Kevina the Irish Wolfhounds Fund

Kevina and I need your help. Due to no fault of her own, this baby girl is in the position which requires everyone's help and support. Kevina's owner called me at the end of 2014 and asked for financial help with her girl. As a rescue, it is my obligation to try and help the owner and breeder resolve any issue before I step in. When the owner told me who the Florida breeder was I assured her that they would be ethical and responsible and step in to help the puppy they brought into the world... Never Could I have been more in error. I will quickly recap Kevina's story.

Kevina was sold to a couple in Florida who at the time was stable and had the financial means to care for an Irish Wolfhound Puppy. At about 4 months of age the wife noticed Kevina's legs began to look awry. The breeder and regular Veterinarian told her everything was normal. The legs progressively got worse so the family took her to the University of Florida for evaluation. Kevina's issue was a hereditary condition, a form of OCD called retained cartilaginous cores. In order to give Kevina any quality of life, two surgeries on each front leg would be required. The first one was to cut a section out of both ulnas to release pressure from the elbow to prevent any damage from occuring to the joint as the radius continued to bow as the puppy grew. The second surgery was to cut the radius and remove the cores, again, releasing pressure from the growing joints that was causing the legs to bow as they grew. The breeders refunded the purchase price of the puppy to the family and absolved themselves of any further responsibility and according to the breeders, felt they had satisfied the tems of the Florida puppy lemon law.

Between the first and second surgery, the family's situation changed drastically. The wife found herself abandoned with a baby and an IW puppy needing a second surgery. She turned to me (Southern Irish Wolfhound Rescue and Adoption) for help, I asked the owner to contact the breeder first, which she did. The owner then called me again in tears to tell me that the breeder's only advice was to put the puppy to sleep. I personally contcted the breeders via email and face to face at a dog show asking them for help for the puppy. Their terms were simply to give the puppy back to them. Convinced that the breeder's intention was to euthanize Kevina rather then repair the deformed limbs, the owner could not bear the thought of giving her back as she loved her and wanted her to have a chance to enjoy life as a puppy and be able to run and play and function normally as an adult IW. My plans were to help the owner raise the funds for the second surgery, but we are now well into 2015 at this point and circumstances changed once again for the owner, child and puppy.

They were forced to move in with the owner's mother who felt it best that Kevina be given up to rescue. The owner has the funds to feed and provide normal veterinary care but unfortunately, does not have the ability to provide Kevina with the surgery she so desperately needs or the time for the extensive aftercare. Fast forward.

Kevina has been with me about two weeks now. She has been examined by two Orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Thomas McNichols and Dr. Steven Neihaus. My concern has been that the length of time that has elapsed between surgeries could most likely have been too long and any quality of life for Kevina might have been lost in the shuffle. Both Surgeons felt she had a good chance as long as their post surgical instructions were followed to the T and that Kevina is kept calm and not allowed to put too much pressure on the surgical sites.

Only one leg at a time can be operated on because of the severity of the deformities. Her first surgery was completed on 5-21-2015 and Dr. Neihaus is extremely optimistic!!!!! Kevina will be living in a 4 x 6 enclosure in my kitchen for the next 8 weeks until surgery #2 can be done. Then another 8 weeks in my kitchen. She will require almost daily bandage changing and tons of mental stimulation to keep her happy and healthy. My regular Veterinarian will see her weekly and she will need to travel back to Jacksonville, FL (2 hour drive one way) 3 times during her healing process. All this, times 2. The next 4 months will be dedicated to Kevina's post surgical care, Why???? Because she deserves it.....

The people who could have made a difference in her life have failed her miserably and she deserves a second chance. I would not put her nor myself though any of this if I did not feel she could have a good quality of life afterwards. To date I have put a little more than $2900.00 on my Care Credit card. We estimate her surgical, veterinarian and medical supply (bandaging material, medicines, etc) costs alone will surpass $10,000.00, not including gasoline, food, laundry supplies, bathing supplies, etc. I am asking for your financial help as I cannot do this alone. I no longer have the financial means that I used to have. I believe most people in the Irish Wolfhound Community know me and know I would not even attempt this if I did not feel Kevina had an excellent shot at a very good and pain free life.

Kevina even has a home waiting for her at the end of this ordeal! Please know that the money you dontate will NOT come directly to me as I believe in complete transparency in these types of situations. The Veterinarians and Care Credit will be paid directly from this account by Wanda and all receipts will be submitted for reinbursement. Frequent updates and photos will be posted on this page and everyone will be kept abreast of Kevina's progress and for the finances spent.

Please Help me Help Kevina!! Together we can do this for her... I cannot thank all of you enough for your help!

Sincerely,

Jackie Carswell


*Kevina however still needs our help in the way of funding.  We have exceeded with this surgery on her right leg the funds raised for her and she will continue to need after care for months to come and surgerical follow ups including traveling from Georgia to Florida, xrays, bandages and medications.  She is also needing to be spayed when fully recovered before being placed in her forever home... So many of you came forward to help Kevina when we first started raising money for her and we just could not anticipate what was going to be needed for her, nor did we anticipate her requiring two surgeries on the left leg (which had a surgery already with her previous owner) so I sure do hope you can help us again with Kevina.   She has come a very long way in such excellent care, the surgeon has been very generous waiving his fee to help, and she is LOVED by eveyone there at the clinic and all who meet her, please if you can help us continue to support Kevina any amount is greatly appreciated.. 
Wanda