Help Support Chewy Recover From Vicious Pitbull Attack

UPDATE:

Chewy is doing better and his wounds have begun to heal. He is still in a lot of pain, as the damage to his chest and lungs will take more to heal. Chewy continues to see the vet once a week and is still on antibiotics and pain meds.

As you can imagine, the cost for his treatment has been significant, which has caused a major financial strain on me and there has been no help from the owners of the pitbull. In fact, I am still trying to connect with the owners, but they are making every effort to avoid being seen.

I need help! Please help support Chewy's ongoing recovery. Every little bit helps. Please know, every cent donated has been spent on Chewy's vet bills, treatments and medication.

Thank you and God bless!

Help Chewy Recover After Brutal Dog Attack

Hi, my name is Shannon, and I’m reaching out with a heavy heart to ask for help for my sweet dog Chewy — our beloved family companion and my daughter’s best friend.

How Chewy Came Into Our Lives

Almost 10 years ago, my then-husband found two tiny puppies running through our neighborhood. He knew I had been considering getting a dog for my daughter, who has Down Syndrome and is now a two-time cancer survivor. When he brought the puppies home, we instantly fell in love with the little red-haired runt. We named him Chewy.

Chewy quickly became more than a pet. He's smart, silly, affectionate, and incredibly loyal. He brings so much joy and comfort to our family — especially to my daughter.

The Attack

Just a few days ago, our lives changed forever.

Chewy and I had arrived at my mom's house, parked, and began to walk the 10 steps to her front door. Out of nowhere, a large Pitbull that was in the backseat of the car parked next to us, jumped out of the open window and viciously attacked Chewy.

The Pitbull’s owner was sitting in the front seat of the car — fully aware of his dog’s aggressive nature — yet failed to secure him. Within seconds, the Pitbull had Chewy in his jaws, violently shaking him and tearing the inside of his chest apart. I screamed and fought with everything I had to pull him off, but the pit bull would not release Chewy.

The owner of the pit bull was slow to react, which gave his dog more time to maul Chewy. He took control of his dog's collar from me and punched his dog in the head a few times, but nothing more. That is when I punched his dog in the face, head and nose until he released Chewy.

When I scooped Chewy up to take him inside to assess the damage, the owner of the pit bull took off before I could get his information.

Trauma, Injuries and Emergency Care

This attack has caused severe internal trauma and injuries that are life threatening. The pit bull violently shook Chewy, which caused major bruising and tears to his lungs. The pit bull's bite to Chewy's chest was so deep that his teeth ripped the muscle from the chest plate.

The technical medical terms are Pulmonary Contusions and Pneumothorax.

I have uploaded all of the documents that I have received from both facilities outlining Chewy's diagnosis and treatment thus far for all to see.

Chewy’s Current Condition

Chewy is currently stable, but because an infection is setting in and another surgery is needed (within 2 days), his condition can decline quickly.

The hospital vet said it would be best for Chewy to remain under their care for another 24 hours, but understands I have no more money to cover the cost, so Chewy was discharged. The doctor stated Chewy requires special precautions, follow-up care and is to be monitored closely over the next week. Chewy also requires additional medication, so 3 more prescriptions have been sent to my local Costco to be filled.

Why We Need Help

It seems Chewy needs one more surgery but will need x-rays and testing before surgery. The cost for testing and surgery is estimated to be around $2,000.

The amount paid for Chewy's treatment thus far, $5,138.76. The total doesn't not include the cost to travel back and forth (2x=$120) or the $2,000 estimated cost for the additional surgery.

Every Dollar Helps

Chewy is our everything — especially to my daughter. He’s brought light through some of the darkest days. I can’t bear the thought of losing him because of finances.

If you’re able to donate, thank you from the bottom of my heart. And if you can’t, please consider sharing this story. Every bit of help — big or small — means the world to us.

Chewy has received all the emergency care I could afford (about $5,000 so far) and the rest is up to God. And with that, I also ask that you please pray for Chewy and his recovery.

I would like to know how many of you can relate to what happened to Chewy? If you can, please share your story, the outcome and any advice on how best to handle it all.

With deep gratitude,

Shannon & Chewy

GOD bless you all!