all of the things that I need to keep being healthy, handsome, and strong?  Mom & I want badly to stay together. Please help us!
(Thanks so much for your help!)