Dog Squad

May has been overwhelming, bringing a flood of both personal and rescue-related challenges that have tested us to our limits. Despite the exhaustion that comes from both the emotional and physical demands of our work, our commitment to the animals in our care at Dog Squad remains unwavering. As the saying goes, after every storm comes the sunshine, and we are holding onto that hope.

Dog Squad is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing dogs with complex medical needs, providing them the second chances they deserve. Our mission is supported by 11 personal dogs who are not just pets but pivotal in helping our foster dogs adapt to new lives. These dogs assist in teaching basic obedience, integrating fosters into daily routines, and socializing these once-homeless animals. We have always taken pride in funding our personal pets' medical needs ourselves, ensuring all donated funds go directly to our fosters. Even during financial hardships within our rescue efforts, our founder, Randy, has personally covered medical bills for our foster animals without seeking reimbursement.

However, this month has brought unexpected and severe medical crises that have strained our personal and rescue resources beyond anticipated limits. Two of our beloved personal dogs, who are integral to our rescue efforts, are currently facing life-threatening health issues:

- Charm is a delightful three-year-old dog tripawd who has become a beloved member of the Dog Squad family. Many of you might recognize her from our social media, often sporting her prosthetic limb which she wears with pride. We initially fostered Charm in August 2021 to assist another rescue and were so captivated by her spirit that we couldn't let her go. Charm's journey with us began shortly after her leg was amputated due to severe injury caused by entanglement in a chain. Despite this rough start, Charm has been in good health—until recently.

Last Monday night, Charm experienced an extremely violent grand mal seizure, the likes of which we had never seen before. She emerged disoriented and frightened, taking nearly 45 minutes to recognize us again. We rushed her to the vet the following morning, where Dr. Price conducted tests and found elevated white blood cells (WBC). X-rays intended to check her vital organs accidentally revealed troubling spots on her lungs.

Over the next few days, Charm developed a shallow cough and despite a strict antibiotic regimen, her condition worsened. By Sunday, she showed signs of fever, and we managed her symptoms as best we could at home. On Monday, we returned to the vet where, thankfully, her WBC levels had normalized, and no further seizures had occurred. However, the lung X-rays showed no improvement, prompting a transfer to Fetch for specialized care.

At Fetch, Dr. Watson performed detailed evaluations, including radiographs and a lung ultrasound. The findings were concerning: B-lines and shred sign on the ultrasound suggested severe lung issues. Dr. Watson feared a possible mass or lung lobe torsion and referred Charm to Dr. DeClue, an internal medicine specialist, for a comprehensive full body CT scan and respiratory evaluation.

Charm's condition necessitated an immediate unexpected stay in the ICU following the CT scan. The team discovered significant disease in her right lung, including an abscess of unknown origin. The complexity of her condition means we are still seeking answers about whether a progressive disease led to her seizure, or if the seizure contributed to her lung complications.

The costs for her diagnostics and hospitalization alone range between $6,942.26 and $11,207.87, excluding any forthcoming treatment or surgery. Dr. DeClue is exploring all medical options to avoid surgery.

We are reaching out for your support to help cover these unexpected and significant medical expenses. Any contribution will greatly assist in providing Charm with the care she needs to hopefully recover and continue inspiring us all with her resilience and joy.

- Bode is our cherished 15-year-old senior pup, holds a special place in our hearts and the history of Dog Squad. He was the first dog Randy rescued and rehabbed from the streets 14 years ago, inspiring the creation of our 501(c)3 organization. Bode's journey from a street dog to a beloved companion is why he graces our logo.

Until recently, Bode has enjoyed robust health, despite undergoing a procedure to remove 15 teeth last year. Around that time, we noticed some signs of cognitive decline, although his physical health remained strong. Unfortunately, Bode experienced a suspected stroke yesterday, which caused him to fall down a flight of stairs. Since then, he has struggled with balance, appearing disoriented and walking unsteadily, similar to being drunk, and he has developed a head tilt—a common sign of a stroke.

Today, Dr. Price examined Bode and ran a comprehensive blood panel, which thankfully returned with no concerns. However, he displayed symptoms of vestibular disease, which could be linked to a brain tumor or stroke. Our priority is Bode's comfort; he has started on prednisone to reduce inflammation, gabapentin for pain relief, and later today, we will begin a human medication to aid his balance.

As Bode faces these challenges, we are reaching out for your support to help manage his medical needs and ensure his comfort in his remaining days of his golden years. Your contributions are invaluable to us and to Bode, who continues to inspire us every day.

In addition to these crises, three of our foster dogs are also undergoing treatment for their own complex medical issues, further compounding the financial burden.

