My name is Shelly Cochran. I am Simba's human. Those that know me know that it is very difficult for me to ask for help. I'm the one who is normally doing the giving to help others - friends, family, and strangers alike. Unfortunately, I need help for my Whippet, Simba, whose vet bills currently sit at about $12,000 and are quickly increasing.

Background:

- Sunday afternoon, 11/2/25, I took all three of my Whippets for a walk. Simba seemed happy and healthy.

- By Monday at 3:00 am, Simba was trembling, panting, and within a few hours, his right leg was swollen and he had a high fever. He spent all day at the ER vet on IV pain meds. X-rays showed no cancer/fracture, and labs were normal. Assumption - soft tissue injury. Sent home that night with four different pain meds. Things worsened and Tuesday oral antibiotics were introduced. By Wednesday, he was basically catatonic, would not eat or drink, immobile, and a large patch of skin around the armpit had torn open. He was sent to OSU Veterinary Hospital, where he is currently. After more tests, it was discovered he had severe systemic inflammation and he was septic. Suspicion now - he was poked in the armpit area by something (could have even been a stick or sticker bush) that allowed bacteria to be introduced. IV antibiotics, IV pain meds, temporary feeding tube.

- The good news: He has started feeling better, is more responsive, eating a bit on his own, and is now able to use the leg for very short walks.

- The bad news: The tissue from around the armpit down to his wrist has become necrotic, peeled, and started to separate down to the subcutaneous tissue level - with the potential of more to come over the next few days.

- Options: I will know more over the next few days, but a possible option is that with long-term wound care, there is the potential for healthy tissue to eventually grow and his leg can be saved and fully functional. This will be VERY expensive and will require potentially weeks in the hospital and months of outpatient care.

- Right leg amputation may also be a possibility. However, it was discovered he has chronic left shoulder tendonitis, so not the best option. It would still require continued hospitalization until he was stable enough for the surgery, and then some aftercare.

- Bottom line: I realize it already is and will be a lot of money. I would opt to euthanize if Simba wasn't rallying and there was no path forward to a good outcome. But he is, and there may be, so I have to try.

- If you have the means and are able to donate, any amount helps - or even if you can't donate and can share this, it would mean a lot. ❤️ My pets ARE my family.