Hi, my name is Debra and this is Wilbur (aka "Bob Ross"), my rescue poodle.

I adopted Wilbur a year ago from the wonderful rescue group, Twenty Paws Rescue, in honor of Grady, who had crossed over the Rainbow Bridge a few months prior. Grady was my first senior rescue who was also blind. Wilbur is about 10 years old and most likely was born blind. He has Microophthalmia, a congenital malformation of the eye, which means he was born with small, underdeveloped eyes. I really have a soft spot for the seniors as they are the ones who often get overlooked by potential adopters. and are the ones need us the most.

Wilbur is just the sweetest, gentle little soul who doesn't ask for much. It's the little things that make him happy, a comfy bed(s) to snuggle in, a full belly (he loves to eat), a snuffle or puzzle mat filled with plenty of snacks (he's an expert forager) and a few walks a day where he can enjoy and explore his world one sniff and touch at a time. He doesn't rush or run when outside like the typical New Yorker, but marches to the beat of his own drum. He likes to take his time exploring and take it all in and just be. He has taught me to slow down and be present in the moment.

The reason I have started this fundraiser is that Wilbur and I need your help.

During his physical in May, the vet noticed a small mass on Wilbur's upper gum and she immediately recommended a consultation with the specialist dentist. During the consultation, the specialist took one look at the mass and said it needed to be removed and biopsied so we immediately scheduled the procedure which took place at the end of June. He was able to remove the mass plus a tooth that was under it. We received the biopsy results two weeks later. When the head of the practice called and said the results were in and they were not great, my heart immediately dropped. Unfortunately, the biopsy showed that Wilbur had Acanthomatous Ameloblastoma which is a locally invasive tumor in the mouth. The good news is that it's a tumor that usually does not metastasize to the rest of the body and "the long-term prognosis is good if complete excision can be achieved", The not so-great news is that it has already invaded a small portion of his upper jawbone. She therefore recommended I schedule a consultation with the surgeon to go over treatment options.

The surgeon's recommendation is to do a small rostral maxillectomy, which means a small portion of Wilbur's upper jaw has to be surgically removed. One of my main concerns was that it would affect his nose or his sense of smell as this is the way Wilbur "sees" his world. She has reassured me that it would not be a radical maxillectomy affecting his nose or sinuses and that his quality of life would not be affected as a result of the procedure. Without the surgery, it can spread to the rest of his jaw causing more deterioration which would be very painful for Wilbur and would make it very difficult for him to eat.

The high end of the estimate I received from the surgeon for the surgery is over $4,800 (see below). Unfortunately, with the prior procedure and consultations, and the recent regular dental vet bills for my other dog and cat (pet insurance does not cover regular dentals), I just do not have enough right now to cover his surgery. I have pet insurance, but as with all pet insurances, the way it works is, you have to pay it all upfront before being able to submit a claim.

Those who know me well, know that I have always done everything in my power to keep my fur kids happy and healthy. This is the first time I have ever had to reach out and ask for any type of financial help. I have never felt so helpless, and I just want to be able to do everything I can for him. I just want to be able to give him every possible chance to live the best life possible and I really need some help to be able to do that. If you can help us out, we would be eternally grateful.

Love always,

Debra and Wilbur