Save Tilly the Service Dog

Hi everyone! This is Tilly. Tilly is a 4.5 year old hound mix. She’s a special dog, as she’s a service dog to her disabled human, Bryan, but not only that, she’s an active blood donor to help other dogs get better too at her local emergency vet. As a service dog, Tilly completes tasks such as forewarning Bryan before an episode, ensuring he makes it to the ground or to a chair safely. In the event of an episode, Tilly goes and gets help and ensures Bryan gets the help he needs. She also aids Bryan with his balance and walking as he suffers from neurological issues. She goes EVERYWHERE with Bryan. When Bryan ends up hospitalized, Tilly is right there with him, comforting him.

Recently, Tilly has been exhibiting some neurological symptoms since Sunday October 8th. By Monday morning, she began deteriorating rapidly, not eating, not drinking, unable to hold herself up, severe muscle spasms and joint stiffness, twitching eyes, a head tilt, unsteady gate and severe nausea and vomiting.

Bryan has sought out treatment from the wonderful staff at East End Veterinary Center in Riverhead, NY, where the team worked quickly to stabilize her and make her comfortable. On Friday 10/13, Bryan took Tilly to see a Neurologist, the wonderful Dr. Gutierrez at Animal Specialty Center in Yonkers, NY, where we learned she has an inflammatory neurological condition called Meningitis/Encephalitis as well as a heart murmur. We are still waiting on labs to come back to truly have the full picture of what’s going on. In the meantime, there is a treatment plan in place and it will be a long road to recovery, as well as an expensive one.

As of now, Bryan has spent over $3,000.00 to save his best friend, which is a struggle for Bryan as he is on a fixed income due to his disability, but with more expenses coming in regularly for her treatment, Bryan is struggling financially to get Tilly the help she needs. He has already over extended himself.

I know there are so many people in need and struggling right now, and he or I would never ask if it wasn't our last option. Bryan has been my best friend since he and I were 10 years old. Throughout every life lesson, struggle, and of course the good times, Bryan has been there for me. He is a self-less, compassionate person with a beautiful soul and I am so lucky to have him in my life. Tilly helped bring Bryan out of a war of anxiety and depression with his illnesses and disabilities. She has been there for him in times where I could not be, and is his life-line. Please donate if you are able to help save this beautiful dog and help my best friend. To know Bryan, is to love him, and Tilly is an extension of him.