Help Stella the Sato get Heart Worm Treatment!
Donation protected
Stella is a beautiful, gentle lab mix from the beautiful island of Puerto Rico who was recently diagnosed with heart worm disease. Please consider helping donate to Stella's medical bills so she can receive the treatment she needs to live the life she deserves.
Stella's Story
Stella and I met recently in Manati, Puerto Rico. I was traveling to Manati to participate in the Spayathon for Puerto Rico with a group called ViDAS. We were staying in a small airbnb on the coast of Playa Mar Chiquita. Our goal was to help provide free spay, neuter, and vaccination services to the animals of the area. Little did I know, I was about to meet an animal that needed me more than I could have imagined.
During our first day on the island, we noticed a group of stray dogs that roamed our neighborhood. I went out to take a picture of the group, and when I walked back to our house, the pack followed me back in, eager for any kind of love or affection. Stella was the only lady dog in the group. She was sweet and quiet, with kind eyes and a gentle soul. After that first day, Stella began visiting our house anytime we were home. Sometimes she brought the other dogs, and other times she came alone. But we began to expect that when we would pull into our house, Stella would appear to greet us.
It was clear early on that Stella was special, and I became very invested in helping her anyway that I could. She was the kindest and gentlest dog I had ever met, and she was so grateful for any amount of care we gave her, whether it was a ham sandwich, filling up a bowl with water for her, or just scratching her behind the ear. I began to reach out to local rescues to try and find a placement for Stella and her friends. Unfortunately, Puerto Rico currently has approximately 300,000 stray animals on the street, and the euthanasia rate in the shelters is approximately 95%. Most of the rescues are already over saturated and their resources are depleted from the constant flow of puppies and kittens being born on the island. No one had space for a large adult dog. It was recommended to me that I should bring her to the clinic to be spayed and then release her back out onto the street. At least then, she wouldn't be continuing the cycle of unwanted litters and she would be protected from dangers such as pyometras.
I reluctantly agreed and made plans to take Stella to the clinic with us to be spayed with the intention on letting her loose again when we were ready to leave the island. On the morning of her spay, I spoke with the neighbors of our house and explained that I was taking Stella in to be sterilized and vaccinated, and asked them if they would consider making sure she had fresh water available after we left the island. The neighbors stoutly told me that they would not even consider that; they did not like the stray dogs in the area and wanted them gone. They would not even provide her the smallest bit of comfort or care, even if they knew she would not be contributing to their stray animal population because they did not want her there. She was not welcome.
I was shocked at their hostility toward sweet Stella, and found myself in one of the toughest moral dilemmas I have been in before. How could I walk away and leave this sweet girl behind, knowing that no one wanted her?
Stella rode in the car quietly to the clinic. She laid her head on my lap and her tail wagged the entire ride. Once at the clinic, we got Stella registered and went about our jobs that we were given volunteering at the clinic.
At the end of the day, we went over to see Stella, who was sleeping peacefully in a crate after her spay surgery. She immediately wagged her tail when she recognized us and came over to say hello. We carried her out to the car and took her back to our house with us.
By the time we arrived back at the house, we had already decided that Stella could not stay on the island. There was just something too special about her. I can't put my finger on exactly what it was that made her special, but I knew that if I walked away from her and left her on the island, I would never forgive myself.
That night, we gave Stella what was probably her first bath. She stood in the shower with her eyes half closed as brown, dirty water poured off her body. She seemed so content to finally be clean. That night, Stella slept for the first time knowing she was safe and loved.
For the rest of the time we were in Puerto Rico, Stella continued to steal our hearts. She was polite and quiet in the house. She ate whatever we gave her and never made a mess or had an accident in the house. She seemed to sense that she needed to be on her best behavior. She walked politely on a leash and made us smile frequently by offering her paw to us when she wanted our attention. We took her for walks on the beach and let her sleep in our room with us.
