TLDR: Retired Service Dog needs Life Saving and Improving Treatments. Please Help. Goal is total cost for all treatments, but anything makes a big difference!

Anyone that knows me, knows Puck.

Not only is he just my all-around best friend, he was my service dog for most of his life. Puck has saved me in every way possible. He has physically absolutely literally saved my life on multiple occasions. I would not have survived my early 20s without him. My health was erratic and quite poor. I was struggling with multiple issues and Puck gave me the freedom to keep pushing forward towards a healthier and more stable future. Not only that, but he also saved me mentally and emotionally. Puck gave me a reason to keep going, to get out of bed in the morning. He gave me a reason to make good choices, to be responsible, to grow and mature as a person. I absolutely wouldn’t be the person I am today without Puck.

Puck has given the majority of his life in service. He was my blood sugar dog and kept me safe through my 20s. He went everywhere I went. Puck has been to something around 10 states. He’s an international traveler, and has been up to Canada. Puck went with me to work every day, every doctors appointment, every event and social gathering. He’s been to multiple festivals. He’s even a two-time Burning Man veteran! How many dogs can say that? Puck was with me and my father every single day in the ICU while he passed away from cancer, and stood by my side at his funeral out of state.

Puck has not only stood by my side, but he has helped many of my loved ones through their tough times as well. Sitting by their bedside as they recovered from illness, as they were in the hospital, as they dealt with their own traumas. He’s even alerted multiple other people when their blood sugar was low!

Puck has given all of himself every day of his entire life to take care of those around him. Even after retirement, he’s never stopped working. Watching me and everyone to see where and how he can help.

I can only pray now that you can help me to do my best to take care of him as he has taken care of me and everyone else.

Over the last couple years, Pucks health has started to deteriorate.

At first quite slowly, and then in the couple last couple months more drastically. While he is an aging dog, many Border Collies, and other herding breed dogs, make it quite a few years past the point that he’s at.

With the proper care and treatment, we can not only prolong his time with us, but we can drastically improve the quality of life from the point that he’s currently at-to make that time here happier and healthy.

I am not interested in trying to push Puck past a healthy point or prolong a painful existence, but I do want to do right by him. I want to offer him the same level and quality of treatments that we would give any aging human. I want to give him the proper support as he enters this next phase of life. I want to do everything I can possibly do to make that time as pain-free and positive as possible.

Puck is, unfortunately, dealing with quite a few health issues, but with the proper treatment and care, some of these can be completely reversed or at least much more supported than his current position.

The main issues that Puck is currently facing that could be significantly improved with treatment include severe back hip and mobility problems, the very early stages of kidney disease, and sundowning dementia syndrome.

We have an incredible local vet who has supported us thus far; but unfortunately, we’ve reached the end of the treatment that they can offer. We will keep seeing them for standard issues! We love them!

Through this process of trying to find other available treatments, we found an incredible vet in the Roseville area, Paw Chi Holistic Veterinary Care. While they are a holistic vet, they pair that philosophy with some cutting edge new age atechnology, including stem cell treatments!

Pucks treatment plan includes some incredible new, and very powerful supplements that have already shown to be having a great effect in only two weeks. On March 26 he was also able to receive his very first round of acupuncture, laser, therapy, and ozone therapy. An hour after treatment he was almost a new dog! Running and jumping with energy and playfulness that I have not seen from him in months!

The supplements and natural treatments alone will drastically improve his quality of life; however, the treatment that Puck really needs that will make the greatest improvement, is a round of stem cell treatment.

Puck can be given one boosted round of stem cell treatments split into two delivery methods. He will receive stem cells directly into his back hips where the affected area is, and he will also receive them intravenously, so that they travel through the system to help any other heavily affected areas, including his kidneys. Research on dog stem cell treatment is few and far between, but every single study provided shows drastic improvement with this treatment. It’s been shown to majorly improve hip and mobility issues, and it’s even been shown to reverse kidney disease in some dogs.

I’m incredibly hopeful that this treatment will allow Puck to run and jump and play and truly enjoy the time that he has left with us, instead of suffering through it.

Over the last few months, I have put everything that I have into taking care of Puck. Not just every penny that I make in from my savings, but all of my time energy and emotions throughout the day. Before we found Paw Chi, Puck was pacing through the night all night. He was whining and crying, waking me up and asking for something that neither of us could understand. Mostly that’s just what happens with sundowning dementia. But it meant that we were up together all night every night. With no sleep and relief in sight, I felt that the end was coming and both of us started to really break down. After I found Paw Chi, I have finally have hope for the first time in a long time that the end is not just around the corner.

And not only that, but that we still have memories and adventures ahead of us! He is sleeping through the night, he is moving better, he is more alert and present during the day.

Already with these improvements, we have both found relief, and I am so hopeful about what the future will bring.

I ask for your help, because some of the treatments, especially the stem cell treatment, are just too far out of my reach. Paw Chi is also a smaller local vet; and because of that, they are unable to take CareCredit. That was the very first thing that I looked into. I’m hoping that my community is able to step up where I am not and help me support this very special pup through his next stage.

Here is what your help and support will be able to bring us!

I will also include in this GoFundMe pictures of the invoices directly from Paw Chi. Donations can be made here and also through Venmo or PayPal, (QR codes have been uploaded as images).

Puck needs Bi-Monthly support treatments for two more months, before

moving to monthly visits. Every-other treatment includes a full check-up.

Puck has a treatment only visit the day I am posting this, April 10th.

This visit will include acupuncture, laser therapy and ozone therapy. This treatment will cost us::

$130 for Acupuncture/Laser and $59 Ozone.

We also need to refill his Omega supplement which will cost 32.60.

His monthly supplement bill is roughly: $370.

These are all prices before tax.

Total: 239

Pucks next visit is April 22:

This visit includes the therapies + a $95 office visit fee as we go through all this progress. We will also need to resupply all of Pucks supplements at this visit for roughly $350. Each of these check-in visits is extensive, including roughly an hour of in office time directly with the vet as we go through everything he has been experiencing. Decide whether we want to tweak any of the treatments, what is being effective, what. needs more work.

Total: $684

After June, the treatments will not need to be so frequent and the ongoing cost for treatments and supplements will be manageable.

The big treatments that we desperately need help with, are the stem cell treatment ($2,750) and an echocardiogram ($625).

I have included in this GoFundMe, the total cost for the stem cell treatment, the echocardiogram, and two months of intense treatments. I do believe that after this point, I will be able to absolutely manage his ongoing supportive care and needs. It’s really just these major treatments and the first big push that I need a little bit of help with.

Even if we don’t reach the total goal, every single little bit helps and makes a significant difference. Every little bit is one more treatment or supplement that I can afford to get him when he needs it, instead of putting it off until I can possibly manage it, and it’s far too late.

We intimately understand how tough times currently are, we know that it’s been difficult for absolutely everybody. That not many of us have much at all to spare, but if you do, if it’s possible, I can promise you that this life is worth saving and improving. This is my heart dog, my soul walking outside of my body. He brings peace and calmness, joy, and safety everywhere he goes.

Puck is a brilliant light in this world, and I don’t think he’s ready to stop shining just yet.

Thank you so very much.