Molly TWC Coonhound needs surgery

My name is Carol and I'm hoping to raise enough money to fund surgery for a deserving Coonhound, a Treeing Walker Coonhound named MOLLY who entered the Tift County, Georgia shelter as a stray on February 21st. Our beloved American English Coonhound, Scarlett, passed away due to age on February 17th and left a hole in our hearts. I saw Molly's photo on Facebook and read the report that she was becoming depressed by mid-May when no one had shown interest. There was clearly something aggravating and irritating her eyes. She had received vaccines and was up to date. Molly has a marvelous temperament and was a shelter favorite who provided comfort and security to other dogs who came in and were frightened. They couldn't keep her forever and she came to us to save her life at the end of May.

I bought her a collar and took her to see our vet of 33 years who began treating her for heartworms. She had never received preventative. Molly received a microchip which is now registered. She got a harness. The vet advised that I go to a canine ophthalmologist for evaluation and then to the small animal surgeon to spay her and remove the tumors that were clearly evident on her abdomen. A scraping of her eyelids was done last week and histology revealed that the cause of irritation is the presence of squamous cells. Exceedingly rare in canines but an indicator that she was kept outside in the Georgia sun without proper shade or shelter. We loaded up yesterday and went to see the small animal surgeon who is confident he can remove her third eyelids. He can spay her and remove the gnarly tumors. She was probably bred for puppies and then carelessly discarded. He believes the surgeries should provide her with good quality life. All of her health issues can be in her past by early August through the kindnesses of people she's never met and will never know. The small animal surgeon repaired the snapped ulna and radius of our Labradoodle in 1996 and she fully healed. He removed a malignant mandibular tumor from our cat 3 years ago and she has had no recurrence. He's good at his work. Very good.

His fees are probably 50% of small animal surgeons in atlanta. For sure half the price of Blue Pearl which does excellent work but charges significant amounts.

True to reports from the shelter director, Molly is an incredibly sweet natured dog. Kind. She's so grateful to us that she stands on her hind legs to give me hugs. She'd never been in a house before and was overwhelmed by what goes on inside a family's home. She didn't understand words. Now she knows dozens and knows her name, the names of everyone in the house including the cats, dogs, and birds. She wasn't housebroken. She didn't know anything about our routine but she has caught on quickly. She gets along well with the three small dogs and our two cats. No aggression whatsoever. Just gratitude that clearly flows from her to all of us. Molly never imagined anything as wonderful as a kitchen, a room devoted to food service. She's still amazed by a refrigerator packed with things to eat. Like most hounds, she's a food thief but she is now housebroken and is doing all she can to be a good and worthy family member. She's a quick study.

We've always been a self funding end of the line rescue. We have received special needs and hospice dogs in the past. We've also had our family members who live with us from an early age until old age.

I am retired and my husband and I live on Social Security with side work to supplement.

I'm asking on Molly's behalf for assistance because this girl who had a hard life has found her way to us and we want to help her regain her health. One of her tumors has broken through the skin and hair and is an ugly messy mass. She needs the surgeries which are out of our financial reach at the moment. Thank you so much if you respond to Molly's needs and are able to contribute. Thank you for your prayers if you're concerned.