Porter needing Urgent Surgery

Hey Guys, it’s Alicia.

If you know me, well then you probably know my brindle, silly under bite, long legged, rascal dog Porter. Ive been lucky enough to call this pup mine for the last 10 years.

I’ve been up most the night looking at this screen and debating whether to write something or not and then what to say. I spent the majority of yesterday evening in the Emergency Vet trying to figure out why Porter hasn’t been able to keep anything down the past 72 hours. Even something as easy as a tablespoon of water he throws up.

After blood work, x-rays, and tests, somehow Porter ingested some foreign object and now it is stuck in the portion of the stomach called the pylorus. The pylorus is the valve-like opening that lets food exit the stomach and enter the intestine. It’s crazy because out of my two dogs, he is not the one to go around eating random things. Since it has not passed and because of the size of it, Porter’s E.R. Vet determined that it needs to be removed surgically. The odds look good that he would make a full recovery but this needs to take place asap for him to survive.

Unfortunately the cost of everything is completely out of my price range of what I can afford right now. Especially after this ER visit for him. If this was something that did not have a likelihood of survival, I would not put him through it. But since the vet seems confident he would make a full recovery without much pain, I am trying to see if there is anyway possible to be able to move forward with the procedure.

As I try and process this, I can’t not think about how many people are struggling in life themselves, right now. With the pandemic, losing a job, and some medical things I did not expect to happen in my own life, I can completely relate. That’s why I keep debating if I should submit this.

It’s hard to think of Porter as just my dog when he has been so much more to myself and many others. He forces me to get out of bed on hard days, puts a smile on everyone’s face he meets “including all of the staff in the ER, even while not feeling great,” and he truly has been the best companion and protector anyone could ask for.

Please keep Porter & I in your thoughts and prayers as I try and figure out what’s next for him. If anyone would like to help with these financial expenses, I would truly appreciate it oh so very much. He brings light to so many people, I just don’t think his journey is done yet. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Thank you so much.

Love you guys, Alicia & Porter