My name is Taylor and I am an avid animal lover. I have two miniature dachshunds, Charlie and Cleo. I have also rescued three cats. I currently live alone, work long shifts in the medical field, and unfortunately, this is not my first rodeo.

Friday, April 24th, I came home to two excited doxies as I normally do. Within a two-hour timeframe, Charlie was shaking, grunting, and reluctant to walk or move. This was a big red flag knowing she has a history of IVDD. We rushed to Shores Animal Hospital for lab work, x-rays, and a professional opinion. She was transferred to PET+ER in Hunt Valley, Maryland for an MRI and a neurology consult resulting in our worst fears. She had ruptured discs from T10-T12. There was no trauma, fall, or specific event to have caused this.

Charlie had emergency surgery on Saturday, April 25th, following the MRI under the same sedation. Charlie currently has no function in her back legs, is unable to urinate and defecate on her own, and is on a handful of medications. She will require 8 weeks of crate rest, many months of physical therapy, and lots of love. Because this is her second occurrence, she was given a 50/50 chance of walking again. Unfortunately, the price of such a major emergency surgery over the weekend has reached upwards of $17,000. The other option for Charlie was euthanasia, which was not an option in my eyes.

Charlie is an outgoing, active, loyal, otherwise healthy, 6-year-old girl who loves to play fetch. This was her only chance of survival and recovery, so I chose what was best for her. If anyone could find it in their heart to help even just a little, we would greatly appreciate it. Charlie was my first fur baby and will always have a special place in my heart, whether she regains function or not. Thank you for listening to our story and please send hugs and prayers her way