Please Help Us Save Khaleesi!

Just over six years ago my husband brought home a tiny white puppy for my Valentine’s Day gift. Khaleesi instantly won over our hearts and quickly became a member of the family. There are dogs who are well behaved and have bright dispositions due to rigorous training and consistency but we were truly blessed with a dog who was simply born the best girl with a kind and gentle heart! Anyone who enters our home can easily see how loved Khaleesi is, there are numerous drawings and paintings of her hanging on the walls and refrigerator (courtesy of our two sons, Tristan and Rex). Photos and artistic renditions of Khaleesi are displayed proudly on our tv stand as well as a giant blanket emblazoned with her photo which decorates the couch.

Khaleesi is a very gentle soul who would challenge any negative beliefs one may have about Pitbulls almost immediately; she has never met a human she didn’t love! We do everything we can to make sure she gets to live her best life including walks and runs at the park, trips to Tractor Supply for spa dates with my husband and youngest son and her own private stash of blueberries which happen to be her very favorite snack in the whole world…her special trick is that she can hear a container of blueberries being opened from a mile away! She never leaves anyone wondering what she is thinking as she has the most expressive face I’ve ever seen in a dog.

This February, Khaleesi began obsessively licking her hindquarters. We quickly made an appointment for her to see a vet and have her anal glands checked. Our local veterinarian gave us the news that she had a hard mass on her anal gland that they were unable to assist us with due to its location and referred us to a larger clinic with an oncology department in Akron. We made an appointment the very next week and made the drive to Akron where we learned through ultrasounds, x-rays, an internal exam and blood work that Khaleesi indeed has an anal gland tumor that has not yet spread to her lymph nodes or other organs. This tumor was believed to be malignant and we were quoted approximately $10,000 over the next year in order to remove the tumor and complete a round of chemotherapy. Although extremely distraught we were happy to hear that her prognosis would be good if she were to have the surgery. After posting on Facebook about Khaleesi’s appointment and diagnosis, a friend of ours who works at Avon Lake Animal Clinic reached out to me and asked if she could request Khaleesi’s scans to show the oncologist at her practice.

Dr. Lamb at Avon Lake Animal Clinic has viewed Khaleesi’s scans and blood work and assessed that with removal of both anal glands her prognosis is good. He believes he will be able to get good margins and rid her of any mast cells. This surgery has the potential to give us many more years with our girl! Dr. Lamb feels that chemotherapy will not be necessary and has quoted us between $2,500 and $3,000 for her procedure. Since her initial visit with our local vet, we have spent approximately $2,000 on testing, medications (antihistamines and anti-inflammatories to help prevent swelling and licking along with supplements ) and veterinary consults/office visits. The cost of testing has depleted our savings and as we have two boys and a third on the way, we are finding it very difficult to come up with the necessary funds for Khaleesi’s surgery. I am hoping that it may be possible for those who are in the position to do so to donate funds that will save Khaleesi’s life. We would be eternally grateful for any help we are given.

Khaleesi is currently scheduled for surgery Tuesday, March 21st at Avon Lake Animal Clinic located at 124 Miller Road, Avon Lake, OH 44012. I would be more than happy to answer any questions or talk to anyone who is interested in more information regarding our situation. Should any funds in excess of the required amount be raised, the overages will be donated to Safe Harbor Animal Rescue in the name of "Friends of Khaleesi."

Our entire family thanks you for your time, consideration and generosity to those in need.

Sincerely,

Sarah, Garrett, Tristan, Rex and of course Khaleesi