Stella flew home with me on May 10th. I was very nervous as to how she would act in the airport or on the plane, but my fears were soon put to rest because Stella was just as perfect as she always was. She stayed next to me throughout our journey through airport security and to the gate, and while waiting to board the plane she fell asleep next to my chair. During our flight from San Juan to Philadelphia, Stella laid quietly under my seat and even won over the heart of our seatmate, who moved her back out from under her seat so that Stella could have a little more room.
During our layover in Philadelphia, Stella accompanied me to go get dinner and laid quietly under my chair while I ate. Many people in the airport asked me if she was a service dog, which I told them she was not, and then they asked me how I trained her to be so good. I shrugged and told them it was just her personality and she was a very good dog.
Once home, Stella assimilated with our existing dogs seamlessly. She is the largest dog in the house, but she is gentle and kind with all the smaller dogs. We had learned from the neighbors that Stella has had two litters of puppies in her time on the island and she retains that very motherly affection with all the smaller dogs. She continues to steal our hearts a little more everyday as she learns how to be a house dog. Every little stepping stone is like a victory for Stella, from learning how to wait patiently for her dinner bowl to feeling comfortable enough to play with a toy. She is a beautiful and sweet dog, with big loving eyes who's tail hasn't stopped wagging since we brought her home.
On May 14th, I took Stella to work with me to be tested for tick borne diseases and heart worm disease, and unfortunately, Stella tested positive for heart worm disease. Heart worm disease is a type of worm transmitted through infected mosquito bites that grows in a dogs heart and can eventually cause heart damage and even be fatal. It can be treated, but is expensive and requires months of cage rest. While we knew this was a possibility and a risk of bringing Stella home due to the tropical area that she came from, we had prayed and prayed that she would not be affected. Our hearts broke when we saw the test.
Stella has been failed by people so many times. She has been left alone on the street to raise litters of puppies. She has been shooed away and ignored. She winces when you raise your hand around her face, so I can only assume she was also hit sometime in her short life. She has not received the care or the preventatives she needed to lead a healthy life. And yet she loves everyone she meets and has a gentle nudge with her head or a tail wag for everyone.
Stella is going to receive heart worm treatment at our primary care veterinarian, Companions First Vet Hospital. Her first appointment is Wednesday May 22nd, when she will have all of her confirmatory lab work done and will be started on antibiotics. We have been verbally quoted $1200 - $1500 for Stella's heart worm treatment, but will be provided with a formal estimate at her appointment.
We are humbly seeking donations to help offset the costs of Stella's medical care. We were not expecting to meet such a special dog, nor were we expecting to bring her home. But, sometimes life happens and plans change. We have already cancelled all of our remaining vacations for the summer in an attempt to help treat Stella's heart worm infection, both physically and financially. Any additional donations that are generated that are not needed for Stella's medical care will be donated to the Sato rescue's on the island that are providing shelter and care for many of the other stray animals in Puerto Rico.
Also, if you are not comfortable donating directly to Stella's care, please consider supporting me and my husbands small businesses - any money generated will certainly be used for caring for Stella.
Pinstripe Paw Prints : my etsy shop where I sell handmade dog clothes
E&H Painting : if you live in the Pittsburgh area, my husband paints on the side to generate extra income.
Our Story
My name is Hannah and this is my husband Eloin. We are the ones caring for Stella.
Eloin and I have been married for almost four years an our dogs are the center of our universe.
Eloin is a contractor and remodels bathrooms and kitchens for a living. I am a veterinary technician at a specialty hospital.
Eloin is originally from Puerto Rico and I am originally from Pittsburgh. We both were recently volunteers with ViDAS where we met Stella. I worked at the induction table, preparing pets for surgery, and Eloin worked as a transporter, moving sleeping dogs onto and off of surgery tables. We are both very devoted to volunteering and have also volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pittsburgh, Therapy Dogs International, and have volunteered to teach basic dog training classes at a local dog club.
While Eloin and I will somehow find a way to make sure Stella receives treatment, we would be eternally grateful for any donations that can offset the cost of her treatment. We have already invested a ton of our own resources into volunteering in Puerto Rico and getting Stella home that finances are quite tight for us right now. Please consider helping us treat our sweet girl so she can have the life she deserves.
