Olive's Medical Fund: A Dog Mom's Plea

Hi all - my name is Bri, and I’m here despite every urge down to my BONES not to ask for help, to lean into my community, and ask for some help.

I know that times are hard for everyone, and I feel it’s so unfair how we have to worry about money when ourselves & our loved ones fall sick or injured.

That being said, my sweet senior doggy Olive fell on hard times today, when she swallowed a piece of a treat and it went down the wrong way and got stuck. It’s really difficult for me not to blame myself for giving her a bone, but it’s a type of bone she’s had dozens if not hundreds of times over the past nearly 12 years. Her sister Martini had the same one and is totally fine - just a freak accident, unfortunately.

So far, I’ve had to use $2,000 via CareCredit and Affirm to pay for her x-ray and diagnosis, plus bloodwork, medications and bland food for recovery.

Currently, we’re waiting on the radiologist to give the best course of action on removing the esophageal obstruction. I am hoping for an endoscopy which is less invasive, and less expensive. According to my internet research, this procedure can cost between $800-$2000. If she needs full-on surgery, we could be looking at upwards of $10k. (praying to whoever will listen that it doesn’t come to this).

I went back to full-time training for work last year after leaving an abusive workplace, and though my mental health was saved as a result, I definitely do not make enough or have a steady enough income built up yet to be able to cover this in a timely fashion. Dog mom guilt is so real, and I don’t know what else to do other than reach out to my community. I think our relationships and love for one another is all we have these days that keeps us going at all, and I hope so deeply to be able to repay the favor down the road, whether it be in dollars or acts of service.

Olive is an emotional support animal, and she’s been there with me through the toughest of times, including the care taking and emotional support of my dad throughout his struggle with Alzheimer’s, and she’s let me cry an ocean of tears onto her little velvet head. She’s also a goofy and delightful friend to many, and of course, the best friend of Martini and myself.

Thank you so much for reading, thank you for caring about little Olive girl, and thank you endlessly for making unconditional love into a way of life.