Save Harpers’s Life

On June 30th 2019, I was driving through Sanford, Florida when i noticed a man selling puppies in a box on the corner. I approached the man and noticed a noise coming from a garbage bag he was holding. When I asked what the noise was, the man refused to tell me. I heard a wimper and knew what it was. I again asked the man what was in the bag and he told me to "mind your own business." I am not exactly sure how I got the bag some how, but I did. Inside the garbage bag, was a little deformed puppy.

I rushed her to Animal Services and explained what had happened. I was shocked at the puppy's state, and came to know of her disorder. Harper has pectus excavatum, more commonly known as "Swimmer Puppy Disorder." It is very uncommon and most puppies don't survive past 3 weeks so I rushed Harper to our vet, but the news was grim. They informed me that chances of survival were slim, but suggested to get a second opinion.

I knew what should be done, so I took Harper out for a day on the town to show her what it is to be loved. Our first stop was Louise's Pet Connection. It's our first stop. Here, we pick out new leashes, collars, food, treats and toys. The girls there love when we visit and spoil our dogs rotten. Today was different. We were going to spoil our little girl, but it would be her last day here with us. I'd planned on taking her home that night, letting her sleep in bed with us, and having her humanely euthanized in the morning. It was the right thing to do.

I got to Louise's and immediately starting mourning her death. I cried for what her life could have been if I would have just gotten her a few weeks earlier. I fed her treats, held her, loved her, and massaged her tight little muscles so they wouldn't be so sore.

Within a few hours, I started to notice a significant change in her range of motion. She started to lift her head, she started to pull her front legs under her and try to walk. By massaging her legs, for what I thought was comforting for her, was really working. She was starting to really move!

I made some phone calls and decided I had to move forward. She'd made too much progress in such a short time. Next Wednesday, I visited The University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. They have a premiere facility with specialists that are more familiar with her disorder and based on the discussion with them require some money to fund her medical expenses and rest will be come from my personal savings.

She's fought this far, the least we can do is fight for her.