Wilson has had a tough year

Hi. My name is Cynthia and I am raising funds for my dear companion, Wilson, for whom the last year has been pretty tough medically.

Wilson came into my life in the Summer of 2007 when he was about six months old. In the rural high plains of the Cuyama Valley in central California, my house was one of several visible at a few miles distance from a stretch of highway 166 well outside of the tiny town of New Cuyama. For some reason, the visibility of a few houses in the distance seems to make that stretch of highway a particularly popular place for people to abandon their unwanted dogs or puppies. Perhaps it is the mistaken imagination that houses in the distance indicate accessible water and potential food. But the Cuyama Valley is the high desert where Summer temperatures can soar above a hundred degrees, water is a scarce commodity, and the harsh landscape is alive with predators like coyotes, bobcats, cougars, and birds of prey, not to mention the prevalence of rattlesnakes! It is the worst kind of cruel delusion to dump a dog or puppy in a desert wilderness and expect them to survive even 24 hours, afraid and alone and without water, much less find their way 3 or 4 miles to possible human intervention/rescue. But little Wilson did it, and for almost two months he haunted the small collection of houses on Wasioja Rd., raiding garbage cans and surviving on who-knows-what, fleeing humans and predators alike. He became a topic of interest to those of us living on Wasioja road; the tiny black dog glimpsed periodically in the fields, surviving against all odds, but too terrified to let anyone near him. But finally, someone set up a humane trap and caught him. The intention was to take him to an animal shelter but when I saw how terrified and feral he was I couldn't help but volunteer to take him. I could never have guessed how much joy that decision would bring into my life.

Wilson's name came from the television show House which was playing when my friend asked me what I was going to call the new dog. At the moment of the question, someone on the show yelled 'Wilson' and it seemed like a good answer.

That was almost 15 years ago. What a wonderful and amazing companion had come into my life! Wilson is an odd character, never completely recovering from a fear of abandonment and disinterest in people. But we are together constantly and he loves to travel in the car (he's the best travel companion ever) and to take walks. His favorite activity is to run pell-mell in green grass. He has also given me the unanticipated gift of being a natural seizure-alert dog. I have epilepsy and Wilson has proven to be reliably sensitive to the onset of seizures, and when I do have a seizure he positions himself by my head and will remain on guard until I recover consciousness. I did nothing to train him to do this. His ability to recognize my condition and his attendance upon me when I am most vulnerable mean more than I can ever explain to anyone.

Obviously, Wilson is getting up there in age. He was estimated to be around 6-8 months old when I first took him to the vet back in '07 so by now he is 15 years old. His health has been pretty great for the most part though he has some back and neck pain occasionally. However, 2021 has been somewhat catastrophic. In the early Spring of that year, he was attacked by a very large Boxer mix who tried to tear out his throat and he required surgery and some months of recovery. By mid-Summer, he had come back from that really well. Then he was attacked by a large German Shepard who bit his face and damaged his eye beyond repair. This injury has taken a much greater toll. Wilson has very little sight now; effectively he is blind, and his hearing is not that great either. His personality is much more subdued than previously and he is understandably timid around other dogs, which has never been the case until last year. Even so, he is a happy, funny old man who still loves to run free in green grass.

This brings us to the present issue. Wilson's teeth are quite bad. He was scheduled for dental care early in 2021 at the time of the first attack. That injury and surgery forstalled the dental work. Then he was rescheduled for late Summer but the second attack occurred and again this necessary treatment was delayed. He needs a deep cleaning and some extractions which are causing health complications, and he is in pain. The estimate I recently received from the vet is for a range from $1400 to $2100 depending on how many teeth must be extracted and how extensive the infection is. This is not a cosmetic procedure but has to do with infection and pain.

But my financial situation has pretty well tanked since the beginning of the pandemic when I lost my job. I am 65 now, living on a very restricted income. The two catastrophic injuries last year used up every dollar of savings I had. I simply cannot meet this third critical need and I have nothing of value to sell.

I am hoping to raise $2200 with this GoFundMe to cover Wilson's dental surgery and teeth cleaning. Any funds raised here will go exclusively to cover his vet bills.

Thank you so much for reading our story and for contributing if you find this a worthy cause! Wilson is a brave, sweet, and deeply loved little Being who brings joy and laughter into my life every single day. I wish that I were better able to meet his needs now as I have been in the past.