Dog Community

HEARTBROKEN AND GUILTY

Posted : 11/11/2008 10:12:08 PM

I hope anyone reading this can offer some prayers/ advice anything at this point. I am terribly sad, miserable, guilty and heartbroken.

Cody is a pekeginese and is 8 years old. He is the the joy of my entire family especially my kids He has brought so much joy in our life.

I am in desperate need in helping save my dog's life. My little dog Cody has been struck with intervertabral disk disease which has gotten progressivly worse. He no longer can walk straight (but can walk a little) and is in extreme pain and needs surgery. Its a neurological disease. He will eventually become paralized and will die without surgery. Currently, he is being treated with medication but because the disease is progressing the pain meds have little affect so Cody is suffering with extreme pain. I have to keep taking him to the vet to get stronger pain meds. In order for Cody to get better, he needs surgery on his back which will cost anywhere between 3,000-5,000 dollars. There is a 90% success rate if the operation is performed. *EDITED* You see, a few months ago me and my children became homeless due to a bad flood in our home. We lost everything. Currently I have my children living with family members on a temporary basis. My kids are basically sleeping in one room because there really is no space for them to have their own rooms. I must find a home for my kids. I am basically living from house to house whereever I can get a room to sleep. I am a single parent living from paycheck to paycheck to take care of my kids and to find a home. If I don't come up with this money, I will be forced to put Cody to sleep. That is something that is bothering me horribly because I know this dog can saved (specialist said he can be saved) and there is a 90% chance he can get his old spirit back. I don't want to watch him suffer in pain while waiting for a mircle. I have done everything humanly possible to save his life. I have spent nearly all I have saved up for a home to save Cody's life because I couldn't watch him cry in pain day after day. But now I am in debt and even in a bigger hole. Now, I am at the end of the road. I can't sleep watching him suffer day by day. The vet will not operate unless I have some kind of money. I can't even get credit because of the debt I have due to the vet bills that I put on credit. I did not have a choice because I love Cody with all I have and I can't watch him scream in pain. I have taken excellent care of Cody all his life groooming, wellness visit, dental care, flea meds, shots, everything. I have been an excellent mother to him but I drown in guilt knowing I might have to put him down because he's suffering. I am soooo angry right now. I feel alone and no vet will help or even offer a suggestions except death because they want their money which I can understand but they are making me feel guilty because I can't help him with surgery. But they also don't care because they want their money. I am in the process of calling a couple of animal hospitals to see if they have a emergency fund for dogs. I don't know what else to really do. I am sick with grief and exhausted knowing I can't help him the way I want because of money. It's tearing me apart when I look into his eyes.

Cody has been my family's best friend and a great little guard dog. My children are heartbroken, sad and scared and crying terribly watching him suffer. My 19 year old son loves this dog. While picking him up from the vet, with little hope that they (vet hospital) will feel sorry and possibly help us and maybe lower the cost, I watched my son shed tears quietly in the back seat of the car comforting Cody. I just stared out the window coming home in the car sheding my own tears. My kids have all taken an active role in helping with the meds, petting Cody, and even my children have taking turns sleeping on the floor so he will not suffer alone. They are trying so hard. It's sad!

IF ANYONE HAS ANY ADVICE, SUGGESTIONS OR PRAYERS I WILL TAKE ALL. NO LEADS WILL BE IGNORED.

**EDITED - Solicitation is not allowed*

*edited* just say a prayer. That doesn't cost a thing. It's just asking a second of your time. Cody is a LIVING BREATHING THING AND HAS PAIN JUST LIKE HUMANS AND LOVES JUST LIKE HUMANBEINGS. *edited* Meanwhile I will do my part until I have exhausted all. I won't give up until it's over and let Cody rest in peace if the meds no longer keeping him comfortable. Currently, Cody is stable and pain is being managed by pain meds. I don't know how long this will last. I don't want this to be his quality of life for our own selfish reasons just to keep him around. I am not inhumane. Just a individual who loves her animal.

**EDITED – Solicitation is not allowed** Moderators note: We all feel for posters with needs and concerns and do not wish to see any animal or person in pain, but solicitation of our membership is *NOT* allowed. To our members, please feel free to offer advice and/or thoughts/prayers/etc. But remember this is the internet and the offer of goodwill is the safest form of support.

sl2crmeg

Posted : 11/11/2008 10:22:22 PM

Have you tried Care Credit? It's a special type of credit card, only accepted at certain vets. [www.carecredit.com]

Also, the UAN has grants that could help you [www.uan.org] - click 'Our Programs' and then 'Lifeline Grants' at the top.

