Help Dug Get His Surgery

Dug, the Dog, and I met 8 years ago at Paws and Claws in Rochester, MN. Dug is a rescue pup. As a puppy, he was adopted and then brought back to the shelter at 8 months old because the people who adopted him weren't committed. After spending another year in the shelter, I walked into the little room, met Dug for the first time and knew instantly he was "my dog". I had never been a dog person before, but if you are friends with us, then you know our friendship and companionship mean everything to me. He's always outside enjoying the sunshine, smiling broadly when going on walks and loves snuggling with his cat buddy/brother, Chandler. My Facebook page over the last 8 years is smattered with pictures of him.

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a change in Dug's behavior. He wasn't smiling anymore, he was lethargic and wasn't eating much. Then one day I noticed a mass forming near his tail. Last week Friday (12/23) I took Dug to the vet and it was determined that he has Anal Gland Adenocarcinoma (an aggressive form of cancer) and needed surgery. After calling different hospitals to see if they could get us in for a surgical consult, they all said they wouldn't be able to get him in until the end of January. Then we had a breakthrough and a hospital an hour away could see him the next day.

After an 8 hour day spent at the Vet ER (12/28), where Dug was put under for an ultrasound and to take a lymph node sample, we learned that because of the size of the tumor and the potential spread to his lymph nodes, compounded with other factors, the surgery would cost between $7,000 - $9,000.

After relocating to Arizona last spring, just finalizing the purchase of my townhome and spending every cent on fixing it up, I am desperately trying to come up with the money to fund his surgery. For those of you that know I have a side jewelry business, I've tried selling as much as I possibly could off of my display in hopes to make a dent. My emergency savings account is depleted. I've also looked into financing options and the extremely high interest rates would really set us back for years as I tried to pay it off.

His surgery is scheduled for next Thursday, January 5th and I am praying for a New Year's Miracle to help my little buddy live on in 2023. I would be eternally grateful for your donation.