Letter to the WCP Editor – 7.22.10

Dear Editor,
Red Fern Animal Shelter is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) no-kill animal shelter located in Dresden.
We currently provide care for more than a hundred dogs and 60 cats. Our food bill alone is about $2,000.00 each month, and we receive from $200.00 to $500.00 in donations per month.
Remaining expenses come from our own pockets. We have a pressing need at the moment, and we wondered if you might be willing to give it some exposure.
We have a horrible time asking people for help, but we believe that it is in our organization’s best interest, and we know that it is in this dog’s best interest.
In February of this year, we picked up a young Boxer mix who had been tied to the guardrail on the bypass near Martin.
Within hours of taking her home, she began having seizures. We first thought that the seizures might have been caused by the vaccinations that we had just given her, but an emergency vet visit that evening and a followup visit the next day proved otherwise.
Paige has been on increasing levels of medication since that time, and she has had bloodwork to rule out causes of her seizures.
Although Paige’s seizures have decreased, we have been unable to completely control them. Paige needs neurological tests to determine what, if anything, can be done to save her.
She is scheduled to undergo a series of tests at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama on Monday, July 26.
Paige’s tests alone will run from $1,500 to $2,000. We realize that this is a lot of money--enough to feed all of our animals for a month--and many people will say, “She’s just a dog.
There are hungry children, people without jobs, and human beings with medical needs. You could save more dogs if you wouldn’t spend so much on this one.” We are not asking anyone to take away from those causes that they already support.
We’re simply asking people to care enough about Paige to do what they can and are willing to do.
We would also like information on Paige. Someone out there knows of dog-tied-to-the-guardrail incident.
They know where Paige came from, and they know more of her background. If her littermates or parents also suffer from seizures, or if Paige suffered some kind of head trauma before she was left on the bypass, please share that information.
Won’t you please consider letting the public know of our pressing need and this wonderful dog’s only chance at a healthy, happy life?
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Kim Oliver Hawks
Red Fern
Animal Shelter
www.redfern.
petfinder.com
WCP 7.22.10

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