Help Kojak the pug and his family
Donation protected
Friends, I will start with the latest news--then you can read my earlier note below. I was able to get Clarence to authorize me to take Kojak to the vet. Kojak is his 11-year-old pug who is in very bad shape (see below). His leg was x-rayed, and the doctor delivered the following news: my little friend Kojak has a cancerous tumor in his leg. And the tumor has grown so big, it has broken the bones in his leg. (This was when I burst into tears in the exam room. Poor doggie!!) The x-ray report will come back tomorrow or Wed. If the cancer is only in the cartilage and has not spread elsewhere, he will most likely do fine with amputation. :-( He is used to getting around without the use of that leg, so the doctor said it would be easy for him to adapt. And he would be getting around without pain. If the cancer is in the bone, or has spread to his chest/lungs, he has approx 3-6 months to live. :-( In that case, he can either be kept comfortable, or euthanasia would be a kind and humane option here.
As you can see below, my friend Clarence doesn't have the money to pay the vet for any of these options, not even for today's visit and x-rays. So I will lay out the costs here:
If euthanasia, the cost will be today's visit (377) + 250 or 400, depending on what Clarence wants to do with the remains. :-(
If amputation, the cost will be today's visit (377) + up to $3,000 for the surgery ($1K to $2K) and post-op care.
Given all of that, I am setting the campaign goal at $3,000. If it turns out he doesn't need that much, for whatever reasons, I will immediately return all funds that are beyond the needed amount.
Right now we've started Kojak on a pain med. I gave it to him myself when I took him home to Clarence. Prayers that it has kicked in and he's more comfortable right now. He was having diarrhea outside the vet's office and panting hard, he was so physically stressed.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm writing this with tears. You all are angels, and I am honored to know each and every one of you.
xox,
Debbie
***To be as clear and transparent as possible, for you and for GoFundMe's requirements:
--When the time comes, I will be the person withdrawing the money.
--Clarence is my neighbor; that is how I am related to him.
--The funds will be transferred as follows: I will pay Kojak's vet bill directly (and I will be specific about that here when I have actual, final numbers; I might pay it in piecemeal after each time Kojak visits or receives treatment, depending on what the vet prefers). Then outside Kojak's vet care, I plan to give all remaining funds to Clarence to use how he and his family need. I might make suggestions to him (get his other dog, Lacey, checked by the vet; buy food for himself and his wife; pay his wife's medical bills; see a doctor himself, because he has neglected his own health due to his caregiver responsibilities. But at this point I plan to give the remaining amount directly to Clarence, as the focus of the campaign has shifted from being exclusively for Kojak to assisting Kojak's family as well.***
***
My friends, I need your help.
I've mentioned here an older gentleman neighbor--he has two adorable pugs: Kojak and Lacey. I love them and him. We've been friends since I moved to the neighborhood almost 8 years ago. When I skate around the park, I see them and stop. The dogs yank on their leashes to get to me. I sit on the sidewalk and we love and love and love. I pick them up. I adore them.
The gentleman's name is Clarence, and he's in his early 80s. For the past couple of years, he's been taking care of his wife, whose health is failing. She's been in and out of the hospital with complications related to diabetes, and I believe he takes her for dialysis a few times a week. Over the past year, I've watched him get thinner and thinner as he devotes all his time to caring for his wife, who is now experiencing dementia on top of everything else. He is not the same cheerful man I've known all this time, and my heart is with him. I also know they're struggling financially. The medical bills are piling up.
Here's the problem I need your help with. The male pug, Kojak, had a leg injury a couple of years back that he got medical attention for. His leg was wrapped for a time, and he was on medications. I don't think Kojak has gone to the vet in more than a year, and over these past long months I've been watching his leg's condition deteriorate. It's at the point where he cannot walk on it; he hobbles, his paw dangling uselessly. I'm certain he can't put any weight on it. The worst part is the leg is severely swollen--it's at least 3 times its normal size. I've been talking to Clarence about it for a couple of months, telling him Kojak must see a dr. Clarence says he doesn't have time and can't leave his wife alone. I know it's also about money.
I saw them yesterday, and I couldn't believe how terrible Kojak looks. He has now lost weight--he is much smaller than Lacey now, and he was always the bigger one. His leg remains in that awful state. And now I can feel his spine. I was very firm with Clarence--I said it's crucial that Kojak gets help, he's suffering, and Clarence had trouble meeting my eyes. He's never like that with me. He said he cannot afford a vet bill. I told him I will take Kojak to the vet myself (it's 2 blocks from us), and they have payment plans, etc. We can work it out.
I looked into Kojak's eyes and promised him that I would help.
This morning I called the vet and explained the situation. They have created an authorization form for me to take to Clarence, to have him sign so I can take Kojak to the vet myself. The vet will evaluate Kojak and determine what kind of care he will need, and how much it will cost.
