Help Us To Help Shadow

Like everyone here, I too, am looking for the kindness of others. I am in need of donations to help pay for our [Shadow's] current vet bills and upcoming cancer treatments.

He is the light at the end of our tunnel.

It seems everything has spiraled for us, all at once.

I have been very sick for a long time and will be having another full abdominal reconstructive surgery next week. This will be my 15th surgery, in just a short time. We care for my Mother with Alheimers and a very bad heart condition. My wonderful husband picks up the slack as much as he can, however he has ongoing medical issues and has been off work for some time now. His bills are quickely mounting because (what little) insurance he has, it doesn't cover the treatments. We took an even harder financial hit when Irma struck. Our credit has been ruined now and our minimums are met on credit cards.

Just when we didn't possibly think things could get worse....

Our Golden Retriever was just diagnosed with rectal cancer. It is devastating to us all. It is like we are being kicked while we are already down!! We are hoping we can start treatment next month but the funds are not allowing us to see this being possible. I am desperate to help him!!

I am asking for help!! I am begging for help. I can not imagine putting him down because we cannot afford his treatments!!

If you ever met Shadow you would know he is a special dog. Please read his story and you will understand why.... he has overcome so much in his short life. He deserves a chance!! Please find it in your heart to consider a small donation!!

Nov 26, marked my Fathers 11th death anniversary. I hope he is watching over us!

I know our story is not as extravagant as others, or maybe as deserving as other, and to most, he is just a dog.... but he truly isn't to us. He is so child like. Quiet and inquisitive. He loves to learn. As I said, he is the light at the end of our very dark tunnel at times. Right now, being the darkest.

The Story

This is Shadow. He is our Golden Retriever, mixed with what we believe to be Border Collie, however all Golden at heart. We just say he is our miniature Golden :) He is just 46 pounds and a cute little thing!

Shadow has cancer. He has a tumor, blocking his rectum, which was aspirated for a biopsy, and the cells under the micro show it is most likely the worst case. We had x rays and blood work done as well. Blood work shows signs of same. Chest x ray shows it may have metastasize to his lungs. Today was a long day of tears.... I have talked to a lot of people and am so very grateful for the family we have gained through the Golden Retriever Rescue, who are going above and beyond to help us find an Oncologist to seek out other opinions and options.

We will be taking many steps to try our best to pursue the right path that is best for Shadow. We are in need of donations to do this. Anyone that has any loved one, or pet, knows the up and downside of cancer, and finances are a big part of it. Our situation at the moment doesn't leave us much room to help him along this journey to heal. Today alone was extremely expensive and we have not even consulted with the Oncologist, yet any treatment plan. So I am asking for help from the graciousness of others.

If you can find it in your hearts to share something, even the littlest amount, to help us and him, I would be eternally grateful. Giving up on Shadow is not something we are willing to do. He deserves so much more.

We have fostered with the Golden Retriever Rescue of SWFL, after losing our Maggie to bone cancer a few years back. Several dogs have come through our home and each one has touched our lives. Until Shadow came!! We IMMEDIATELY fell in love with him. He came from a shelter further up North and the night they called asking us to foster, I was really very much against it. I had just had my second knee replacement, and wanted a little time before taking another foster. The rescue explained that he was to be euthanized the following morning and there was not another home available. I couldn't say no. The shelter had deemed him dangerous and even brought him out on a bite stick. So very sad.... as it didn't take long at all to know this dog was just afraid. You could tell he didn't have any previous human contact and really wanted nothing to do with any human at all. He cowered for three days in a corner before he would even take food from my husbands hand.

With in the first week of his arrival, we learned, aside from the scared little dog he was, that he was heart worm positive. He had contracted kennel cough and only weighed 31 pounds. He needed several teeth pulled and then had an issue with an infection afterwards. The odds were stacked against this poor little guy from the start. The veterinarian estimated his age to be 5 years of age. Such a hard life he must have had living on the streets.

The fortunate thing about Shadow was his willingness to learn and love. He bonded with my husband very quickly. To a point that when he left the house, Shadow would throw himself against the door and cry something fierce. My heart continuously broke for him. It wasn't until, one day, he decided he wanted to be my friend too. (Almost 6 months later) He leaned up against me, and at that moment, I knew he would never leave our home. We had worked so hard to gain his trust and we knew he would never bond with another human. To this day, he does not like to be out of our sight. He has chewed through a leash, after turning my back to him, at the vets office.

For Christmas 3 years ago, my husband conspired with the rescue, while I was doing the same, to have him adopted into our family.

He has become such an inspiration. I take him to visit nursing homes, and certain stores, where he has become famous for his "wookie" paws. He is such a quiet and beautiful soul. We had to teach him to bark when the doorbell rings! He has learned to sneeze, not leave through an open door until invited, to retrieve his own treats from a motion activated [candy] machine, and he even delivers a dilly bar to my Mother every night. My Mother has Alzheimer's and severe heart disease, and he has become such a joy as well as helpful part of her life now.

He has always been the light at the end of my tunnel. I don't want it to go dark until it absolutely is necessary to do so.

He deserves a fighting chance. He deserves to have us try. He is not showing any signs of being sick. He is just his spunky and happy self. With the right treatment plan, we can fight this. He has just started being a happy dog and I do not want to take that away from him because of expenses. Please find it in your heart to help him.

Thank you!

Kelly, Bob & Shadow ("the baby")

#PrayForShadow