1 September--Oliver has made it past the critical 72 hour mark and is still fighting. His little body is getting essential supportive care at the emergency vet hospital with a feeding tube, fluids, pain medication, and antibiotics. The vet said he is moving in the right direction. She said Pitbulls do better with this at times--she doesn't know why, but if that is helping, then thank goodness he is such a tough little nugget. After holding him as he shook, spat, and bled, I can see why it is hard to believe there is something after these hard days. Nothing can prepare you for the sheer horror of parvo--the constant bloody diarrhea, uncontrolled vomiting, utter exhaustion, fevers, pain, and intense misery. If I didn't already own a healthy and happy parvo survivor, I wouldn't believe any dog could endure this. But Oliver is...and can...and is working so hard to make it. Last night he put his little head in my lap and just sighed into feeling some comfort despite all the agony. I spent hours at his side telling him about hotdogs, and Halloween, and snow, and pup cups and Christmas mornings....all the things he needs to live to try for the first time. I can't describe how wrenching it is to beg a baby to live for the chance to feel the grass under their paws and the first scent of autumn leaves when they have not yet experienced these small miracles. I know he will love the beach, can't wait to play with other puppies and will be the happiest boy every day after he gets through this. Please consider helping Oliver see the sunrise. Every little bit goes directly to his care and buys him the time needed to get through this.

Oliver's Story

We found Oliver wearing a collar and a chewed-off leash, running into traffic on Lakeshore drive. He had no tag or chip but was super sweet and lost. After alerting CACC and our local police department, we began owner-searching, hoping someone would recognize their baby. We started calling him Oliver while we looked. He has been turned down by multiple rescues so far but he doesn't know that his breed and age are working against him for adoption and for him in fighting this terrible disease.

Then disaster struck. Ollie stopped eating and drinking, began vomiting and developed diarrhea. Within hours a pup that was so friendly and hopeful about finding his home turned into a sad little lethargic lump. After rushing him to the emergency vet, our worst fears were confirmed. Oliver caught a case of the devastating parvovirus ripping through the upper Midwest and is desperately ill.

If we had left him at the shelter, he wouldn't have made it out, would have no chance of finding his family, and could have passed the virus to other lost dogs.

So, for now, he is clinging to life on a wing and a prayer and the good graces of two Ph.D. students who put up the last of our summer stipends to cover what we could to give him a chance.

But Oliver needs more help. We need to raise $6047 to cover the life-saving care he desperately requires to live and find his family. Please help us save Oliver and stop parvo from taking another life. Even the smallest amount helps.

Below is the break-down of the costs:

Emergency Visit $175.00

Parvo SNAP Test $139.72

Parvo (Severe) $175.00

↳Liquid Diet CRI (Per 24 Hours) $158.34

↳Fluid Bag Additive $66.37

↳Miscellaneous $232.86

↳CBC - Complete Blood Count $99.65

↳Chemistry 17 Panel - Catalyst $241.53

↳IV Fluids (Per Hour) x 2 $24.68

↳Radiographs With Radiologist Review $525.61

↳IV Catheter (Peripheral) $118.76

↳IV Catheter (Sampling) $274.77

↳Hospitalization Level Isolation (per

hour) x 48 hours $1521.12

↳Hospitalization Setup $101.75

↳MetoclopramideCRI (Per 24 hours) $168.82

↳Blood Glucose (Serial - Per 12 Hours) x 2 $169.98

↳Electrolytes (Serial - Per 12 Hours) 2 x $288.74

↳Nasogastric Tube Placement $187.45

↳Hospital Injection 10 x $663.70

↳PCV/TS (Serial - Per 12 Hours) 2 x $163.00

↳Inpatient Exam 2 x $200.00

Subtotal

$5696.85

And we hope to raise another $350 to cover getting his adoption fees with a no-kill shelter if we cannot find his family.

Total ask: $6047