Gertie’s Bucket List

Gertie was picked up as a stray by Rosenberg Animal Control, after a County worker hit her with his truck and drove off. When she arrived at the shelter, her condition was heartbreaking. This little dog had spent her entire life outdoors, being bred. She was severely emaciated, covered in bite wounds, scars, weak and sunburned. She wreaked of motor oil and years of grime. She was balding from a flea infestation and anemic. Her body was so worn out, but the first thing she did was reach her paw out to be held. 

We brought her home as a foster, where she fit in with our dogs instantly. She was so grateful for every bite of food, every soft bed, and every bit of affection. She slept the first few days, but then she began to vomit and struggle to breathe.  We rushed her to the hospital, where she had emergency surgery. The veterinarian found a severe case of pancreatitis and that sweet Gertie is in heart failure. She has had heartworm disease for so long that her heart is significantly enlarged. Her heart is so packed with heartworms that it struggles to pump at all. Her lungs are full of fluid and her body is very weak. 

Gertie started steroids and heart medications in an attempt to make her remaining days as comfortable as possible. This girl has spent her life being abused and neglected. Not anymore. The veterinarian has told us that Gertie is now a hospice foster. We need to make her remaining days the best days of her life! We have started a bucket list for her, and we will do as much for her as we can, whether we have her for a week or a year. We are raising money to fund her adventures, and a potential ER visit if we are away from our local vet. 

Bucket List:

• Birthday party
• Road trip/First hotel stay
• Beach day
• Date night (patio dinner out)
• Visit at least 1 state park
• Family photos (with us, her final home!)
• Professional photos
• Shopping spree (pick her own toys out)
• Ice cream date