Ol’ Charlie Boy
Donation protected
Charlie is a fighter and a survivor. He was found in a blizzard years ago skinny and disoriented, and my sister nursed him back to health with a few IVs and a dog bed in front of her wood stove. She tried to find his owner, which thankfully she didn’t, because it was obvious he’d been heavily abused by whoever he’d run away from. He was terrified of men, terrified of feet, and hated the F word. I took him in at my home in Juneau, and it took me months to gain his trust, and a year or so to form what is likely the strongest friendship I’ve ever had, be it with a dog or a person. For those of you that met him long ago, you might remember a timid, scared, and jumpy dog. For those that have met him in recent years, you know him as a sweet, playful, confident, and happy dog. A dog that just feels good to be around.
This fall, Charlie was showing signs of being sick. He was losing weight, had a hard time walking, and didn’t want to eat anything. Even bacon. A few vet visits got his appetite and general agility back, but didn’t fully tackle the problem.
A little over a week ago, I was working in Antarctica and got an email that Charlie was sicker than we thought. What a crazy place to get the news. On a boat at 68 degrees south latitude, more than 100 miles south of the Antarctic Circle, surrounded by ice and wilderness. The news was that Charlie had tumors on one of his parathyroids that were causing numerous problems internally, and creating a strong risk for imminent cardiac arrest (among many other things). The good news was that the emergency vet could operate on him to remove that parathyroid and its tumors and eliminate the risk of heart failure, but that his body would battle once it was removed to try to recalibrate its ability to retain and distribute essential hormones throughout his body.
When I realized how serious the situation was, it was a no brainer for me. I flew home as soon as I could, with the incredible and gracious support of my employer and colleagues.
Charlie has been in the animal ICU for seven days now, and will likely stay for two to three more. Which, let me tell you, is not cheap. I was aware of the price tag going into this, but Charlie is my best friend, and my heart sincerely would not let me even consider not doing this for him. As I write this, it seems a bit weird asking for help. Maybe because I’m just not good at asking for help in general. But to be real, I am asking for help. I’m hoping to raise enough money to cover only part of his vet bill, not the whole thing. Not to mention the travel to get here and the missed income from missing work. If any of you have met Charlie and know how sweet he is, have known his story as an insecure and abused rescue turned Wonder Dog, or have just had a dog close to you in the past, any help would be greatly appreciated. And if you’d be kind enough to share this with your dog-loving friends, it would be equally as appreciated.
Kind thanks, and fingers crossed that his body re-learns how to function so he can have many more healthy years ahead of him.
:)
Daven
Writing from Manhattan, KS, at the Kansas State University vet med center
This fall, Charlie was showing signs of being sick. He was losing weight, had a hard time walking, and didn’t want to eat anything. Even bacon. A few vet visits got his appetite and general agility back, but didn’t fully tackle the problem.
A little over a week ago, I was working in Antarctica and got an email that Charlie was sicker than we thought. What a crazy place to get the news. On a boat at 68 degrees south latitude, more than 100 miles south of the Antarctic Circle, surrounded by ice and wilderness. The news was that Charlie had tumors on one of his parathyroids that were causing numerous problems internally, and creating a strong risk for imminent cardiac arrest (among many other things). The good news was that the emergency vet could operate on him to remove that parathyroid and its tumors and eliminate the risk of heart failure, but that his body would battle once it was removed to try to recalibrate its ability to retain and distribute essential hormones throughout his body.
When I realized how serious the situation was, it was a no brainer for me. I flew home as soon as I could, with the incredible and gracious support of my employer and colleagues.
Charlie has been in the animal ICU for seven days now, and will likely stay for two to three more. Which, let me tell you, is not cheap. I was aware of the price tag going into this, but Charlie is my best friend, and my heart sincerely would not let me even consider not doing this for him. As I write this, it seems a bit weird asking for help. Maybe because I’m just not good at asking for help in general. But to be real, I am asking for help. I’m hoping to raise enough money to cover only part of his vet bill, not the whole thing. Not to mention the travel to get here and the missed income from missing work. If any of you have met Charlie and know how sweet he is, have known his story as an insecure and abused rescue turned Wonder Dog, or have just had a dog close to you in the past, any help would be greatly appreciated. And if you’d be kind enough to share this with your dog-loving friends, it would be equally as appreciated.
Kind thanks, and fingers crossed that his body re-learns how to function so he can have many more healthy years ahead of him.
:)
Daven
Writing from Manhattan, KS, at the Kansas State University vet med center
Organizer
Daven Hafey
Organizer
Friday Harbor, WA