This is Sydney, the very definition of a best friend; Sydney is the gentle, joyful, irresistibly lovable heart and soul of our household. Our family was devastated on April 2nd of this year when Sydney suffered near-fatal heat stroke while on the road for a day at the beach. The heat stroke occurred as a result of an undiagnosed defect in her airway that prevented her from being able to cool herself as dogs do, by panting. Sydney was rushed to a nearby vet, far from her home, where she remains in treatment and serious condition to this day.

Upon arrival at the local vet in Newport Beach, California, on April 2nd, Sydney’s condition was grim. The vet had informed our family that our sweet Sydney had suffered from laryngeal paralysis as a result of an undiagnosed preexisting condition. This condition caused an inability to cool herself, and raised her internal temperature to 106 degrees, despite it being a little more than 60° outside. Her temperature further exacerbated the difficulty of her breathing, and it took the better part of the day for the veterinary team to stabilize Sydney; returning her temperature and vitals to a safe level. But the damage caused internally was significant, and Sydney needed to be transferred to a nearby emergency after-hours veterinary facility for recovery including concentrated oxygen treatment. After two days struggling to recover it was determined that surgery would be required to correct the defect in Sydney’s airway, allowing her to breathe easily and correctly regulate her temperature.

It has now taken two attempts for the required surgery to be successful, and while Sydney’s prospects for a full recovery appear optimistic, her road to recovery is still fraught and indefinite. She remains hospitalized and under emergency care, requiring round the clock mechanical assistance. Due to the toll this has taken on her body, it will likely be days still before she is well enough to return home; and even once she’s released there will require care that will likely include oxygen treatment, and vet visits for some time.

Sydney is more than a pet; she has been a vivacious, active, and most of all essential member of our family. And as we would do for absolutely any member of our family, we have spared no expense in fighting for her – fighting to have her returned to us well and healthy, and ready for many more years yet of time and love together. At this time, more than $10,000 in veterinary bills have already incurred, and have depleted our ability to continue Sydney’s treatment before she has even recovered enough to be safely transported home. We ask you, with our deepest and most humble appreciation, and with the most desperate worry of possibly losing a family member, to please consider helping us continue to help Sydney to fight. To help return her to us with whatever you can comfortably spare. To know Sydney is to love her instantly, and to know that she deserves the chance for many more years to come.

Thank you in advance ~

The Sakaguchi Family

~Roberta Sakaguchi

Accept What Is. Let Go Of What Was. Have Faith In What Will Be.