Crunch the Service Dog's Med Bill
Donation protected
Ms. Crunch the Service Dog Needs Your Help
In 2012, my father, Ron Coneybeer, under went major surgery on the lower lumbar region of his back to resolve major degenerative bone loss caused by arthritus. Although the surgery was successful, it has left my father disabled. Unable to work, his lack of normal mobility and permanent pain forced my father into retirement. To cope with the loss of his job and his former lifestyle, my father got a service dog. Her name is Ms. Crunch. Crunch is an Austrailian Cattle dog, also known as a Blue Heeler. A working breed, Blue Heelers are extremely smart, very strong, and very loyal to thier handlers.
Service dogs come in a variety of training that aids in their owner's disability. In my father's case, Crunch assists my father with his mobility. Just recently, my father slipped and fell on the ice while crossing the street and was helped back to his feet with the aid of Crunch. It is impossible to say what would've happened if my father wasn't helped by Crunch, but without her at his side my father would've been laying in the middle of the road helpless to stand.
In addition to mobility, Crunch also acts as a Therapy Dog where her constant presence, loyalty, and affection helps my father cope with his depression. His entire lifestyle changed overnight. A career chef for over 30 years, my father can barely stand in his kitchen at home due to the permanent pain caused by the surgery. Before the surgey, my father was an avid hiker and runner jogging every day. Now, he has trouble just walking. He spends most of his time bed ridden. This change in lifestyle put my father into deep depression, which he battles each day. With Crunch, this battle is easier to fight. Her vibrant spirit and her provided loving companionship is truly priceless as her presence in my father's life eases the everyday emotional struggle of being disabled. But in December 2014, this came to an unfortunate and immediate hault.
Last month, Crunch collasped on the living room floor and become unconscious. Unresponsive and lifeless, Crunch was rushed to Cheat Lake Animal Hospital, located just outside of Morgantown WV. Crunch was diagnosed with severe sepsis, or an entire body inflammation caused by an infection. The infection was in her blood stream, which caused Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation, or DIC. DIC is an extreme complication of numerous already life-threatening conditions leading to the deregulation of the body's natural mechanisms of blood clotting and blood clot dissolving, and in Crunch the DIC was severe.
After one blood transfusion, antibiotics, and surgery to remove dead tissue, Crunch was saved. It was two weeks of agonizing waiting on my family's part for Crunch to pull-through. The Animal Hospital coined the name "Miracle Dog" and a "Christmas Miracle" as Crunch was released the day after Christmas. They were not far from the truth as the chances of a dog surviving DIC are extremely low. My father was overwhelmed with joy that his companion and friend had survived. Now, Crunch is still in recovery and should be back to being 100% in a few weeks.
The surgery for Crunch was very expenive, costing my parents $6599.50. Unlike us, dogs do not have health insurance, so this cost came directly out of my parents pockets. Both my parents do not work. My father cannot work and taking care of him is a full-time job for my mother, Wanda Coneybeer. Their fixed income comes from a mixture of disability payments, pensions, and retirement accounts which they tapped into to save Crunch's life.
This unfortunate circumstance has placed financial hardship on my parents who are already in hardship due to my father's back surgery. My father is a disabled veternan of the United States Navy, an Executive Chef Emeiritus of Nestle', a loving father, and the husband to my mother for over 30 years. Please contribute what you can to help ease their financial burden. Any amount will help. All funds that exceed our goal of $6600 will be donated to the National Humane Society to aide their work in helping improve animal welfare across our nation. Below are a few photographs of Crunch and my dad as well as the itemized bill from the animal hospital. Thank you for your support and time.
DONATE NOW! HELP TODAY!
My Dad with Crunch next to a Man with His Dog statue.
Ms. Crunch Playing in the snow.
My Dad before his surgery assisting our Service men and women stationed in South Korea. (Photo circa 2011)
The Reciept
In 2012, my father, Ron Coneybeer, under went major surgery on the lower lumbar region of his back to resolve major degenerative bone loss caused by arthritus. Although the surgery was successful, it has left my father disabled. Unable to work, his lack of normal mobility and permanent pain forced my father into retirement. To cope with the loss of his job and his former lifestyle, my father got a service dog. Her name is Ms. Crunch. Crunch is an Austrailian Cattle dog, also known as a Blue Heeler. A working breed, Blue Heelers are extremely smart, very strong, and very loyal to thier handlers.
Service dogs come in a variety of training that aids in their owner's disability. In my father's case, Crunch assists my father with his mobility. Just recently, my father slipped and fell on the ice while crossing the street and was helped back to his feet with the aid of Crunch. It is impossible to say what would've happened if my father wasn't helped by Crunch, but without her at his side my father would've been laying in the middle of the road helpless to stand.
In addition to mobility, Crunch also acts as a Therapy Dog where her constant presence, loyalty, and affection helps my father cope with his depression. His entire lifestyle changed overnight. A career chef for over 30 years, my father can barely stand in his kitchen at home due to the permanent pain caused by the surgery. Before the surgey, my father was an avid hiker and runner jogging every day. Now, he has trouble just walking. He spends most of his time bed ridden. This change in lifestyle put my father into deep depression, which he battles each day. With Crunch, this battle is easier to fight. Her vibrant spirit and her provided loving companionship is truly priceless as her presence in my father's life eases the everyday emotional struggle of being disabled. But in December 2014, this came to an unfortunate and immediate hault.
Last month, Crunch collasped on the living room floor and become unconscious. Unresponsive and lifeless, Crunch was rushed to Cheat Lake Animal Hospital, located just outside of Morgantown WV. Crunch was diagnosed with severe sepsis, or an entire body inflammation caused by an infection. The infection was in her blood stream, which caused Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation, or DIC. DIC is an extreme complication of numerous already life-threatening conditions leading to the deregulation of the body's natural mechanisms of blood clotting and blood clot dissolving, and in Crunch the DIC was severe.
After one blood transfusion, antibiotics, and surgery to remove dead tissue, Crunch was saved. It was two weeks of agonizing waiting on my family's part for Crunch to pull-through. The Animal Hospital coined the name "Miracle Dog" and a "Christmas Miracle" as Crunch was released the day after Christmas. They were not far from the truth as the chances of a dog surviving DIC are extremely low. My father was overwhelmed with joy that his companion and friend had survived. Now, Crunch is still in recovery and should be back to being 100% in a few weeks.
The surgery for Crunch was very expenive, costing my parents $6599.50. Unlike us, dogs do not have health insurance, so this cost came directly out of my parents pockets. Both my parents do not work. My father cannot work and taking care of him is a full-time job for my mother, Wanda Coneybeer. Their fixed income comes from a mixture of disability payments, pensions, and retirement accounts which they tapped into to save Crunch's life.
This unfortunate circumstance has placed financial hardship on my parents who are already in hardship due to my father's back surgery. My father is a disabled veternan of the United States Navy, an Executive Chef Emeiritus of Nestle', a loving father, and the husband to my mother for over 30 years. Please contribute what you can to help ease their financial burden. Any amount will help. All funds that exceed our goal of $6600 will be donated to the National Humane Society to aide their work in helping improve animal welfare across our nation. Below are a few photographs of Crunch and my dad as well as the itemized bill from the animal hospital. Thank you for your support and time.
DONATE NOW! HELP TODAY!
My Dad with Crunch next to a Man with His Dog statue. Ms. Crunch Playing in the snow. My Dad before his surgery assisting our Service men and women stationed in South Korea. (Photo circa 2011)The Reciept
Organizer
Wanda Coneybeer
Organizer
Columbus, OH