Kevin Ruined NYE and Now He Needs Emergency Surgery

Kevin is a chihuahua; he’s a teeny tiny baby guy and we’ve lived together for almost 11 years in multiple cities, states/provinces, and countries. He’s hated my guts while I’ve loved him fiercely & I wouldn’t change it for the world. Don’t let his cute face fool you: Kevin is a menace. He’s got the biggest personality stuffed into a less than 4lb body.

6 months ago, we lost my other dog & the only brother Kevin has known, my miniature pinscher Reuben. It ripped a giant hole in our lives and we’ve been clinging to each other, inseparable, since. Through it all, this dog makes me laugh every single time I look at him.

Fast forward to NYE 2024: Kevin hates holidays. I can’t say he did it on purpose, but Kevin went from being his hilarious idiot self to a lethargic, drooling, scared little man. He declined rapidly & very early morning of Jan 1, I rushed him to an emergency vet in Calgary AB, 2221 miles away from where we live.

Kevin has been hospitalized overnight with a raging fever, extremely high white blood cell count & pancreatic enzymes, and a suspected abscess/massive infection. Aside from bloodwork & urinalysis he has seen internal medicine for ultrasounds and they found issues with his gallbladder & nodules on the periphery of his lungs.

I just got off the phone with the attending emergency vet & he is scheduled for a exploratory surgery today to hopefully take care of the abscess and allow Kevin and I to fly home to Toronto tomorrow on our non-refundable flight.

The vets/techs/staff at Trinity Hills Veterinary Hospital have been nothing short of amazing in caring for Kevin & ensuring he is getting the best care he possibly can while his teeny body is doing its best to fight off his infection. As of right now, I am

cautiously hopeful that things will be successful and he’ll be back to ruining holidays and my furniture and prancing around with his stupid fancy feet.

As you can imagine, the cost of this emergency hospitalization is not cheap - and is rising as we speak. He used to have insurance but an abusive ex financially abused me to the point where I had to cut all expenses that weren’t directly related to basic cost of living& the cost of caring for my other dogs’ ongoing medical bills and end of life care. We also have to move this month and costs are astronomical because I live in Toronto (6000$ for first/last/rent in my current place plus the cost of the actual act of moving).

Kevin couldn’t have picked a more financially devastating time to get sick - typical Kevin behaviour.

As it stands, I need help to save him. With the timing of our necessary move, I just don’t have the money. The funds raised will pay for his ultrasounds, bloodwork/urinalysis/any additional testing, his overnight hospitalization & care costs, and surgery costs.

I know times are tough for everyone, but I’m hoping y’all can help me help my gross-disgusting-hilarious love get better. He just learned to like me this year and I’m not ready to let him go just yet. He’s survived so much already; I can’t make the heartbreaking choice to not help him fight.

Thank you.