Guide-Dog-Wes:-Emergency-Vet-Bills
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Not only is Wes a furry friend & family member, he is my guide dog. I am totally blind & Wes & I have been a team for 5 years now. My boy has had extensive & specialized training from The Seeing Eye to allow me to live an independent & adventurous life. Between working two jobs, running a household & a social life, Wes enables me to perform all my tasks with ease & confidence.
When Wes is not in harness he is my baby. He loves to play tug with his rope & gnaw on his bones. If Wes is resting & he hears me call his name, he thumps his tail on the floor so I can locate him.
Dogs will be dogs & a month or so ago, Wes got into the garbage & pulled out a corn cob. When I realized he had something that did not sound like his normal toy bone, I went to investigate. At this point, Wes knew I wanted what he had & ended up swallowing the corn cob.
Keep in mind, at this point I did not know exactly what he had, so I went on about my business after not finding anything.
This past week, Wes got very sick; vomiting, and not eating or drinking. I called my vet & promptly took him for a visit. After X-rays only showing some air pockets, the vet decided emergency exploratory surgery was necessary. Her exploration found the corn cob way down in the small intestines. The areas it had already passed through were angry & stretched out.
Wes was nowhere out of the woods as the vet explained, they would have to watch him for the next 48 hours. There was potential that his intestines would have to be resectioned if the damaged areas did not recover.
My visits were heartbreaking as my boy had lost weight, he could barely hold his head up & could not figure out how to lay down with the massive incision on his belly. His tail was just hanging, not wagging & the lack of kisses was disturbing.
I received a call saying that another emergency surgery was necessary, his intestines were leaking. The goal this time was to resection the intestines & remove the damaged area caused by the corn cob. A full recovery is expected, but it will be several weeks before I can work Wes & put him in his harness.
With two emergency surgeries in the span of two days, plus the five days of around the clock care he has been getting at the animal hospital, I am overwhelmed with the financial stress that lays ahead & it's not going to end there. Wes will have antibiotics, a special diet, follow up visits & ultra sounds to check healing & progress of the resection.
Wes is not just my pet, he is my eyes, my independence, my protector. I truly appreciate your generosity & believe with caring people this stressful & terrifying event can be a happy ending when I am able to bring my boy home.
Please take a few more moments & read the kind words a few of my friends wanted to share with you about Wes & what a huge part of my life he is. Once again, thank you for your support & kind donation.
Wes is tonia’s left arm. He’s always there and if he’s not, it feels like a part of your body is missing. A seeing eye dog gives a blind person the freedom to walk with your head held high; and without bumping into everything in your path because you have to do that exact thing with a cane in your hand. Wes is a federal government employee. He goes to work with Tonia at the Census Bureau and does his job every time. He is exceptional in his way of leading Tonya right where she needs to go. Without him, Tonya would have a more difficult time going to her two jobs and having a social life. Imagine trying to go to a store and go grocery shopping without your site. Now, imagine navigating the aisles with all of the people and grocery carts while also trying to find what you need. A cane just does not do the job.
But, all of that means nothing. The bond between a dog and their blind person is one that only we can know. Tonia’s life has been shattered, because a part of her is Hurt. Imagine if it were your child, mother, brother or sister. There is absolutely no way to explain the pure love bond with words.
Tonya and Wes are a good team. Please do anything you can to help.
Britt R. Cook.
I know all guide dogs are invaluable & perform an amazing service to their user & Wes is no exception. Wes is Tonia's trusty companion & gives Tonia the ability to conduct her busy life in a safe, timely & confident manor. Out of that harness, Wes is the most lovable & playful dog around. He knows who to come to for a treat & who will spend fun belly rubbing time with him in the floor. Tonia takes excellent care of Wes with regular vet check ups, researching the best food, lots of love & fun time.
Of course Tonia would do whatever it takes to give Wes the best care & life saving surgery, & anyone would do the same! Wes is priceless!
Nickie Pearl
When Wes is not in harness he is my baby. He loves to play tug with his rope & gnaw on his bones. If Wes is resting & he hears me call his name, he thumps his tail on the floor so I can locate him.
Dogs will be dogs & a month or so ago, Wes got into the garbage & pulled out a corn cob. When I realized he had something that did not sound like his normal toy bone, I went to investigate. At this point, Wes knew I wanted what he had & ended up swallowing the corn cob.
Keep in mind, at this point I did not know exactly what he had, so I went on about my business after not finding anything.
This past week, Wes got very sick; vomiting, and not eating or drinking. I called my vet & promptly took him for a visit. After X-rays only showing some air pockets, the vet decided emergency exploratory surgery was necessary. Her exploration found the corn cob way down in the small intestines. The areas it had already passed through were angry & stretched out.
Wes was nowhere out of the woods as the vet explained, they would have to watch him for the next 48 hours. There was potential that his intestines would have to be resectioned if the damaged areas did not recover.
My visits were heartbreaking as my boy had lost weight, he could barely hold his head up & could not figure out how to lay down with the massive incision on his belly. His tail was just hanging, not wagging & the lack of kisses was disturbing.
I received a call saying that another emergency surgery was necessary, his intestines were leaking. The goal this time was to resection the intestines & remove the damaged area caused by the corn cob. A full recovery is expected, but it will be several weeks before I can work Wes & put him in his harness.
With two emergency surgeries in the span of two days, plus the five days of around the clock care he has been getting at the animal hospital, I am overwhelmed with the financial stress that lays ahead & it's not going to end there. Wes will have antibiotics, a special diet, follow up visits & ultra sounds to check healing & progress of the resection.
Wes is not just my pet, he is my eyes, my independence, my protector. I truly appreciate your generosity & believe with caring people this stressful & terrifying event can be a happy ending when I am able to bring my boy home.
Please take a few more moments & read the kind words a few of my friends wanted to share with you about Wes & what a huge part of my life he is. Once again, thank you for your support & kind donation.
Wes is tonia’s left arm. He’s always there and if he’s not, it feels like a part of your body is missing. A seeing eye dog gives a blind person the freedom to walk with your head held high; and without bumping into everything in your path because you have to do that exact thing with a cane in your hand. Wes is a federal government employee. He goes to work with Tonia at the Census Bureau and does his job every time. He is exceptional in his way of leading Tonya right where she needs to go. Without him, Tonya would have a more difficult time going to her two jobs and having a social life. Imagine trying to go to a store and go grocery shopping without your site. Now, imagine navigating the aisles with all of the people and grocery carts while also trying to find what you need. A cane just does not do the job.
But, all of that means nothing. The bond between a dog and their blind person is one that only we can know. Tonia’s life has been shattered, because a part of her is Hurt. Imagine if it were your child, mother, brother or sister. There is absolutely no way to explain the pure love bond with words.
Tonya and Wes are a good team. Please do anything you can to help.
Britt R. Cook.
I know all guide dogs are invaluable & perform an amazing service to their user & Wes is no exception. Wes is Tonia's trusty companion & gives Tonia the ability to conduct her busy life in a safe, timely & confident manor. Out of that harness, Wes is the most lovable & playful dog around. He knows who to come to for a treat & who will spend fun belly rubbing time with him in the floor. Tonia takes excellent care of Wes with regular vet check ups, researching the best food, lots of love & fun time.
Of course Tonia would do whatever it takes to give Wes the best care & life saving surgery, & anyone would do the same! Wes is priceless!
Nickie Pearl
Organizer
Tonia Boyd Gatton
Organizer
Louisville, KY
