Help save Tonka from suffering!
Donation protected
Hi. My name is Nicole and this page was solely created to help "Tonka", a 13 year old sweet pitbull male that I rescued.
It was memorial day, 2018, and he was looking for help on the street. I found him with broken teeth, fleas, several tumors visible on his body, and an ulcerated tumor on the inside of his back leg that was necrotic and painful.
I took him to the vet the following day as soon as the doors opened. Our first step was going to be to check for a microchip (although I assumed he was dumped, we still wanted to do our due diligence) We did locate a microchip and once the evaluation was done by the veterinarian we proceeded to call the owner to notify her and discuss his condition.
The veterinarians initial exam revealed that in his opinion the tumor looks to be cutaneous hemangiosarcoma, and that there was a 50/50 chance of it benign or malignant. In order to really know, a proper biopsy and x-ray would be necessary. Since a microchip and the owner were found, we were not legally allowed to perform those procedures without permission.
This was all information we shared with the owner when we notified her; However, she asked that I drop him off at the Labelle Animal Control and that she would go pick him up later that day when she wasn't busy. I had a long talk with her about his care and even offered to help with his treatment. She still insisted I drop him off at the shelter.
Here comes the hard part.. I did what was asked and dropped him off at Labelle Animal Control, holding back tears, knowing if she didn't come to pick him up he would be euthanized.
Well, surprise surprise, she never came that day. She later texted me saying she was considering euthanasia, even without a proper prognosis determined by a veterinarian. My heart sank.
The following day she texted me saying she would consider owner surrendering him and that it would then allow me to remove him from the shelter and get him the help he needs.
Doug from the Labelle Animal Control was kind enough to agree that if I was to get him the medical attention that I could foster him.
What makes this such an urgent need is that unfortunately the animal control does not have the space or funding for these type of medical expenses. With with Tonka being a senior, pitbull breed, and with his condition they would immediately euthanize him.
You should have seen his face when I came back to pick him up and rescue him once more. This was his "freedom ride".
There are so many factors working against him and it is common for people to look past an elderly dog and think "what's the point?". That doesn't by any means indicate that he has any less of a will to live. My goal is to get him the treatment he needs to comfortably live out the remainder of his natural life. If his condition turns out to be untreatable, the veterinarian will still remove the external tumor that is causing him pain and he will go when he is ready, PAIN FREE. I will not allow this dog to endure any more pain, nor will my veterinarian, so if for any reason he is not doing well, is suffering or in pain that cannot be treated, we will take the ethical steps to end his suffering.
I wish nothing more than for his final years to be the best years of his life, since it doesn't seem like he was properly cared for or loved like he truly deserves. The owner said he had only ever been to the vet once in his 13 years and was primarily always an outside dog.
I ask you to please not let stereotypes fool you, Tonka is the most loving, sweet, and easy going dog I have ever had in my care.
Thank you for taking the time to read about his story, I hope you can spread this message, and if you're in the position to give a donation, every cent will go towards his immediate necessary medical attention, if we surpass the goal the remaining donations will go towards his long term care once we are able to find him a forever home. As a student on a tight budget, all I can do at this point is ask for your help. I thank each and every one of you in advance for your generosity and will continue to give updates via social media.
It was memorial day, 2018, and he was looking for help on the street. I found him with broken teeth, fleas, several tumors visible on his body, and an ulcerated tumor on the inside of his back leg that was necrotic and painful.
I took him to the vet the following day as soon as the doors opened. Our first step was going to be to check for a microchip (although I assumed he was dumped, we still wanted to do our due diligence) We did locate a microchip and once the evaluation was done by the veterinarian we proceeded to call the owner to notify her and discuss his condition.
The veterinarians initial exam revealed that in his opinion the tumor looks to be cutaneous hemangiosarcoma, and that there was a 50/50 chance of it benign or malignant. In order to really know, a proper biopsy and x-ray would be necessary. Since a microchip and the owner were found, we were not legally allowed to perform those procedures without permission.
This was all information we shared with the owner when we notified her; However, she asked that I drop him off at the Labelle Animal Control and that she would go pick him up later that day when she wasn't busy. I had a long talk with her about his care and even offered to help with his treatment. She still insisted I drop him off at the shelter.
Here comes the hard part.. I did what was asked and dropped him off at Labelle Animal Control, holding back tears, knowing if she didn't come to pick him up he would be euthanized.
Well, surprise surprise, she never came that day. She later texted me saying she was considering euthanasia, even without a proper prognosis determined by a veterinarian. My heart sank.
The following day she texted me saying she would consider owner surrendering him and that it would then allow me to remove him from the shelter and get him the help he needs.
Doug from the Labelle Animal Control was kind enough to agree that if I was to get him the medical attention that I could foster him.
What makes this such an urgent need is that unfortunately the animal control does not have the space or funding for these type of medical expenses. With with Tonka being a senior, pitbull breed, and with his condition they would immediately euthanize him.
You should have seen his face when I came back to pick him up and rescue him once more. This was his "freedom ride".
There are so many factors working against him and it is common for people to look past an elderly dog and think "what's the point?". That doesn't by any means indicate that he has any less of a will to live. My goal is to get him the treatment he needs to comfortably live out the remainder of his natural life. If his condition turns out to be untreatable, the veterinarian will still remove the external tumor that is causing him pain and he will go when he is ready, PAIN FREE. I will not allow this dog to endure any more pain, nor will my veterinarian, so if for any reason he is not doing well, is suffering or in pain that cannot be treated, we will take the ethical steps to end his suffering.
I wish nothing more than for his final years to be the best years of his life, since it doesn't seem like he was properly cared for or loved like he truly deserves. The owner said he had only ever been to the vet once in his 13 years and was primarily always an outside dog.
I ask you to please not let stereotypes fool you, Tonka is the most loving, sweet, and easy going dog I have ever had in my care.
Thank you for taking the time to read about his story, I hope you can spread this message, and if you're in the position to give a donation, every cent will go towards his immediate necessary medical attention, if we surpass the goal the remaining donations will go towards his long term care once we are able to find him a forever home. As a student on a tight budget, all I can do at this point is ask for your help. I thank each and every one of you in advance for your generosity and will continue to give updates via social media.
Give $20 to help get this fundraiser to its goal
Organizer
Nicole Mayer
Organizer
Lehigh Acres, FL
