Help Lise & Sean with Urgent Vet Costs

Hi friends, family, and kind strangers,

We’re reaching out with heavy hearts and deep urgency. In the past six weeks, we have faced a series of overwhelming and heartbreaking veterinary emergencies with our pets, one after another. These emergencies have left us emotionally drained and financially underwater. We're in a position where our only options are to fundraise, take on crushing credit card debt, or consider surrendering the animals we love more than anything. We desperately don’t want to do that.

It All Started With Pye

At the end of April, our senior, rescue dog Pye began to decline suddenly. We had just bought her an expensive month’s supply of heart medication when we found ourselves rushing her to the ER in the middle of the night. There, we were told the devastating news: she was in critical condition and needed to be euthanized. We said goodbye to her that night. The costs for her medication, ER visit, euthanasia, and cremation totaled over $1,300. We didn’t have it. We used money set aside for bills, thinking it would stop there.

Then Apol Tore Her ACL

Just three weeks later, our sweet pitbull, and former foster of two years, Apol tore her ACL while running at the park. We took her in to her vet the next day, and she was diagnosed with a torn ACL and patellar issues that require surgery. The exam, imaging, and medication alone were over $600.

Since the injury, Apol can barely walk at all. She’s in pain, can’t get up or down the stairs, and can’t even go outside to potty on her own. We’ve been carrying our 50-pound dog in and out of the house multiple times a day, every day, because she simply can’t manage it herself. Her quality of life has really suffered. It’s been physically exhausting and saddening to see her go from playful and energetic to barely able to move.

We have no choice but to move forward with it to avoid long-term damage and pain. The surgery is currently quoted to be $5,800.

And Then Leao’s Health Crashed

While trying to recover from all this, our cat Leao’s mouth suddenly swelled. She became lethargic and stopped eating. Another late-night ER visit revealed a serious tooth issue and infection. Although the pain meds and antibiotics helped hold her over, she still needs dental surgery, urgently. Additionally, we were finally able to get an appointment for her to see a cardiologist to evaluate her heart murmur, per her regular vet's strong recommendation. Her heart exam is scheduled for August.

In Total, We’re Facing Over $11,300 in Vet Bills (and Climbing)

We've attached a breakdown of these expenses by pet, date, and cost so you can see exactly how everything has added up so quickly. (See image below.)

We’re ashamed to always be asking for help financially, but we live in a capitalist system where so many of us are forced to rely on community support just to survive. And right now, that’s where we are.

We’ve Fundraised Before, But for Other Animals

In the past, we’ve fundraised for the care of animals in need, not our own. Between the two of us in Detroit and over the past three years, we have: TNR'd 75 cats in our direct neighborhood, fostered 29 cats, secured 65+ loose and stray dogs, and fostered 15+ of those dogs (Lise has a spreadsheet where she keeps track of every single animal we help). When fostering rescue cats and dogs, we’ve raised money for their surgeries, medicine, and safe placement, including over $4,000 for the dental work of our former foster cat Seymour.

It’s deeply uncomfortable to now be on the other side of it, needing help for our own pets. But we have to ask.

How You Can Help

We’re humbly asking for help to cover these emergency vet costs. Every single dollar helps ease this weight. Even just sharing this link means the world to us. Your support will help us:

Thank you for reading, and thank you for caring. Our pets are our family, and your help means we can keep them safe and loved, where they belong.

With deep gratitude,

Lise & Sean