Skittles
On
December 30th we adopted our neat little 1 year old female cocker spaniel
. I was dead set against getting a dog , but after a few days this little
girl wiggled her way into all of our hearts . She is now
an integral part of our family. the application with the SPCA requires a
visit to the veterinarian within 5 working days . We looked at this
as a mere formality to make sure all the I's were doted and the T's were
crossed . When I came home , my wife was in tears .
The vet told her that our little Cocker had full blown juvenile cataracts
. He gave her the names of local Veterinary ophthamologist's. we
visited two of them . The cost of doing surgery will be between $1500.00
and $1900.00 , The SPCA has offered to pay over
$600.00 . There is no way we can afford this operation on our little dog.
But, what can we do ? if we return her to the SPCA they would have to put
her down . There is no way I could let that happen . Is there anyone that
you know that could help ?
Sincerely, the Johnson Family
RE-Written for the Johnson family by Connie Brooks Shelter Manager SPCA
Any help you give "skittles" would be truly appreciated .
Thanks for such a wonderful job you do helping people and pets.
Update
March 17, 2000
"Dear IMOM,
Thank you very, very much for your help. Now that
she can see Skittles is a happy, run around little lady.Thank you again, Jerry D. Johnson"
IMOM donated $500 from our Blind Dogs Fund to pay for
Skittles surgery. She is recovering very nicely!
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Pebbles
Diagnosis: Diabetic Cataracts
Amount needed $1800 - Owner can pay $800
November 18
I have
an 8 year old cocker spaniel named Pebbles. This summer she was
diagnosed with diabetes milletus and became blind due to
cataract formation attributable to the diabetes.
I got Pebbles with my brother and sister when she was just 7
weeks old.
Pebbles has always been a member of our family, she's the baby.
Pebbles has an incredible personality -- she's smart, sweet,
friendly, obedient, she can do a million tricks and yes, she has
an independent and "bitchy" side too. More
importantly, Pebbles is an incredible friend to each of us and
she is the glue that holds us together as we get older and grow
apart.
This summer my brother, who lived with me and Pebbles for the
past year, moved out and Pebbles began acting strange. I thought
that she was just stressed or depressed. She was drinking
excessive amounts of water and having accidents in the house,
which just isn't like her. Pebbles also began to lose
weight rapidly and developed an eye infection in both eyes,
which we couldn't seem to clear up. One day I noticed that
rather than snatching her treats from my hand, she first located
them with her nose and then took them from me. My heart
stopped because I realized she couldn't see her treats. By the
following day, Pebbles was walking into walls in her own home.
She had gone blind virtually overnight.
That week Pebbles' veterinarian, Dr. Breitweiser, diagnosed her
with diabetes and confirmed that she had gone blind due to
cataract formation from the diabetes. We immediately
started giving her insulin shots twice a day and testing the
glucose levels in her urine daily. Pebbles started with 1 unit
of Humulin N twice a day and we increased her dosage by 1 unit a
day until her glucose level got down to approximately 1/4 on the
Diastix testing strips. She is also on a strict diet of
Eukenuba Glucose Control Dry Food mixed with a couple of
tablespoons of canned Science Diet R/D food. Finally,
Pebbles' glucose levels are stabilized and she is getting 17
units of insulin twice a day.
Now that Pebbles' glucose levels are stable, Dr. Breitweiser
assures me that she can undergo cataract surgery. Dr.
Breitweiser referred Pebbles to an experienced veterinarian
ophthalmologist, Dr. Ringle. Pebbles has had two office
visits with Dr. Ringle and an electroretinogram (ERG). I'm
relieved to report that Pebbles' ERG results were positive and
Dr. Ringle has determined that she is a good candidate for
cataract
surgery. She is scheduled to have the surgery on December
5, 2000.
The past three months have been very difficult for me and my
family, but Pebbles is feeling better and is quite the little
trouper. She has adapted to her blindness and usually
loves all the extra attention she's been getting.
My brother and sister have been very supportive during this
awful crisis. My brother moved back home to help me out
with Pebbles. He spends a lot of time with her while I am
at work (he works mostly evenings and weekends and I work
9-5 weekdays). We live in a third floor walk up that has outdoor
stairs. Now, Pebbles can't handle the stairs
and needs to be carried up and down. She is pretty heavy
for me and, thankfully, my brother has been carrying her for me.
Unfortunately, he has back problems and it has taken a harsh
toll on him.
My sister has been able to help a bit with the vet bills and
pharmaceutical expenses. She will also be helping me with
the surgical expenses. But the costs are still overwhelming me.
So far I have spent approximately $1500 between diagnosing and
regulating her diabetes, purchasing her insulin, syringes and
test strips as well as expensive food for her special diet.
I just do not know how else I am going to raise the money for
her surgery. It would be a horrible shame if she remained
blind because I could not raise enough money to pay for the
surgery, while her vision is correctable.
Pebbles and I thank you so much!!! Janis
Pebbles
has surgery on 12/14/00
Thank You to every
one that helped contribute to Pebbles & the Blind Dog Fund.
We are so happy to report that Pebbles got her cataracts
removed——from both eyes——and for the first time in
almost 5 months: Pebbles CAN SEEEEE!!!!! Hooray!!!! YaHOOOOO!!!
THANK YOU to everybody! Thank You!~ Thank You!~ Thank You!~
Thank You!
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Zebby
Diagnosis: Needs cataract surgery
Zebby's family can pay half. The estimate is for $2000
10/4/00
 We
have had Zebby since April of 1997. She was an
Easter gift from my husband's parents. I'll never forget
seeing her hide behind the couch the first time we saw her.
