Help fund Odie’s medical bills

Hello! We’re the Harkers and Odie is our 7-year-old rescue dog who has recently passed away. I’m so sorry to inform you that through all of his rehab and treatments Odie recently crossed the rainbow bridge. We are devastated. We find peace in knowing he can now run free and see again  

Odie’s Story

Odie is the sweetest boy and has already overcome multiple hurdles during his short life. We originally met him and his sister when they were around 7 weeks old after they were rescued from a shelter and placed with us for fostering. We noticed that Odie– who the rescue originally called Marinara– had a problem with his vision and an ophthalmologist soon diagnosed him with microphthalmia (underdeveloped eyes) and cataracts.

Understandably, his limited vision made him very scared of new situations and the rescue, concerned that his fear-based aggression would lead to him becoming a bite risk, decided he was ineligible for adoption. However, at home with us he was an incredibly kind and playful puppy who quickly bonded with our other dogs. Instead of allowing him to be euthanized, we kept him.

Odie began working with one of the nation’s top veterinary behaviorists when he was only 12 weeks old to address his fear and anxiety. After many years of careful care and diligent training, Odie finally “graduated” from her care after being stabilized with medication, behavioral training, and lifestyle accommodations. Towards the end of his behavioral treatment, at around four years old, he developed epilepsy and required even more treatment to control his seizures. All of these vet visits would be daunting enough for an outgoing dog, much less a fearful one. Despite the circumstances, Odie managed to win the hearts of all the vets and technicians who worked with him thanks to his gentle and loving nature.

Odie’s Injury

On the evening of February 17th, we let Odie and our other dogs out into the yard like usual for one last potty break before heading to bed. A few minutes later, we heard Odie start howling in pain and rushed outside to see what had happened. There were no clues to the cause of his injury, but as he desperately used his front legs to drag himself towards us it became clear that he was unable to stand or walk using his hind legs. We rushed him to the emergency vet and at 2am we finally returned home, leaving Odie in the clinic’s care until he could see a neurologist in the morning.

Odie was diagnosed with a severely bruised spinal cord and a ruptured disc in his back. Fortunately, this injury isn’t a painful one and Odie was taken off pain medication early in his hospitalization. Unfortunately, Odie isn’t a strong candidate for surgery and it’s difficult to determine his long-term prognosis.

We brought Odie home on February 21st and have been doing our best to care for him and keep him comfortable as he continues to recover. In many ways he’s still the same Odie: he loves giving kisses and gets jealous when we pay attention to our other dogs, he wants to leap around the yard and chase after lizards, and he loves cuddling with his favorite fuzzy rainbow toy. The vets and techs involved in his physical therapy report that he’s diligent and determined during his rehab appointments. 

At the moment, he is completely dependent on us humans for getting around and requires at least some assistance when it comes to eating, drinking, using the bathroom, and keeping himself clean. With him weighing 60lbs we’re all getting in quite the workout! We have had to arrange things so that at least one family member is home with him at all times and have fallen into taking ‘shifts’ to make sure that we’re all getting enough sleep. Since Odie is doing his best to get better, we’re doing our best to support him.

Odie’s Future

However, we’ve also had to contend with the mounting costs associated with his hospitalization and outpatient treatments. It has been incredibly difficult for us to find a balance between his vet’s recommendations and our own financial capabilities.

So far, Odie’s treatment for his recent injury has involved:

After consulting with his medical team, our priority is ensuring Odie’s comfort and quality of life. After consulting with his therapist, his behaviorist and his trainer we noticed a decline in Odie’s quality of life and overall happiness and comfort. As his owners we want to give our Odie the best possible chance of recovering and living a happy, fulfilling life and support him through the numerous difficulties he’s faced. We needed to put Odie’s quality of life over our personal feelings and show him that we love him more than just a pet. He was a true family member that we could not let suffer and continue to live an unhappy restricted life. We will always love you Odie. There is a special place in heaven and in our hearts for you.