Also, I'm not sure what state you are in...if you google 'your state' vet bill assistance it may come up with more specific funding available to you.

Bonita of Bwana

Posted : 11/11/2008 10:41:10 PM

Nancy Of course Cody will be in all of our prayers and so will your family. I understand the pain and panic you are feeling truly I do. But please let me suggest you take a deep breath and look at the reality of what you are hoping to do. Putting yourself deeply in debt when you are a mom and in financial problems is something you need to rethink. You are a decent and loving woman and there is zero doubt your family loves your dog. With the holidays coming up and the economy as poor as it has been the feeling of panic and desperation are all too normal and honest. Sometimes , we have to simply understand we can not do it all. As desperately as we would love to, we just can't. Please know there is every chance the list will not be able to help you raise the kind of money you are hoping for. With children, you already have your hands full and so much to handle. I know this is not what you want to hear but as gently as I can I want to encourage you to try to find someone to talk with. Things may get worse before they begin to get better and your family is counting on you. I recently saw something about stem cell treatments for dogs who are losing their rear function, is it possible that he could become part of that program ( in the New York City area) . Have you contacted the Peke Breed lists?? Or Peke's National Club? Any chance his breeder may have some connections that could help? Have you contacted the local vet school?? Very often they will help in ways you did not even know were availible. I wish our budget was not so darn tight or I would happily send what I could. Raisng 5 grandkids is daunting at regular times right now whew it is tight! Please know if nothing else we are all here to listen, many of us have been there and completely understand the tremendous pressure you are under.

Bonita of Bwana

willowchow

Posted : 11/11/2008 10:52:16 PM

Good luck and we will be thinking of you and praying for Cody.

whtsthfrequency

Posted : 11/12/2008 12:02:09 AM

I feel alone and no vet will help or even offer a suggestions except death because they want their money

I'm having a hard time taking this seriously because of the solicitation. However, I'll give the benefit of the doubt and if this is a legitimate post, look for Good Samaritan funds and the like, because to be blunt and honest with a large unpaid credit already at the vets, you're unlikely to find help there.

Keep on with the pain meds and give him as much comfort as possible. I'll definitly say a prayer. I wish things like this did not happen, but you cannot blame vets who "just want their money"

Put yourself in our position. We CAN'T throw tons of resources into cases that cannot pay because then, we'd have to do it for everyone who couldn't pay, and the clinic would head to bankruptcy and then NO ONE ould get vet care. I'm sick and tired of people talking about how vets want money and how horrible they are because they won't extend you thousands of dollars more credit when there is already a significant unpaid credit bill. Yeah, vets are so greedy, that's why we get a four year medical degree (edited to add: 8-12 years total schooling past high school since you asked) and get paid 50-60k while human doctors get 120++ k ....

JackieG

Posted : 11/12/2008 11:04:33 AM

I'm so sorry you are going through all of this hardship. I know how deeply it can hurt to watch a pet in pain. Please try and understand that a Vet can't afford to offer free care or to extend credit sometimes. You want to be paid when you work and Vet's have the same right to earn a living.They have a staff to pay and bills to pay just like the rest of us. I hope you can find a way to have the surgery your dog needs but if the pain can't be controlled with the med's then you need to consider having your dog put to sleep. You have to take the role of protector for him, just like you do for your children. Don't let him suffer because you can't face this hard decision. I will pray for you and your family.

Sunshinegirl

Posted : 11/12/2008 1:23:32 PM

I feel for you and your situation, but if your dog is suffering as much as you say he is, you don't have the $$ to give him the care he needs and the pain meds aren't helping....as hard as it will be, as a responsible per owner, it's time to let him go to the rainbow bridge and run pain-free. Living with excrutiating pain is no way for him to live. He is in my prayers.

4HAND

Posted : 11/12/2008 1:55:52 PM

whtsthfrequency
I'm having a hard time taking this seriously because of the solicitation.

I agree, My vet is not wealthy.I would never expect her to give me her services for free.I've been in situations when extended medical care was beyond what I could afford so I allowed my pet to be euthanised.It's nothing to be ashamed of or guilty about.

Tena