- Amee is a sweet 2-3 year old foster dog, has been a joy in her foster home and until recently, has had a seamless health record. However, last week, her foster parents observed a worrying change: her pupils were differing significantly in size. Concerned, they took Amee to see Dr. Price at Riverside Vet for a thorough examination.

After an extensive evaluation, Dr. Price recommended that Amee see a specialist to explore the possibility of neurological issues, which could range from a brain tumor to a viral infection affecting her nervous system. In the meantime, Amee has been prescribed Prednisone and Clindamycin, along with an antibiotic ointment to manage her eye discharge and to heal a stubborn sore on her flank.

The upcoming neurology consultation is expected to be quite expensive. We are reaching out to our community for support to help cover the costs of this unexpected specialist visit. Any help you can provide will ensure that Amee receives the best possible care and continues to thrive in her foster home.

- Hope is a loving 12-month-old foster dog who was rescued in a dire state from a highway in Georgia in March 2024. Initially emaciated, Hope had gained over 10 lbs and seemed to be recovering well. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago, she began experiencing severe symptoms including black, tarry diarrhea and vomiting blood clots similar to raspberry jam, leading us to fear a parvo infection. She was quickly hospitalized with severe anemia, exhibiting symptoms such as pale gums and chaotic lab results, including extremely low blood counts, melena, leukocytosis, and more.

Surprisingly, despite being dewormed three times prior, her tests revealed a heavy burden of parasites including hookworms, roundworms, and tapeworms. This was a shocking and frustrating discovery, particularly as hookworms are becoming increasingly resistant to common preventatives and can be as deadly as parvo if untreated.

Following her discharge, Hope returned home where we showered her with love and care. However, during a follow-up visit, we learned her condition was still precarious, requiring additional rounds of deworming. Thankfully, recent tests show some signs of improvement, though her health battle continues as her labs have returned to hospitalization levels.

In light of Hope's situation, we've proactively dewormed all 15 dogs in our care at a substantial cost of over $800 to prevent further spread.

As we continue to fight for Hope's recovery, her veterinary expenses are mounting. She is scheduled for another lab check this Friday, May 24, and we are hopeful for positive news. We deeply appreciate any support you can offer to help cover these rising costs and ensure Hope, along with the other dogs in our care, can have a healthy, happy future.

- Bernie is a resilient 1.5-year-old Great Pyrenees who has captured the hearts of many since we rescued him from the euthanasia list in February 2024. Found by animal control in Spartanburg in a harrowing state—trapped in a bear trap with bullet wounds to his chest and leg, and a shattered humerus—Bernie's initial condition was dire. He was dirty, covered in his own waste, and his coat was severely matted. To compound his struggles, Bernie tested positive for Heartworm disease.

Thanks to your support, Bernie underwent successful fracture repair surgery. He has been participating in physical therapy, finding particular benefit in hydrotherapy. Despite these efforts, his recovery has been challenging. Recent concerns have arisen because Bernie isn't using his leg as well as expected at this stage. On May 8, 2024, x-rays showed good bone healing, but revealed that one of the metal implants might be irritating the surrounding soft tissue. We've decided to continue rest with plans to re-evaluate through further x-rays in eight weeks to determine if surgical intervention is needed to remove the irritating metal piece.

Additionally, Bernie has started the rigorous process of heartworm treatment, which included his first of three adulticide injections necessary to kill the adult heartworms. This treatment requires Bernie to undergo strict kennel rest to avoid the risk of fatal blockages in his lungs as the heartworms die and decompose. The second and third injections will be administered 24 hours apart, 30 days after the initial dose, followed by another 6-8 weeks of kennel rest.

Heartworm treatment, even with a rescue discount, will cost between $2,506.83 and $2,634.33—far surpassing the cost of preventative care.

We are reaching out once again for your support to cover Bernie's ongoing medical expenses. Every contribution helps us ensure that Bernie can continue his recovery in safety and comfort, and hopefully, find his forever home once he's fully recovered.

We are reaching out to our community for support during this critical time. No amount is too small to make a difference. Your contributions will directly aid in covering the medical expenses of Charm, Bode, and our foster dogs, helping us to provide the necessary care and life-saving treatments they desperately need.

Thank you for helping us weather this storm. Together, we can bring back the sunshine for these deserving dogs.

Dog Squad is an IRS-registered 501(c)3 nonprofit dog rescue organization located in Greenville, SC. We do not receive any funding from local or federal governmental agencies, and rely 100% on donations by community members like you. Our IRS federal tax ID is 87-3968693.

Learn more about each dog’s story:

Instagram: @dogsquad_sc

Facebook: @dogsquadsc