Hello, we are Rodrigo and Dayna and this is our story of our sweet boy Otis.

Otis was a rescued when abandoned on the side of the road at a very young age of only a few weeks old by Dayna’s beautiful mother Connie Mitchell and at this time Dayna had adopted Allister our other sweet boy. In the year 2020 Dayna’s mother passed due to cancer and it was an extremely painful time to have lost such an important part of her life. On this heart breaking day Dayna and I after finishing at the hospital we drove to her mother’s house to feed/walk Otis. I “Rodrigo” opened the door and before I knew it this crafty boy bolted running around playing with the neighbours property making the cow's they had just loose there minds at seeing this silly boy running around them playing. After 2 hours he came back to us and gave me my first kiss we looked at one another and laughed through this tough night and we put him in the car and took him home. Dayna’s dog allister grew up with Otis playing, goofing off and being silly good boys. We knew when we lost her that Otis would come home with us as he had the embodiment and stubbornness of both Dayna and her mother. Immediately Otis and Allister were thick as thieves never leaving each other’s side. It has been 5 years since then and Otis has been nothing but loving, nurturing and full of life.

the biggest thought that has come to mind in this incredibly difficult situation has been you never know just how far one would go to care and provide for your loved ones.

Otis was diagnosed with perineal hernia in his rear and this deterioration of his muscle causing this hernia has become life threatening as his bladder pushed into this hernia and became compressed.

Otis was unable to relieve himself causing him discomfort and pain. Dayna and I did not hesitate and took him to our vet first thing in the morning when he woke us up at 4 crying from trying to pee and not being able to. Our thought was a uti as he has had this in the past.

Our vet sat me down and I had dayna on the phone and we were told his bladder has herniated and we had two options as medicine was not a choice. Otis requires surgery to put his bladder back into the pelvic sack surgically sewing his lower intestines to the pelvic wall to prevent shifting in the future and closing the hernia.

they than said if not treated promptly this can cause the bladder to fail, tear and pull other organs to also herniate and not receive blood-flow causing his body to have multiple internal organ failure and death. This being said we caught the issue early and he was alleviated at our vet though a catheter letting part of his bladder return to the pelvis. Otis has since been able to alleviate and maintain good bodily fluid movement. However this needs to be treated as we run the risk of more of his organs moving into the sack which would be fatal.

we now are facing the two options given to us surgery which is so beyond costly to get done or putting Otis down.

We started to cry as Otis has been a big part of our lives and we couldn’t even imagine putting him down. Otis is 7 years old and both the vet and sergical doctor stated Otis aside from this is in good health and is in the age that is ideal to be able to heal and live the remainder of his lifespan which is a minimum of another 7 years.

Otis is the best memory and part of Connie and has looked after Dayna and I since that day consoling us when we are sad, playing with us when we are tired and laying with us when we need to feel loved.

since the pandemic and the inflation our finances have become a challenge we still manage to keep with our costs however this has put an enormous strain and we ask for our family and friends to open your hearts and donate to help us get through this crisis. Big or small donation or even to share and spread the word to achieve this goal would be a blessing to us and Otis as we want nothing more than to give Otis a full life and meet his needs that he deserves.

He is the embodiment of unconditional love and affection not only to us but to everyone he meets.

We have never been put in this position before and the fact we had to consider saying goodbye to him knowing there is a very high rate of success and healing and to be able to still live a full life. Or to cut his life short because it’s a financial strain my heart can’t in good conscience give up on him as he wouldn’t give up on us. Otis still very much wants to live and continue to enjoy life. He’s my best friend my heart my soul, our protector, our emotional support.

We have booked the surgery and it is with a heavy heart that I once again ask this of anyone who has had a love one at risk and still able to heal given the treatment to help us raise the funds. The procedure and treatment plan is quoted at 10,200.00 on top of the additional supports we will need to help him get back to his full health. So that Otis can continue to bring joy and happiness to everyone he meets. He gives you kisses, he cuddles and he is so sweet and gentle and deserves the opportunity to live.