Supporting Chief’s Legacy
Donation protected
Two years ago, after Sydney and Jim suffered their second miscarriage in a year, they decided they needed some happiness and for them, that meant a second puppy. From the moment they met Chief, it was clear he was made for them and he was their way back to joy. He has brought so much happiness to the two of them and is such an important part of their family.
Labor Day weekend started as each Labor Day weekend does for the Cusicks. On the Eastern shore, at their favorite place hanging out with their favorite people.
Saturday morning, 9/4, Chief was in discomfort and didn’t want to retrieve his beloved tennis ball. He never puts the ball down so Jim and Syd were concerned. After symptoms worsened, they sought emergency medical treatment in Annapolis.
They believe Chief was bitten on 9/3 by a brown recluse spider in their new truck they bought on 9/1.
Chief was discharged Saturday night with a 6x2 wound, antibiotic, and pain meds. Come Sunday morning, 9/5, he was not doing well. His head was involuntarily shaking. We were told to give him another codeine and not to bring him in. By Sunday afternoon, Chief was breathing so much faster than a dog should be. Jim and Syd decided to take him back to Annapolis for further care because they had his medical records from the night before.
Sunday night Chief was admitted to the hospital with a decreased white blood cell count, dehydration, and overall concern for the increased inflammation on his side.
Monday, 9/6, they were told Chief was in the early stages of Sepsis. He had an overwhelming infection. He was uncomfortable but otherwise still seemed happy.
Tuesday morning, 9/7, his blood work was looking a bit better. They received a picture of their sweet boy and we all thought he looked so good! Syd and Jim facetimed him. He seemed a bit out of due to the main meds but was so happy to hear their voices.
Tuesday evening, 9/7, they were told Chief was retaining water. He had a lot of inflammation. And the pet ER was out of ideas on what to do. So Jim and Syd asked what would you do if this was your dog. They were told about Friendship Hospital in DC. With the vet’s help, Chief was the last case Friendship accepted due to capacity. And thank goodness they did.
Tuesday night, my mom, Jim, Syd, Trigger (their other dog), and I drove to Annapolis to get Chief and transport him to DC. Chief did not look like the dog we saw in the photo from Tuesday morning. He was so swollen and had two additional wounds about 3x3 on his side which Jim and Syd were not told about.
Despite how poor he felt when he walked out of the pet ER, his tail started wagging when he saw Syd and the rest of us. Syd held his head the whole way there. Twice Chief almost stopped breathing. Syd and I just kept saying his name louder and louder until his breathing picked back up. We kept telling Chief how good he is, how sweet he is, he just needs to keep fighting to come to all of us, and how much we ALL love him.
Upon arriving to DC, Chief picked his head up and he and Trigger touched noses and had a moment. It was so sweet.
Friendship’s first treatment was an x-ray as he was so over hydrated it sounded like he was drowning. The second was shaving his whole back which revealed a much, much larger wound. Once they got him settled, on a less sedative course of pain-meds, and x-rays were read, Syd and Jim were able to say goodnight to their sweet Chiefy. When he heard their voices, he awoke, picked his head up, wagged his tail, and tried to get up to leave with them.
With Friendship’s care, Wednesday, 9/8, Chief responded well to the new pain meds and antibiotics. He went for a walk outside and wanted to say hi to everyone passing by. That is our Chief! He was the friendliest pup I’ve ever met.
Friendship allowed Jim and Syd to see him on Wednesday afternoon, so my mom, Jim, Syd, and I drove to DC. He was unbelievably happy to see us. He walked outside to us. He was trying to sit in Syd’s lap which he loved to do. He was so, so happy. However, it was the first time we were able to see the extent of the wound and it was horrific. An 18x10 inch wound with non-viable tissue/necrotic was visible. We sent Chief off with so many positive vibes for his surgery set for Thursday.
Thursday, 9/9, Chief went into surgery to remove the 18x10 area of necrotic/non-viable tissue. My mom, Jim, and Syd drove to DC to be in the area just in case. In the photo, Friendship sent before surgery, Chief looked a bit more sad and uncomfortable but he was standing so we were hopeful. The surgeon was cautiously optimistic but did say the Chief had a higher risk of being under anesthesia due to his bloodwork, inflammation, and the fact that he’d been fighting this for almost a week.
At 5:13 pm on Thursday, 9/9, the surgeon called Jim and Syd. It was so much worse than they anticipated. The major muscle groups had been impacted and Chief’s muscles had deteriorated. Chief survived the surgery, but his heart stopped during post-op procedures and CPR was unsuccessful.
Syd and Jim said goodbye to the sweetest, most lovable dog. Syd and Jim thanked him for being such a ray of sunshine in their lives and helping them through a dark time. Chief was more than a dog for Syd and Jim. Having lost two babies, he became their little boy.
Jim and Syd would have spent every last dime they have and more to bring Chief home. He was worth it. But now, their house is quiet. Trigger is confused as to where her best friend is. All three of them are heartbroken.
Any amount is so greatly appreciated to help cover the $20,000 in medical bills for Chief.
