Spencer Has a Level 5 Heart Murmur.
We brought Spencer home from the Downey Animal Shelter. We asked to see the dogs in most need of rescue. We were shown back to the medical division. Spencer had just been dropped off by his human. What we were about to find out was that Spenser lost his toes on his back foot in some type of accident. It was also explained to us that Spencer had a pretty serious heart murmur.
Despite all his problems, all we saw was cute. After $2000 worth of testing, we learned that Spencer has a Level 5 Heart Murmur which means his heart has a portion of it that is open and needs to be tied shut. A doctor needs to go in and simply tie the opening. If we don't get this surgery done, Spencer's heart will give out. The doctor has only given Spencer about 12 months to live. Spencer is only about 2 years old.
We need to do the surgery at this point before Christmas(Update: We scheduled surgery for November 15th at 8 AM). We have no clue how we are going to raise $3500 which will make a total of $5500 for a dog we had only planned to foster and place in a home
Update: Final cost was $5800 including initial x-rays.
If you know me, you'll know my life partner and I have donated thousands of hours and dollars over the last 6 years to animal rescue causes. Mainly, we spend our money on advertising shelter animals on Facebook. We spend thousands of hours networking animals in California. We've donated so much time and money, we have literally found ourselves in a position where we are going to have to ask for help to save Spencer.
I thought maybe it wasn't as bad as the doctor said. But each doctor we talked to, kept sending us to a different doctor. When we got to the end of the doctor chain, we at LEAST found hope for Spencer. The doctor said his heart murmur is completly fixable. If we don't fix it soon however, the condition will be fatal. When I lay my hand on Spencers heart, I can literally feel it pounding on his chest.
It is very difficult for me to ask for money for a dog when I know so many things are going on with this world. I could save so many dogs with $3500 it's hard for me to set aside money for one. But saving them all requires just not finding them homes, but it also involves finding them the right care. I have friends who are homeless and family with major illnesses. But for Spencer, my partner and I are the only ones who can speak up for his life so we are asking you for help.
You can learn more about us and our efforts at:
http://www.CaliforniaAnimalNetworkers.com