Help with Orion's Snake Bite Recovery!
Donation protected
On August 24th, while our family was enjoying a local watershed park, a baby rattlesnake bit our beloved Husky, Orion. After rushing him to an emergency vet, he was admitted to the animal ICU where he still remains, three days later. Orion’s face and neck are visibly swollen and he has yet to eat.
To say that Orion is a beloved pet would be a huge understatement. He is a member of our family and having him so sick devastates my husband, daughter and me. Orion is also part of my professional life – I have been a dog trainer for 20 years and he has been my training demo dog. Orion has also participated in a local program, K9 Youth Alliance, which helps underserved teens learn about animal welfare, dog-training skills, and most importantly, compassion.
The day this happened, we had taken all of the normal precautions for being outdoors, including having him on a leash, so I was shocked when he started yelping and swiping at his muzzle. We did not hear a rattle sound, and didn’t notice any snakes in the picnic area where we were. I’ve since reached out to our local government agencies to alert them to the presence of snakes in that popular park and implored them to put up signs warning everyone about the danger. I was unaware of how dangerous baby rattlesnake bites can be – they release more venom than adult snakes and since they are young, there is no rattle sound before they strike.
At this point, we aren’t sure when Orion will be able to come home. Fortunately, he is receiving amazing care and we expect a full recovery – but the costs for this type of medical care is overwhelming. And we don’t yet know where it will end. Any donation amount will help us and all donations will be used to cover the cost of Orion’s healing and recovery.
For those who have pets that are family members, you may already know how expensive medical treatment can be and will understand why we need to do all we can to save Orion and help him completely heal. Your support is greatly appreciated by me, my husband Bill, daughter Paige, and our other Husky, Jett!
Article about Orion in our local paper.
To say that Orion is a beloved pet would be a huge understatement. He is a member of our family and having him so sick devastates my husband, daughter and me. Orion is also part of my professional life – I have been a dog trainer for 20 years and he has been my training demo dog. Orion has also participated in a local program, K9 Youth Alliance, which helps underserved teens learn about animal welfare, dog-training skills, and most importantly, compassion.
The day this happened, we had taken all of the normal precautions for being outdoors, including having him on a leash, so I was shocked when he started yelping and swiping at his muzzle. We did not hear a rattle sound, and didn’t notice any snakes in the picnic area where we were. I’ve since reached out to our local government agencies to alert them to the presence of snakes in that popular park and implored them to put up signs warning everyone about the danger. I was unaware of how dangerous baby rattlesnake bites can be – they release more venom than adult snakes and since they are young, there is no rattle sound before they strike.
At this point, we aren’t sure when Orion will be able to come home. Fortunately, he is receiving amazing care and we expect a full recovery – but the costs for this type of medical care is overwhelming. And we don’t yet know where it will end. Any donation amount will help us and all donations will be used to cover the cost of Orion’s healing and recovery.
For those who have pets that are family members, you may already know how expensive medical treatment can be and will understand why we need to do all we can to save Orion and help him completely heal. Your support is greatly appreciated by me, my husband Bill, daughter Paige, and our other Husky, Jett!
Article about Orion in our local paper.
Organizer
Bobbi-Lynn Riley
Organizer
Pasadena, CA
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