Chief will forever be loved by so many. Rest In Peace sweet boy.
Labor Day weekend started as each Labor Day weekend does for the Cusicks. On the Eastern shore, at their favorite place hanging out with their favorite people.
Saturday morning, 9/4, Chief was in discomfort and didn’t want to retrieve his beloved tennis ball. He never puts the ball down so Jim and Syd were concerned. After symptoms worsened, they sought emergency medical treatment in Annapolis.
They believe Chief was bitten on 9/3 by a brown recluse spider in their new truck they bought on 9/1.
Chief was discharged Saturday night with a 6x2 wound, antibiotic, and pain meds. Come Sunday morning, 9/5, he was not doing well. His head was involuntarily shaking. We were told to give him another codeine and not to bring him in. By Sunday afternoon, Chief was breathing so much faster than a dog should be. Jim and Syd decided to take him back to Annapolis for further care because they had his medical records from the night before.
Sunday night Chief was admitted to the hospital with a decreased white blood cell count, dehydration, and overall concern for the increased inflammation on his side.
Monday, 9/6, they were told Chief was in the early stages of Sepsis. He had an overwhelming infection. He was uncomfortable but otherwise still seemed happy.
Tuesday morning, 9/7, his blood work was looking a bit better. They received a picture of their sweet boy and we all thought he looked so good! Syd and Jim facetimed him. He seemed a bit out of due to the main meds but was so happy to hear their voices.
Tuesday evening, 9/7, they were told Chief was retaining water. He had a lot of inflammation. And the pet ER was out of ideas on what to do. So Jim and Syd asked what would you do if this was your dog. They were told about Friendship Hospital in DC. With the vet’s help, Chief was the last case Friendship accepted due to capacity. And thank goodness they did.
Tuesday night, my mom, Jim, Syd, Trigger (their other dog), and I drove to Annapolis to get Chief and transport him to DC. Chief did not look like the dog we saw in the photo from Tuesday morning. He was so swollen and had two additional wounds about 3x3 on his side which Jim and Syd were not told about.
Despite how poor he felt when he walked out of the pet ER, his tail started wagging when he saw Syd and the rest of us. Syd held his head the whole way there. Twice Chief almost stopped breathing. Syd and I just kept saying his name louder and louder until his breathing picked back up. We kept telling Chief how good he is, how sweet he is, he just needs to keep fighting to come to all of us, and how much we ALL love him.
Upon arriving to DC, Chief picked his head up and he and Trigger touched noses and had a moment. It was so sweet.
Friendship’s first treatment was an x-ray as he was so over hydrated it sounded like he was drowning. The second was shaving his whole back which revealed a much, much larger wound. Once they got him settled, on a less sedative course of pain-meds, and x-rays were read, Syd and Jim were able to say goodnight to their sweet Chiefy. When he heard their voices, he awoke, picked his head up, wagged his tail, and tried to get up to leave with them.
With Friendship’s care, Wednesday, 9/8, Chief responded well to the new pain meds and antibiotics. He went for a walk outside and wanted to say hi to everyone passing by. That is our Chief! He was the friendliest pup I’ve ever met.
Friendship allowed Jim and Syd to see him on Wednesday afternoon, so my mom, Jim, Syd, and I drove to DC. He was unbelievably happy to see us. He walked outside to us. He was trying to sit in Syd’s lap which he loved to do. He was so, so happy. However, it was the first time we were able to see the extent of the wound and it was horrific. An 18x10 inch wound with non-viable tissue/necrotic was visible. We sent Chief off with so many positive vibes for his surgery set for Thursday.
Thursday, 9/9, Chief went into surgery to remove the 18x10 area of necrotic/non-viable tissue. My mom, Jim, and Syd drove to DC to be in the area just in case. In the photo, Friendship sent before surgery, Chief looked a bit more sad and uncomfortable but he was standing so we were hopeful. The surgeon was cautiously optimistic but did say the Chief had a higher risk of being under anesthesia due to his bloodwork, inflammation, and the fact that he’d been fighting this for almost a week.
At 5:13 pm on Thursday, 9/9, the surgeon called Jim and Syd. It was so much worse than they anticipated. The major muscle groups had been impacted and Chief’s muscles had deteriorated. Chief survived the surgery, but his heart stopped during post-op procedures and CPR was unsuccessful.
Syd and Jim said goodbye to the sweetest, most lovable dog. Syd and Jim thanked him for being such a ray of sunshine in their lives and helping them through a dark time. Chief was more than a dog for Syd and Jim. Having lost two babies, he became their little boy.
Jim and Syd would have spent every last dime they have and more to bring Chief home. He was worth it. But now, their house is quiet. Trigger is confused as to where her best friend is. All three of them are heartbroken.
Any amount is so greatly appreciated to help cover the $20,000 in medical bills for Chief.
Chief will forever be loved by so many. Rest In Peace sweet boy.
Organizer and beneficiary
Liza Slavin
Organizer
Mays Chapel, MD
James Cusick
Beneficiary