Help Sonny Shine Again - (for Sonny’s Medical Costs)

Hi friends,

If you have met Sonny as many of you have, you know she is the sweetest most lovably awkward and adorkable girl on the planet. She can be shy with new people, hiding behind me if someone wants to pet her when we’re out and about (This reaction is sadly due to trauma and most likely abuse from her past ). BUT if you come over to our place, she is instantly your best friend and will nudge your hand for more pets for as long as you can stand it! She is the alpha in every situation though, and will not let you or your dog forget it.

A lot of you know Sonny has gotten very ill recently . She was barely able to walk last week before given new pain meds. She is able to walk now (..albeit slowly), but has a difficult time standing up on her own. Her pain meds are causing some stomach issues now as well. After multiple vet visits, medications, and tests, we’re now facing a wave of unexpected and overwhelming medical bills. She’s currently being treated with prednisone, gabapentin, and omeprazole, but we’re still working with her vet to manage her symptoms and figure out the best next steps for her care.

We’re doing everything we can, but the costs are adding up quickly—from appointments, X-rays and diagnostics to medications and possible further treatment. So we are asking for help. If you’re able to donate anything, even a few dollars, it would mean the world to us and help provide sonny some comfort as the vets figure out what’s going on.

If you can’t donate, we completely understand—please consider sharing this fundraiser with others who might be able to help. Either way, thank you for being in Sonny’s corner. Your support, love, and prayers mean more than you can ever know.

Sonny’s Story :

I adopted Sonny from a shelter in Carrollton back in 2018. All the other dogs were barking and wagging their tails and jumping on the cage door trying to get my attention, but not Sonny. I turned the corner and was met with the most awkward stare from this beautiful heeler who couldn’t care less to engage in such bafoonery as her neighbors. She sat quietly in the back corner of her crate with her legs awkwardly splayed out. I said “that one” and we took her out to their little play area outside. I threw a ball and she did not go get it. The other dogs came up to her and she did not react or play. I thought this is an oddball just like me! When we returned to her cage, she started walking in, but then turned around came back to me and nudged my hand for more pets. I knew in that instant I had to adopt this dog!

she was 7 years old then and technically a senior dog at that time. Senior dogs are the last to be adopted, and I knew I didn’t have time to care for a puppy so it was a good fit. She’d also suffered abuse (physical most likely) from her reactivity to motion, and the vet told me she’d most likely gone hungry at some point and chewed on rocks because her teeth were in awful condition. I ended up having to get 4 of them pulled - including a top canine tooth. Other than that she was a happy goofball who ended up learning how to get along with other dogs (for the most part), play ball and catch a frisbee!

People have come and gone in my life but Sonny has remained by my side through the past 7 years. she’s been my sunshine on some of my darkest days, a comfort in tough times, and our constant, gentle, ever adorkable companion. Please help us give back to Sonny all the sunshine she has so freely given us since she entered our lives!

Medical issue:

It all started three months ago when she started limping. We took her to the vet and they recommended an xray which showed she had a giant mass of arthritis in her knee, and some in her ankle and spine. She was getting a shot of librella every month to help manage the arthritis and carprofen to help with the inflamation. This was working well for about two months.

About two weeks ago, Sonny’s mobility rapidly declined and she was barely able to stand. The vet ordered two more X-rays as they were concerned she might have bone cancer which grows from the inside of the bone out and can make the bone swell and break easily. After reviewing the X-rays, we were so grateful to learn she does NOT have bone cancer! There was still the question of why her leg was so swollen and why she is barely able to walk so they took a “slide” or a fluid sample from the swollen leg. The results were unfortunately inconclusive, but did rule out any sort of cancer.

At this point they have given Sonny Gabapentin, Tylenol/ codeine, and prednisone. Although her ability to walk again greatly improved, she began having stomach issues (vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stool) and they are now adjusting her meds and ordering more blood work.

It seems there is an issue with her small tissue but they still don’t know what it is.

Please consider donating even a couple of dollars to help Sonny. If you can’t donate, we completely understand, and just ask that you consider sharing this fundraiser on social media with others who might be able to help.

Thank you for being in Sonny’s corner. Your support, love, and prayers mean more than you can ever know.

With love,

Sonny, Alyson and Joe”