On June 7, our lives changed in an instant.
We let our seven-year-old dog, Alli, into the backyard to do her business. We didn’t see a rabbit, but she did, and she bolted after it.
She slipped on the wet grass, yelped, and suffered a serious spinal cord injury.
One moment she was running. The next, she couldn't stand.
We rushed her to emergency veterinary care before she was transferred to the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in Manhattan for advanced neurological testing and treatment. The following days were some of the hardest we've ever experienced. We didn't know if she would walk again.
After an MRI and evaluation by specialists, we learned that while surgery wouldn't be necessary, Alli had suffered significant trauma to her spinal cord.
She was diagnosed with an Acute Noncompressive Nucleus Pulposus Extrusion (ANNPE). Due to this, she lost the use of her back legs and lost control of her bladder/bowel movements.
Seeing such a happy, active dog suddenly unable to move was heartbreaking. Thankfully, Alli is a fighter.
She's now home with us and showing signs of improvement. She can move her tail occasionally, and while we try to keep her still (doctor’s order), she does attempt to stand. Her recovery is going to be a long road, but we are hopeful she’ll be able to walk again.
The emergency hospitalization, neurological care, MRI, medications, and treatment have already left us with nearly $10,000 in veterinary bills so far.
On top of that, Alli will need weeks of crate rest, follow-up appointments, rehabilitation and physical therapy, and ongoing care to give her the best chance at a full recovery. We’re unsure what the final cost of treatment will be, but we expect costs to keep climbing from here.
Like many, we weren't prepared for a medical emergency of this size. We've taken on debt to ensure Alli receives the care she needs.
Alli is worth every penny to us, but we need help. We just want her to get back to playing fetch, walks, and chasing her tail as soon as she can.
If you're able to contribute, no matter the amount, it would help ease the financial burden of her treatment and recovery. And if you're unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser would mean the world to us.
Thank you for supporting Alli and for helping us give her every opportunity to heal.
With gratitude,
Marlaina, Thomas, and Alli
*We are using the GoFundMe feature that automatically adjusts the goal until we reach our target amount of $10,000.