Nova surgery and vet visits after 28 days in woods

Hello, Nova our 10-month-old puppy was either taken or go out of our yard on 3/19/2023. The yard is fenced in and she was wearing her collar with her phone number and name on it. We always since we got her at 8 weeks old let her outside and we would leave the door open and she would come right back in. Nova was outside for about 10 minutes while I was getting lunch ready for my children. I thought it was weird that she did not come back yet and I went outside to look and she was gone. I immediately got into my car and searched the neighborhood for hours; calling everyone I could police, animal control, and shelters. There was no sign of her. For days we continued to look and still nothing. We never gave up. On 3/31/2023 Nova was spotted about 9 miles from home up in Leyden, MA. We live in the center of Greenfield, MA. She was seen and as soon as she saw people she ran back into the woods. The owner of the home let us go up into the woods and search for her, he drove his four-wheeler and nothing there was no sign. In the daylight, at night, rain, and snow we continued to trudge through the woods placing food in areas where people would see her. On 4/3/2023 Nova was spotted on a Ring camera about 4 miles from the last sighting location. Again we went and searched and nothing. The entire community was praying for her safe return home. We walked through the community hanging flyers and going door to door, my four children would walk through the woods looking for her. We just wanted her home and we were beginning to lose hope. She was just a baby and we never thought she would survive this long by herself. Then we were getting closer. On 4/14/2023 a woman who lives in Florida for the winter saw her appear on her ring camera for about a week. She finally found me and we were in contact. She worked great with me. That morning she said Nova walked past the camera again towards the woods. We brought hotdogs to the site and left them stayed in the yard for a couple of hours and there was no sighting. We went home as it was 90 degrees that day to get some water. The woman then messaged me a video of Nova walking and laying in the driveway. She looked hot, tired, and like she was giving up. We grabbed a bucket and a bag of ice and made our way back to the house. As we pulled in we were hoping we would see her but we were getting discouraged. We looked over and there she was laying flat on the driveway in a little bit of shade. We pulled up and got out of the car she started to run. Missing dogs of MA told us to not call her, no eye contact, just sit quietly. My boyfriend, myself and son sat on the ground and she still was running towards the woods. Softly I said, "NO Nova come back it is time to go home." She stopped and turned around and looked. She kept just looking at us for a couple of minutes and my boyfriend calmly said "Come on Nova it's okay you are safe now" She started to walk toward us. When she was about 10 feet away she laid down and put her head down. My boyfriend went up to her and she smelled him and she started jumping with happiness. My son and I followed and you could tell she knew she was going to be okay.

With Nova being gone for about 28 days we have no idea what she ate, encountered, go into or did, I found about 9 ticks on her, and she was limping and lost a little weight. We pulled the ticks off, a day after being home Nova got an abscess under her jaw it was about the size of a golf ball. The next day it was the size of a softball. I was looking and there was a porcupine quill in her jaw I pulled it out and the infection started to drain. She is going to the vet today 4/17/2023 this was the soonest they could get her in.

They are going to end up cutting the abscess draining it and cleaning it. They also said she may need IV antibiotics and will 100% need oral. They will be doing all the tests full body x-ray, blood work, testing stool. She will need to go on an expensive weight-gain diet and be on medication. She is going to need immediate surgery on the infection as well as aftercare.

I have four children and two I care for that are not mine. I am a single mother on one income. I would put up anything and do anything for Nova. I know the community cared so much to find her. Anything that anyone gives will go towards her initial vet bill, the infection treatment, medication, and follow-up appointments. I would be forever grateful for any help! Nova is so young and loved by the entire family. Her brothers and sister were so lost when she was gone. They just want her to get fully better so she can go back into the yard and play races, play ball and swim with us in the summer.