Marley and Indy Buckley

Hello!

My name is Heather Belyk, owner of Who's a Good Girl?, a small boutique pet sitting and dog walking business. As both a pet, and pet care business owner, I seek like-minded individuals that view, treat, and care for their pets like they are our equals.

With this mindset, comes all the financial and emotional responsibilities, some of which are very overwhelming. Especially when an illness suddenly emerges, emergency hospitalization is required, and treatment costs are ongoing.

Margo and Dave Buckley became part of the Who's a Good Girl? family in December of 2021 and are these like-minded clients. Since then, I have cared for both their dog's Marley and Indy.

For this reason, I am fundraising for Marley and Indy Buckley.

Marley

Marley is a 10.3 year old apricot, Australian Labradoodle. Marley loves everyone, is very affectionate, playful, and goofy.

It is with both this positive and inspiring zest and zeal for life, that Marley lives with some localized neurological damage the renders her backend with constant mobility challenges resulting in a plethora of medications and treatments.

Frequent vet visits, exercises, stretches, heat application, massages, acupuncture, chiropractors, rehabilitative swimming, and her Lambie(s), keep Marley silly, tip tap toodling, and living her best life.

Indy

Indy is a gray and black, 5.3 year old Australian Doodle who is very playful, high energy, quirky, shy and anxious (at first), leash reactive, a boss at frisbee, and sports the most unique floof head. It took a long time for Indy to trust, but when he does, he loves like no other and has your heart.

August 2024

August 2nd - Marley

The August long weekend started out challenging for Margo and Dave. On the evening of August 2nd, Marley experienced a disconnect (or complete loss of use), of her back right leg rendering her immobile. Rushing Marley to VCA Guardian Canada Veterinary Centre (Guardian), Marley received treatment and care for inflammation with hopes of the gradual return and use of her back right leg.

Over the course of August, and with an additional uptick of regular vet visits, bloodwork, treatments, crating, and a new anti-inflammatory and pain killer regime, Marely was starting to stabilize, but not out of the woods. Along with Margo and Dave, her brother Indy stood by her side steadfast and strong.

August 24 - Indy

It seemed almost unfathomable, that after a nice weekend evening walk with Indy, he too would start to present with the most unnatural of symptoms on an August, Saturday night.

As the evening progressed, Indy started to lose his balance becoming progressively wobbly and shaky on his back end. He was often falling to his left side.

With Indy anxious and panicked, Margo and Dave rushed Indy to Guardian (an extreme long wait in the triage line), and then Boreal Veterinary Center (Boreal), who started with the thought that he may be experiencing an inner left ear infection, toxicity event, or something neurological. The latter seemed unimaginable given Marley's condition.

Seeming better after a big poop, toxicity was assumed, and Indy sent home. This being said, Margo and Dave were absolutely beside themselves, confused and exhausted.

August 25 - Indy

Unfortunately, the next day didn't see resolve from a toxicity event, but a repeat of the previous day’s symptoms, but worse. Indy was once again rushed to Boreal as he presented as shaky, wobbly, falling to his left, head tilting to left, with both left ear and eye now drooping, and fainting for a short duration.

Being admitted overnight at Boreal for additional testing, and then transferred the next day to Pulse Veterinary Specialists and Emergency (Pulse), Indy received an MRI and subsequent spinal tap. With the addition of these two tests, Margo and Dave finally received Indy's diagnosis.

Autoimmune Meningitis

Indy was diagnosed with an autoimmune meningitis, a very serious disease that causes inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord. And yes, like Marley, neurological related.

Being autoimmune in nature, Indy immediately started treatment with a costly immuno-suppressant and steroid. This treatment is to continue for 5 months, with frequent blood work and evaluation.

Immuno-suppressed, Indy is also required to transition from his raw food diet to an alternate. A lot of moving parts, variables, and side effects at play and to manage.

With these things in place, Indy's prognosis is positive, but very serious.

The Ask

When I started crafting this "Go Fund Me" campaign, I began writing it with Indy solely in mind. However, knowing what Margo and Dave have gone through historically, and especially during the emotional roller-coaster month of August with Marley, and now Indy, it seemed impossible to separate the story and the two of them.

This being said, the donation goal of $10 500 is an approximate tabulation of just Indy's collective hospitalization costs from Guardian, Boreal, Pulse, and the next 5 month of immuno-suppressant and steroid treatment. It does not include any of Marley's past or future needs, nor Indy’s.

Being loving pet owners, I know our ability to financially care for our own pets, let alone contribute to someone else's in our community, is relative, and often limited. We all have our stories.

As I always say, it's takes a village caring for a pet, so I ask, if you can contribute any amount to Marley and Indy Buckley, it would be beyond appreciated.

If you cannot financially contribute, a heartfelt well wish would be equally received.

Thank you in advance of your consideration, please share Marley and Indy's story, and I will keep you posted!

Much love.

Heather