Help Fred Keep His Eyes!

If you only have time for a short version: Our sweet pup, Fred, had been diagnosed with a slipped lens in one eye, and an acute risk of developing ulcers in the other. To ensure his safety and maintain his quality of life, the vet overseeing his care has advised us that we’ll need to start taking more stringent (and costly) measures to help him. This means 3 different types of eyedrops three times a day, medication twice a day, and a possible set of surgeries in his future. If his condition worsens, the ophthalmologist has told us very clearly that his eyes would need to be removed entirely, for his safety. We obviously don’t want things to come to that, so we’re asking for your help with Fred’s care. We are normally not the type to ask for help, but this is bigger than us: this is our pup, who is our whole world. PLEASE help us to help him.

If you’re still with me, here’s a bit more background…

As anybody who meets us quickly finds out, we are all about our dogs. Cooper, Fred, and Aimee are the center of our world, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. All of our pups are rescues, but Freddie is unique in that he found us. Since he first ran up to us in the streets of Oakland as a skinny but joy-filled little puppy in 2015, we’ve done everything possible to get & keep him happy and healthy. Over the years, this has meant vet appointments, periods of specialized diets, and diligent daily care to manage & mitigate the effects of his allergies, which are pretty severe.

Despite the rough start and the health issues he deals with, our little dude has been a very happy, healthy dog for many years, and we want to keep him that way. To do that we’ll need to keep him on specialized eye drops every day, multiple times a day, for the rest of his life. He’ll also need regular re-checks with a specialist. None of these interventions come cheap and, because Freddie was a rescue with preexisting conditions, he’s never been able to qualify for pet insurance, so we’re paying for everything out of pocket.

While he’s worth every penny to us, those pennies are getting increasingly tight. Right now, one of his owners is out of work, so we’re subsisting on one income - no mean feat in the Bay Area! They’re searching for a new job, but as they also have a disability and use a wheelchair part-time, this job hunt has proved tricky. We’d been hanging in there off savings for a while, but are now going into a bit of debt, and don’t have the funds we’d like to care for Fred as he both needs and deserves.

To keep his care consistent, we’re asking for $7,000. While this might seem like a high number, it was arrived at after some thinking. First, we want to prepare for the potential that he will need surgery suddenly. The veterinary ophthalmologist has advised us that, if ulcers did develop, we’d have almost no notice before he needed to be operated on, so we’re watching carefully for any signs. Based on the itemized breakdown provided to us by the surgery center, that procedure would cost up to $6,467.49. We’ve already paid $1,423 to hold off any further damage, via an in-office procedure and application of specific medications. We’re committed to continuing his medication, which costs us upwards of $80 per month, for the duration of his life. Finally, he’ll need regular bloodwork to make sure he’s reacting well to the medications and is staying healthy. To save you doing the math, that’s anywhere from $14,610.49 (if he’s with us another seven years, which would be great!) or $10,770.49 (if he’s only with us another three, we want them to be a *fantastic* three), without factoring in the bloodwork, as what’s needed there might vary by appointment. We can provide more detailed breakdowns of the procedure costs upon request, if you’d like that info before donating.

Freddie is our world - ever since he became part of our family, he’s brought so much joy to our lives, and has truly helped in shaping us into the people we are now. He provides a great example of how to enjoy things and truly live in the moment. Anxiety attacks, stressful days at work, even illness - all of them fade in comparison to Fred’s genuine delight in living every moment to the full. It is impossible to be sad around him for long. He is our joy personified. (Or, I suppose, puppified!)

Any contribution, of any size, is appreciated more than we can say. Fred is the light of our life, and we want to keep him shining. Thank you so much for reading, and thank you in advance for donating!! Give your pets a hug for us <3