Everyone who has ever had a veterinary emergency with their beloved, four-legged best friend knows both how pricey and how gut-wrenching the entire experience is.
So when one doggie dad faced veterinary expenditures reaching just shy of $24,000, he said he was willing to go to unusual measures to keep his baby girl alive.
Jaxon is the dad of a two-year-old Weimaraner named Rambo. For reasons that are still unknown, Rambo fell into hypovolemic shock, which means her heart was unable to pump blood to the rest of her body. Not only that, but she also suffered gastroenteritis, or a stomach flu.
“She began vomiting throughout the night over 30 times and by Saturday am we were in the emergency vets,” said Rambo’s dad.
As you may have guessed, this caused her health to worsen rapidly, and they weren’t sure how long she’d have to be in emergency care. On top of hypovolemic shock and gastrointestinal issues, fluids started leaking into her lungs, and she got pneumonia. One of her lungs even collapsed.
Being at the emergency vet under 24/7 surveillance is ultimately what saved her life but it cost over £1000 ($1200 USD) per day to be under their care. Rambo’s insurance would cover her up to £6500 ($7,800), but her cost was already at £11,500 ($13,800) after only a single week in their care.
So Jaxon launched a gofundme page to try to get funds for Rambo’s crucial care. He even indicated that he was willing to ‘sell his house.’
“If the worst happens and Rambo requires significant surgery, the cost of this as well as the aftercare is something I need to be able to provide my beautiful baby girl,” added Jaxon.
Her dad got so frightened that he started sleeping in his car that he parked near the vet, so that he wouldn’t be too far from his darling baby girl. But not only did more than 600 individuals donate, with the total raised already reaching £10,000 ($12,000), Rambo reacted to less intrusive therapies, and they were able to skip surgery altogether.
“My little angel is by no means completely better, it will be a long road to recovery for her and she still requires 24/7 observation at this time along with a large dose of medication. Nonetheless, we did what we said we would, we came home,” stated Jaxon.
Due to all the love, support, and outstanding treatment, Rambo started to make a miraculous recovery. After two long weeks, she was finally able to leave the hospital and travel home with her adoring dad.
Guide Dogs of America Needs Volunteer ‘Puppy Raisers’
Working with wonderful woofers, the sort of furry joy-bringers that make a difference in people’s lives?
Pitching in with a pack of incredible pups can make a lasting impression on a person’s mind, outlook, and, for sure, their spirit, too.
And that chance to lend a hand, your time, some empathy and understanding, and a whole lot of love is coming up, on Dec. 11, thanks to a “puppy raiser” training session with Guide Dogs of America.
This is a virtual happening, via Zoom, and it will be the final online information event before in-person gatherings return to the Sylmar campus in 2022.
Guide Dogs of American pairs trained pups with “… individuals who are blind/visually impaired and service dogs for veterans and children with autism,” with dogs also being placed in “hospitals, schools, and courtrooms.”
“Our highly skilled canines become trusted companions that increase people’s confidence, mobility, and independence. All programs and services, including transportation, personalized training, room/board, and postgraduate support, are provided at no cost to the recipient,” states the organization on its site.
And helping the organization achieve its mission?
Puppy raisers, those dedicated volunteers who are among some of the first people a young, in-training dog gets to know, trust, and adore.
If you choose to pursue volunteering for this life-changing role, there’ll be a few initial considerations, as well as matters you’ll want to mull.
One consideration? Where you reside. You and the puppy in your care will need to call upon the Sylmar campus on occasion, and attendance at both monthly puppy group meetings and “puppy kindergarten classes” is required.
The Dec. 11 information session will address what you can expect from meetings and classes, as well as what at-home life will be like with the future guide dog you’re helping to raise.
Questions covered include the breeds and types of puppies that volunteers raise, what can be expected in terms of puppy proofing and such, what out-of-pocket expenses might look like, and how long the puppy will live in your home.
And, yes: “(W)hat happens when the dogs ‘go off to college’ to begin formal training” is also a central topic of the session, as well as how dogs are paired with their forever people once they’ve graduated.
The word straight from Sylmar? “We ALWAYS need puppy raisers,” says Stephanie Colman, the coordinator of the puppy program.
So even if you can’t join the December Zoom, you can plan to attend an in-person information session on the Guide Dogs of America campus, in early 2022.
Could this be your new year’s resolution?
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