I worry that Kojak's leg is infected, and I don't know whether it's too late for him. But if it's not, if I create a GoFundMe campaign, would you contribute? Can I get pledges from anyone who can help, so that I can go to Clarence and promise him that he will not have to pay for Kojak's care? I can't afford to pay for it myself. I will contribute to the campaign, but that's all I can do. Will you help too? I know I have a lot of animal-loving friends, and specifically dog-loving friends. I know the help is out there for him.
Thanks for reading this. <3
As you can see below, my friend Clarence doesn't have the money to pay the vet for any of these options, not even for today's visit and x-rays. So I will lay out the costs here:
If euthanasia, the cost will be today's visit (377) + 250 or 400, depending on what Clarence wants to do with the remains. :-(
If amputation, the cost will be today's visit (377) + up to $3,000 for the surgery ($1K to $2K) and post-op care.
Given all of that, I am setting the campaign goal at $3,000. If it turns out he doesn't need that much, for whatever reasons, I will immediately return all funds that are beyond the needed amount.
Right now we've started Kojak on a pain med. I gave it to him myself when I took him home to Clarence. Prayers that it has kicked in and he's more comfortable right now. He was having diarrhea outside the vet's office and panting hard, he was so physically stressed.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm writing this with tears. You all are angels, and I am honored to know each and every one of you.
xox,
Debbie
***To be as clear and transparent as possible, for you and for GoFundMe's requirements:
--When the time comes, I will be the person withdrawing the money.
--Clarence is my neighbor; that is how I am related to him.
--The funds will be transferred as follows: I will pay Kojak's vet bill directly (and I will be specific about that here when I have actual, final numbers; I might pay it in piecemeal after each time Kojak visits or receives treatment, depending on what the vet prefers). Then outside Kojak's vet care, I plan to give all remaining funds to Clarence to use how he and his family need. I might make suggestions to him (get his other dog, Lacey, checked by the vet; buy food for himself and his wife; pay his wife's medical bills; see a doctor himself, because he has neglected his own health due to his caregiver responsibilities. But at this point I plan to give the remaining amount directly to Clarence, as the focus of the campaign has shifted from being exclusively for Kojak to assisting Kojak's family as well.***
***
My friends, I need your help.
I've mentioned here an older gentleman neighbor--he has two adorable pugs: Kojak and Lacey. I love them and him. We've been friends since I moved to the neighborhood almost 8 years ago. When I skate around the park, I see them and stop. The dogs yank on their leashes to get to me. I sit on the sidewalk and we love and love and love. I pick them up. I adore them.
The gentleman's name is Clarence, and he's in his early 80s. For the past couple of years, he's been taking care of his wife, whose health is failing. She's been in and out of the hospital with complications related to diabetes, and I believe he takes her for dialysis a few times a week. Over the past year, I've watched him get thinner and thinner as he devotes all his time to caring for his wife, who is now experiencing dementia on top of everything else. He is not the same cheerful man I've known all this time, and my heart is with him. I also know they're struggling financially. The medical bills are piling up.
Here's the problem I need your help with. The male pug, Kojak, had a leg injury a couple of years back that he got medical attention for. His leg was wrapped for a time, and he was on medications. I don't think Kojak has gone to the vet in more than a year, and over these past long months I've been watching his leg's condition deteriorate. It's at the point where he cannot walk on it; he hobbles, his paw dangling uselessly. I'm certain he can't put any weight on it. The worst part is the leg is severely swollen--it's at least 3 times its normal size. I've been talking to Clarence about it for a couple of months, telling him Kojak must see a dr. Clarence says he doesn't have time and can't leave his wife alone. I know it's also about money.
I saw them yesterday, and I couldn't believe how terrible Kojak looks. He has now lost weight--he is much smaller than Lacey now, and he was always the bigger one. His leg remains in that awful state. And now I can feel his spine. I was very firm with Clarence--I said it's crucial that Kojak gets help, he's suffering, and Clarence had trouble meeting my eyes. He's never like that with me. He said he cannot afford a vet bill. I told him I will take Kojak to the vet myself (it's 2 blocks from us), and they have payment plans, etc. We can work it out.
I looked into Kojak's eyes and promised him that I would help.
This morning I called the vet and explained the situation. They have created an authorization form for me to take to Clarence, to have him sign so I can take Kojak to the vet myself. The vet will evaluate Kojak and determine what kind of care he will need, and how much it will cost.
I worry that Kojak's leg is infected, and I don't know whether it's too late for him. But if it's not, if I create a GoFundMe campaign, would you contribute? Can I get pledges from anyone who can help, so that I can go to Clarence and promise him that he will not have to pay for Kojak's care? I can't afford to pay for it myself. I will contribute to the campaign, but that's all I can do. Will you help too? I know I have a lot of animal-loving friends, and specifically dog-loving friends. I know the help is out there for him.
Thanks for reading this. <3
Organizer
Debbie DeFord Minerva
Organizer
Middle Village, NY
