03/12/2026 UPDATE

WHISKEY’S DIAGNOSIS & CRUCIAL NEXT STEPS

After numerous vet appointments, emergency visits, countless antibiotics and medications with no improvement, I finally took Whiskey to a specialist after his third alarming “stroke like” episode in less than 2 months. Prior to these, he has never had an episode.

The specialist needs to determine if the vestibular disorder has arisen due to old age, a peripheral vestibular disorder involving her inner/middle ear(s)/otitis interna/otitis media) is present, or a more serious central vestibular disorder involving her cerebellum or brainstem exists. This will take a thorough physical and neurologic exam. Whiskey has gone through the physical exam and medications that didn’t bring improvement, which leads us to needing a CT scan, a procedure to access the middle ear for bacterial cultures, and a more invasive surgery to completely clear out the middle ear (they access it by cutting into the throat under the jaw).

These three appointments alone will cost between $8,000-$10,000. This sum does not include future check ups, medications, aftercare, or the outstanding medical bills from ER visits and more in the past 5-6 months.

His episodes began in October 2025, a few weeks after a very traumatic situation which forced me to seek a new home for Whiskey, Ziggy and I.

if these procedures for the middle ear don’t improve his quality of life, further testing and evaluations will be required to rule out neurological issues, including brain tumors.

Finances have been tight due to a series of life events and stress factors that left me little time to seek work.. and that’s putting it lightly. The past 5 months alone I haven’t been able to work at all.

I tried writing a vague description of what’s been really going on. I want to be as transparent as possible, since I feel I owe an explanation.. it was just so hard to write.

I know times are difficult in this fucked up economy, and most of us are just trying to make ends meet. Your donations mean more to me than you know, and I understand not being able to donate financially- just sharing the link goes a long way.

For now I just want to focus on Whiskey’s health and road to recovery.. I will bring everyone up to speed in a future update.

from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much.

♥️ Persia

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Persia is a long-time resident of West Seattle and a familiar face in the community. She has always been there for her neighbors, but now she is facing one of the toughest times of her life. Persia has been out of work for months, dedicating herself to caring for her mother, who is terminally ill with cancer. As a result, her bills have piled up and she has exhausted her savings, leaving her in a very difficult financial situation.

To make matters even more challenging, Persia’s beloved dog Whiskey—another well-known fixture in West Seattle—now needs a medical procedure. The costs for Whiskey’s care are significant, and Persia simply doesn’t have the resources to cover them after everything she’s been through. Despite her best efforts, she is struggling to keep up with rent, bills, and the urgent needs of her loyal companion.

This is a time when community support can make all the difference. Let’s please help Persia get back on her feet and make sure Whiskey receives the care he needs. Any help is appreciated, and please do not hesitate to share this with others who might want to support or donate. Also during this time we want to make sure to give her and her family the privacy they need during this time, thank you again.

— Richard