Support Indi's Lifelong Care

I’m just a dog… wagging my tail

Allison “Joy” Cumming 1970-2023

Isn’t that wonderful!

Jean Ann Buker Robinson 1948-2023

My name is Sarah and I’m sharing a picture my friend Joy took of her mother, Jean, and their dogs, Indi and Gracie. Just after Christmas in December 2023, Joy and Jean were brutally murdered in their own home in Farmington, Maine. After a sad and confusing time for the dogs impounded at the local shelter, our dear dog-pack friend Gwen adopted Indi, Jean and Joy’s Chesapeake Bay Retreiver/Husky girl.

Indi now lives on as an extension of our two friends, who should have had many, many more years with her (and us). She is kind, funny, intuitive and full of joy—she is helping us all heal. Jean and Joy were extraordinary humans—their lives revolved around rescuing dogs and helping their community. “Auntie” Jean was warm, vibrant and deeply intelligent—she founded our daily Dog Pack walks in 2008. She was a petite woman with a big plow who loved to clear the snow out of her neighbors’ driveways. Joy was a proud veteran of the US Army. She was a Legacy Life Member of the Boston Police VFW Post 1018 and a past State Adjutant of the VFW Department of Massachusetts. Joy opened Pawsitive Dog Kennel a few years ago and loved posting daily videos of her doggy daycare pups being complete dorks. During Covid Joy established the Farmington Needs Facebook group to bring community together to help each other out. It is such a privilege for us all to care for their Indi.

Recently Indi was diagnosed with diabetes as well as an infected salivary gland mass and had to be hospitalized for several days at the Maine Veterinary Medical Center in Scarborough. There they stabilized her diabetes, operated on her neck to remove the mass, and completed an ultrasound on her adrenal glands (she may have Cushing’s Disease). Her prognosis is excellent!

The veterinary hospital and the team of veterinary practices who have cared for Indi created a debt of $15,000 and counting. Just like a human, someone with diabetes will need lifelong medication, supplies, and testing to keep her strong.

Our Dog Pack would like to raise at least $16,000 to cover the current bills, and her post-surgery follow-up exams to the Cushing’s diagnosis and treatment, and insulin and syringes that are now going to become a part of her regular care.”

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Thank you for reading our story. We know that much is being asked of many in these times, and we are deeply grateful for any financial donations you can make, any prayers you share from your heart, and kind words of support, it is all so appreciated! We are so grateful to everyone who has helped Indi so far—the wonderful folks at the Franklin County Animal Shelter, Carrabassett Veterinary Service, Farmington Veterinary Clinic, Falls Road Veterinary Clinic, and Maine Veterinary Medical Center, and of course all members, human and canine, of Indi’s beloved Dog Pack.

Receipts for Indy’s medical bills and hospitalization are available upon request.