Irina

Vinny entered the shelter at about 3 months old, where he was diagnosed by the shelter veterinarian with a congenital heart defect, meaning he was born with this condition. At that time, his heart murmur was graded 3/6. Over the following months, while Vinny was still a growing puppy, his condition progressed to grade 4/6, indicating increased strain on his heart.  Vinny is now only 10 months old, and I adopted him just two weeks ago. The fact that his condition progressed during puppyhood is medically significant and very different from an older dog developing a mild heart murmur later in life. Because his heart is still developing, Vinny requires ongoing cardiology monitoring, and there is a strong possibility that he may need heart surgery once he is fully grown, if his health allows. This decision can only be made by a veterinary cardiologist as he matures.  Because of his heart condition, Vinny cannot safely fly. To bring him home safely, I drove from Las Vegas to Nashville, Tennessee to adopt him and then drove all the way back. All adoption and medical records are available upon request.  Vinny’s condition requires specialized cardiology checkups every 4–6 months, with each visit ranging from $900 to $2,000, depending on the testing and imaging required. Estimated future heart surgery cost ranges from $6,000 to $10,000.  Despite these challenges, Vinny is full of life, love, and resilience. He is a little fighter who wants nothing more than to feel safe, loved, and comfortable. I am fully committed to giving him the best care possible and ensuring his heart is carefully monitored so he can live a happy, healthy life for as long as possible.  All funds raised will be used strictly for Vinny’s medical care, including cardiology visits, diagnostics, medications, and any future treatment recommended by his veterinary specialists. If any funds remain unused after Vinny’s medical needs are met, they will be re-donated to help other dogs in need, so the support continues to make a difference beyond Vinny.  Thank you for being part of Vinny’s journey and for supporting a dog who never gave up on love.❤️