Lilah never gave up...let's show her some love!

I am sharing this beautiful story on behalf of my dear friend Shannon Bowen. Let's come together and support Shannon and Lilah.

“Three weeks ago, I was driving my dog Fred home from the park when a black shepherd-mix dog ran in front of my car. Being a crazy dog person and someone who magically attracts animals in need, I always carry a spare leash. So I parked, grabbed the leash and followed the dog. She led me down the driveway of a small apartment building with a for-rent sign on the front lawn, and up some stairs to a vacant apartment, where she just barked and barked. I can only imagine that used to be her home, but I'll never know for sure. She was wearing a filthy frayed collar tied in knots, but she had no tags; the collar didn't even have a metal ring for a tag.

Gradually I was able to leash her and put her in my car. I called the number on the for-rent sign, but the person who answered said they had no record of any dogs living there. So I took her to my vet to scan her, but she had no microchip. She was, however, extremely malnourished. She had the tiniest waistline and every single rib was sticking out.

I wasn't going to take this shepherd girl to a shelter, because shelters are in crisis and realistically she wouldn't make it out alive. So I took her home and scoured every lost-animal website and social media platform. But no one seemed to be looking for her.

She was terrified, starving, dehydrated, had fleas and seemed totally unfamiliar with dog toys, but despite all that she was sweet as sugar. So I took care of her and tried to adopt her out to a friend. But for very understandable family reasons having nothing to do with the dog, it didn't work out. So on Oct. 15, I took her back ... and decided to keep her. I named her Lilah.

I immediately insured her and began the mandatory 15-day waiting period, during which nothing is covered. I scheduled her first vet visit for Oct. 26. I taught her some basic commands. "Shake paw" seemed to be her favorite.

On Oct. 24, she started throwing up and couldn't stop. She tried to pee but couldn't, and she laid down and wouldn't get up. She couldn't even lift her head. This happened at night, so I took her to an emergency vet in Studio City, where she got bloodwork, X-rays and tests and had to stay overnight.

At 2AM on Oct. 25, the vet told me Lilah had a diaphragmatic hernia, probably from being hit by a car. All of her organs were in her chest cavity — her liver, kidney, intestines, spleen, everything. She needed emergency surgery or she wasn't going to make it. The operation would cost $8,000 to 10,000.

This was devastating news, because I’d already spent almost $4,000 on her hospitalization and tests, and I work in Hollywood and like nearly everyone around me, I haven't been working. As a matter of fact, I had just started the first job I've had since May. My one and only shoot day was Oct. 25, the same day that Lilah needed surgery.

I explained this to the vet, and that morning they referred me to a rescue vet, which would operate on Lilah for $2,000 to $3,000 if I got her there by 10AM. So I rushed to the ER vet, put her in my car and took her to the rescue vet in North Hollywood. I got her there just in time.

But when the rescue vet examined her, they said the surgery was too dangerous to perform on her without a ventilator, and being a small facility, they didn't have one. So they referred me to some other vets and I started calling around. The cost went back up to $8,000 to $10,000.

Amazingly, a vet in Agoura Hills listened to my story and said they would operate on Lilah for $5,000. This was a miracle. This is not something vets do. I immediately said yes, put Lilah back in the car, drove to Agoura and handed her over.

By now it was the afternoon of Oct. 25 and I’d missed 75% of shoot day. I cried like a baby on the drive to Hollywood and made it to set, where my WONDERFUL directors and crew had been holding down the fort and doing my job while I took care of Lilah. We finished the day while Lilah was in surgery.

Just after camera wrap, the vet called and said the surgery was complicated because Lilah's liver had fused to her chest wall and had to be dislodged, but thank God, it was a success. It turns out that she wasn't spayed, so the vet spayed her too.

At long last, after almost $9,000 in vet bills (not including follow-up care!), Lilah came home from the hospital on Friday, and I immediately commenced intense coddling and cuddling. She's been soaking up the love like a sponge. She has a huge incision with metal staples on her belly, another incision where they had to put a drain in her chest, and she had IVs/catheters in three legs and a fentanyl patch on the fourth. But despite being in excruciating pain, she continues to be one of the sweetest dogs I've ever met. She's mostly just napping (often with her tongue out!) or quietly following me around. She sleeps soundly as long as she can see me and I'm touching her.

Without me even asking, my wonderful crew and friends and families contributed almost $4,000 toward her vet bills. I am overcome with gratitude for the generosity and compassion of Eddie Aguglia, Drew Baker, Kevin Cassidy, Amelie Cherlin, Robbi Johnson, Netsuki Blackwelder, Patrick Reynolds and my parents — and to Allyson Joyner for all the amazing advice and support and for visiting Lilah in the hospital, and to Suzie and Oliver for looking after my other girl Fred while Lilah recuperates!

Not saving Lilah wasn't an option for me. Once I committed to her, she became family. And I know that she will save me many times over in the years to come ... because that's what dogs do.

So with deep humility, I'm asking for help with the remainder of the vet bills. If 2023 hadn't been such a brutal year for those of us in production, I wouldn't be here, but it is what it is.

With sincere gratitude and sloppy puppy kisses, Lilah and I thank you for taking the time to read our story.”