Fur Dewi’s Sake

My name is Trish Meyer and I am writing about a friend and a neighbor in need, Kristin Scharf West. Kristin and her daughter Eva take their Corgi Dewi with them everywhere they go.

On March 28th, 2023 around 6:30pm Kristin had just finished walking Dewi near the Pear Orchard parking lot and the yellow playground at Thatcher Park. She was about to load him into her truck when they had a brief encounter with a family with three large black dogs. The owner had two of them on leashes but couldn't contain them. He had white hair and was walking with two younger girls, who had the third dog on a leash. One of the dogs the man was walking broke free and attacked Dewi.

Kristin had to jump into the middle of the fight to rescue her dog. She grabbed Dewi and wrapped him up in her coat and drove as fast as she could to the Capital District Animal Hospital. Kristin never stopped to find out this man's name. She didn't have time. Dewi was badly injured, with bite wounds on his side, and was bleeding profusely.

Dewi was able to come home but wasn't eating or drinking, and Kristin couldn't get any medication in him. There was some uncertainty that he was going to survive all of this. When he continued to not eat or take any medication he was given IV injections for pain and an antibiotic. Shortly after he stopped being able to hold his bladder. The vet assured Kristin that this was not a side effect of any of the medications

.

A few days later- a week after the attack- Kristin was working from home when she noticed blood all over... Another emergency visit to the veterinarian's office. Another wound from the attack was apparently under the surface and resisted the antibiotic. The mass was sitting on his bladder and the infection burst! The new blood tests showed that Dewi also has Anaplasmosis. This is lowering his platelet count and stopping his blood from clotting. Dewi was put on Doxycycline for both the anaplasmosis and the infection.

But 2 days later the infection became even worse. Dewi spent the night in the Capital District Animal Hospital for a debridement surgery, which removed the infection and the necrotic tissue.

Dewi is finally eating and seems to be responding well to the medications. But after surgery and multiple emergencies related to the wounds from the attack. Dewi’s vet bills are now thousands of dollars and still climbing. He’s back at the vet every 48 hours because he needs be sedated for bandage changes. The bandage is physically sewn to his stomach.

Kristin and Eva have always been the people to help others when they need it. She has set up fundraisers for others and volunteers regularly at school.

They are outside with Dewi enjoying the great outdoors as much as possible.

They are a great family and need some help. I am hoping that this will help them a little and ease the stress of the medical bills.

Please help if you can. Your donation is greatly appreciated!

Thank you!