It is hard for me to write the little "cute" things
she does, because everything she does is cute. I get so
excited on my way home from work, because I know she will be
rolling over at the front door when I get there. Her
loyalty fills our hearts with such joy and comfort. It
breaks my heart to see her try to look in my eyes, like she did
before, and she actually is looking off to the side. Her
favorite thing to do is play catch with her tennis ball, and now
the ball goes right over her head and she doesn't see it.
I want to give her back the happiness she brings us. It is
bad timing for this to have
happened. Just after she was diagnosed as blind, we had to
move with the Army. We are lucky, because we are close to
a good veterinary school, but they need payment in full.
With the move and all the maintenance that goes along with it,
we are having a hard time financially. But, I am willing
to do anything to get my Zebby back to her happy little self.
Zebby had surgery
on 11/14/002
Zebby can see! We
had a scare because the pressure was not going down after the
surgery. Everything is normal now, and Zebby is her peppy little
self again. It is hard keeping her from jumping and running, but
we're managing. She looks so cute in her lamp shade.
Rivers
Thanks to your generosity, River's financial needs have
been met. Surgery
was on
August 16.
Please visit River's
page for an incredible update.
Diagnosis: Blindness and Severe
Pain from Glaucoma
7/24/00
Imagine being blind. Now imagine having such excruciating pain in your
sightless eyes, that every blink is torture. This is what River goes
through 24 hours a day.
 River
is a 5 year old Husky who is one of the most courageous, intelligent
dogs you would ever want to meet. He also has a big heart to match. River
loves attention, even if it's only a little ear rub and a biscuit.
Like most Huskies, River loves to walk and run full force even while on a
leash. However, River is also blind, but don't tell that to River,
he doesn't realize what that means.
His best friend, Mike, took him to a Veterinary Ophthalmologist to see if
River’s sight could be restored. River suffers from heredity glaucoma.
Sadly, he will never see again. But far more horrible is that the
glaucoma is causing him extreme pain. To relieve this pain, the only
options are either to remove his eyes, attempt a chemical injection
procedure (which may still result in eye removal) or have River put to
sleep. Certainly for Mike, putting his best friend to sleep is
unthinkable.
River’s ophthalmologist recommends immediate surgery to remove River’s
eyes, replacing them with artificial ones that will provide comfort and
reduce the risk of infection. Unfortunately, even though River needs the
operation as soon as possible, Mike is trying to raise the money needed.
The ophthalmologist is helping out by reducing the surgery cost, but Mike
doesn't know how long it'll take to raise the funds, and he can't stand
the thought of River being in such pain.
Please, if you can help relieve River of his agony, a beautiful Husky
and his best friend will be very grateful.
Please visit River's
page for an incredible update !
Sam
 Sam is a terrific boy with lots of love to give, but has cataracts and
is blind in both eyes.
He is Tan and White Parti coloring with a terrific disposition.
Sam was given up at a shelter and is now in foster care. He is
neutered, current on his shots, housebroken and on heartworm preventative.
Sam loves to lounge in the backyard and will take a break from napping
to pursue his career of "backhoe specialist". In other
words, Sam loves to dig! Rescue is trying to change Sam's career
choice, but this is something that Sam feels he need to do. Where
Sam thinks he's digging to remains a mystery.
Sam is only 4 & 1/2 years old and has a long, happy life ahead.
Please help us to help Sam so he can go to the loving home
he so deserves.
Update
IMOM has pledged $500 toward Sam's surgery, from our Blind
Dogs Fund. The total cost is $1200.
Sam's surgery has been scheduled for October 4th
Update
Sam had his cataract surgery and can now see in both eyes
thanks to all the wonderful people who sent donations and a
wonderful veterinarian.
Sam is a very happy boy now that he can see again. When he saw the grass
and trees for the first time in months with his tail wagging as fast
as it could, and he looked into my eyes for the first time, I
could not hold back the tears. For the grateful look in his eyes
will always be with me and get me through the difficult times of
rescue work.
Thanks to all the wonderful people who sent donations and the wonderful
doctor that performed the surgery, Sam will have a whole new world open up
to him. Sam still needs someone very special to open their heart to
him and provide him with a permanent home. He has lots of love
to offer and will give you undying affection. He'll also make
sure you never have a dull moment, he's a very special soul. He can
even assist with digging in the garden so he may be better going on
walks if you're not interested in planting anything.
Debbie
Davenport - Sam's foster mom
Kiya
A blind senior
Malamute rescue with heartworms
IMOM Blind Dogs Fund has pledged to help with
Kiya's treatment. Click
here to make your donation.
 Doesn't this look like a dog you'd just like to give
a great big hug?!
Excerpt from the Senior Dog
Rescue Society web site:
"Kiya has come a very long way since coming
into foster care - she was very frightened when she first arrived -
she did not know what stairs were, was afraid of the other dogs in
the household and was generally unsettled. She has improved 1000%,
and now wags her tail on a regular basis. She is a very Special
Senior and we are commited to her, for the rest of her life.
We received the bad news on March 14 that Kiya is heartworm
positive. We will be starting treatment shortly. We need your help!
Over the past several months, SCRS actively funded heartworm
treatment for seniors from other rescue groups (see the excerpt from
our newsletter below) - as a result of very poor planning on my
part, I didn't set any funds aside for the possibility that one of
*our* foster dogs might require heartworm treatment (it is very
uncommon where I live)."
April 28
Hi Jacki and Linda,
Just wanted to let you know that Kiya started her second round of
treatment yesterday and had none of the complications of the first
round. She was not
in any serious pain, was up and eating and walking around - NO
problem.
WHEW. We are almost through this nightmare. Thank you
once again for all your help!!!!!
Jude
It isn't over yet!
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