Stella's Story
Stella and I met recently in Manati, Puerto Rico. I was traveling to Manati to participate in the Spayathon for Puerto Rico with a group called ViDAS. We were staying in a small airbnb on the coast of Playa Mar Chiquita. Our goal was to help provide free spay, neuter, and vaccination services to the animals of the area. Little did I know, I was about to meet an animal that needed me more than I could have imagined.
During our first day on the island, we noticed a group of stray dogs that roamed our neighborhood. I went out to take a picture of the group, and when I walked back to our house, the pack followed me back in, eager for any kind of love or affection. Stella was the only lady dog in the group. She was sweet and quiet, with kind eyes and a gentle soul. After that first day, Stella began visiting our house anytime we were home. Sometimes she brought the other dogs, and other times she came alone. But we began to expect that when we would pull into our house, Stella would appear to greet us.
It was clear early on that Stella was special, and I became very invested in helping her anyway that I could. She was the kindest and gentlest dog I had ever met, and she was so grateful for any amount of care we gave her, whether it was a ham sandwich, filling up a bowl with water for her, or just scratching her behind the ear. I began to reach out to local rescues to try and find a placement for Stella and her friends. Unfortunately, Puerto Rico currently has approximately 300,000 stray animals on the street, and the euthanasia rate in the shelters is approximately 95%. Most of the rescues are already over saturated and their resources are depleted from the constant flow of puppies and kittens being born on the island. No one had space for a large adult dog. It was recommended to me that I should bring her to the clinic to be spayed and then release her back out onto the street. At least then, she wouldn't be continuing the cycle of unwanted litters and she would be protected from dangers such as pyometras.
I reluctantly agreed and made plans to take Stella to the clinic with us to be spayed with the intention on letting her loose again when we were ready to leave the island. On the morning of her spay, I spoke with the neighbors of our house and explained that I was taking Stella in to be sterilized and vaccinated, and asked them if they would consider making sure she had fresh water available after we left the island. The neighbors stoutly told me that they would not even consider that; they did not like the stray dogs in the area and wanted them gone. They would not even provide her the smallest bit of comfort or care, even if they knew she would not be contributing to their stray animal population because they did not want her there. She was not welcome.
I was shocked at their hostility toward sweet Stella, and found myself in one of the toughest moral dilemmas I have been in before. How could I walk away and leave this sweet girl behind, knowing that no one wanted her?
Stella rode in the car quietly to the clinic. She laid her head on my lap and her tail wagged the entire ride. Once at the clinic, we got Stella registered and went about our jobs that we were given volunteering at the clinic.
At the end of the day, we went over to see Stella, who was sleeping peacefully in a crate after her spay surgery. She immediately wagged her tail when she recognized us and came over to say hello. We carried her out to the car and took her back to our house with us.
By the time we arrived back at the house, we had already decided that Stella could not stay on the island. There was just something too special about her. I can't put my finger on exactly what it was that made her special, but I knew that if I walked away from her and left her on the island, I would never forgive myself.
That night, we gave Stella what was probably her first bath. She stood in the shower with her eyes half closed as brown, dirty water poured off her body. She seemed so content to finally be clean. That night, Stella slept for the first time knowing she was safe and loved.
For the rest of the time we were in Puerto Rico, Stella continued to steal our hearts. She was polite and quiet in the house. She ate whatever we gave her and never made a mess or had an accident in the house. She seemed to sense that she needed to be on her best behavior. She walked politely on a leash and made us smile frequently by offering her paw to us when she wanted our attention. We took her for walks on the beach and let her sleep in our room with us.
Stella flew home with me on May 10th. I was very nervous as to how she would act in the airport or on the plane, but my fears were soon put to rest because Stella was just as perfect as she always was. She stayed next to me throughout our journey through airport security and to the gate, and while waiting to board the plane she fell asleep next to my chair. During our flight from San Juan to Philadelphia, Stella laid quietly under my seat and even won over the heart of our seatmate, who moved her back out from under her seat so that Stella could have a little more room.
During our layover in Philadelphia, Stella accompanied me to go get dinner and laid quietly under my chair while I ate. Many people in the airport asked me if she was a service dog, which I told them she was not, and then they asked me how I trained her to be so good. I shrugged and told them it was just her personality and she was a very good dog.
Once home, Stella assimilated with our existing dogs seamlessly. She is the largest dog in the house, but she is gentle and kind with all the smaller dogs. We had learned from the neighbors that Stella has had two litters of puppies in her time on the island and she retains that very motherly affection with all the smaller dogs. She continues to steal our hearts a little more everyday as she learns how to be a house dog. Every little stepping stone is like a victory for Stella, from learning how to wait patiently for her dinner bowl to feeling comfortable enough to play with a toy. She is a beautiful and sweet dog, with big loving eyes who's tail hasn't stopped wagging since we brought her home.
On May 14th, I took Stella to work with me to be tested for tick borne diseases and heart worm disease, and unfortunately, Stella tested positive for heart worm disease. Heart worm disease is a type of worm transmitted through infected mosquito bites that grows in a dogs heart and can eventually cause heart damage and even be fatal. It can be treated, but is expensive and requires months of cage rest. While we knew this was a possibility and a risk of bringing Stella home due to the tropical area that she came from, we had prayed and prayed that she would not be affected. Our hearts broke when we saw the test.
Stella has been failed by people so many times. She has been left alone on the street to raise litters of puppies. She has been shooed away and ignored. She winces when you raise your hand around her face, so I can only assume she was also hit sometime in her short life. She has not received the care or the preventatives she needed to lead a healthy life. And yet she loves everyone she meets and has a gentle nudge with her head or a tail wag for everyone.
Stella is going to receive heart worm treatment at our primary care veterinarian, Companions First Vet Hospital. Her first appointment is Wednesday May 22nd, when she will have all of her confirmatory lab work done and will be started on antibiotics. We have been verbally quoted $1200 - $1500 for Stella's heart worm treatment, but will be provided with a formal estimate at her appointment.
We are humbly seeking donations to help offset the costs of Stella's medical care. We were not expecting to meet such a special dog, nor were we expecting to bring her home. But, sometimes life happens and plans change. We have already cancelled all of our remaining vacations for the summer in an attempt to help treat Stella's heart worm infection, both physically and financially. Any additional donations that are generated that are not needed for Stella's medical care will be donated to the Sato rescue's on the island that are providing shelter and care for many of the other stray animals in Puerto Rico.
Also, if you are not comfortable donating directly to Stella's care, please consider supporting me and my husbands small businesses - any money generated will certainly be used for caring for Stella.
Pinstripe Paw Prints : my etsy shop where I sell handmade dog clothes
E&H Painting : if you live in the Pittsburgh area, my husband paints on the side to generate extra income.
Our Story
My name is Hannah and this is my husband Eloin. We are the ones caring for Stella.
Eloin and I have been married for almost four years an our dogs are the center of our universe.
Eloin is a contractor and remodels bathrooms and kitchens for a living. I am a veterinary technician at a specialty hospital.
Eloin is originally from Puerto Rico and I am originally from Pittsburgh. We both were recently volunteers with ViDAS where we met Stella. I worked at the induction table, preparing pets for surgery, and Eloin worked as a transporter, moving sleeping dogs onto and off of surgery tables. We are both very devoted to volunteering and have also volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pittsburgh, Therapy Dogs International, and have volunteered to teach basic dog training classes at a local dog club.
While Eloin and I will somehow find a way to make sure Stella receives treatment, we would be eternally grateful for any donations that can offset the cost of her treatment. We have already invested a ton of our own resources into volunteering in Puerto Rico and getting Stella home that finances are quite tight for us right now. Please consider helping us treat our sweet girl so she can have the life she deserves.
Organizer
Hannah González
Organizer
Jefferson Hills, PA
