Save Sadie

Save Sadie is a fundraiser to help my 2 year old pup be able to get the medical care she so well deserves.

Sadie was adopted from the ASPCA in January 2012 from Norfolk, VA at the age of 1 years old. She was the first dog I came across when I entered the shelter and I didn't even bother to look any futher. She was the only dog in the shelter that was not barking, she just stood there quietly staring at me and I instantly knew that was going to be my very first dog. 

Raising a dog for the first time was not easy, but through time Sadie and I grew to love and respect eachother. After a terrible breakup, she's the one who brought me back to life. She got me out of bed on days when I was sad, and gave me all the love she had to offer. 

In April, 3 months after I adopted her, she started to act very strange and not her usual puppy self. If anyone knew Sadie, they knew her to be hyper, exciteable, and extremely loveable. This time things were different. She laid on the floor, depressed, uninterested in eating or drinking. We originally thought it was maybe a little bug she had but within days she progressively got worse. Easter Day we knew something was terribly wrong. Everytime we called Sadie's name, she was unresponsive. Her body was hot, she was shaking violently, and could not get up to walk. My mother and I had to feed water to her with a turkey baster, but even that was a difficult task. Finally we decided to rush her to the hospital.

At the hospital they gave her an IV of fluids and did what they could for her. She seemed better but quickly fell back into the same pattern and we returned back a few days later. We then looked into finding a neurologist for Sadie. We took her to the specialist where she was hospitalized for 2 nights. An MRI and spinal tap later, it was confirmed, Sadie was diagnosed with meningitis and I was slammed with a Vet bill of $3,000. For a recently college grad with a part-time job, it was heart-wrenching but it didn't matter as long as Sadie was still apart of my family.

With proper care and medication, meningitis can be treated aggressively with steroids. As soon as Sadie lef the hospital it was like a miracle occured. She was wagging her tail again, excited, not quite herself but her personality was shining through once again. Through the months Sadie responded to the steroids quite well and we were able to ween her bit by bit and she was back to her usual tricks. Grabbing my shoes, chasing the cats around the house, and running around outside like the nut that she is. Words cannot describe the joy we felt to see her back to herself and we were convinced we wouldn't have to deal with health issues again.

Now it is February 2013, 10 months since Sadie was diagnosed and she began to act lethargic once again. We tried to stay positive and convince ourselves it was only a head cold because of the winter and snow but things only got progressively worse again. I took her to the vet immediately and we upped her steroids back to once a day. She seemed to have a bit of pep in her step for a day or two after but once again things took a turn for the worst.

After several vet visits, x-rays, fluids, 5 different types of medications, Sadie has shown absolutely no improvement. In fact, she has gotten worse. She is currently unable to move much at all. She can't jump onto the couch or my bed, all she does is lay on the floor or in her crate. Going to the bathroom is quite an obstacle, carrying her down the stairs and outside is not easy with a 40 lb dog. She struggles to walk outside, struggles to go to the bathroom. She can't put her foot onto the ground and when she does, she yelps in pain. She walks like a dog that is 14 years old, but she is only 2.

Anyone who has an animal knows, they are apart of your family. You care for them like you care for your own children. Sadie is my child. I would give anything to have her crazy antics back. I pray for the day when she runs around the house with my shoe, or the face she gives me when she knows she did bad from making a mess out of any paper product around the house. She doesn't come to greet me when I return home from work, she doesn't snuggle with me in bed, and no longer has any interest in chasing the cats around the house. All she does now is sit in her crate, with those big yellow eyes, wondering why she can't move. 

Through this whole nightmare, I have spent about $6,000 in vet bills and medications for Sadie. Vets still do not seem to know what is going on and now I have to either go find a second opinion and start this process all over again, or put her down.

Everyone knows, these days nothing is easy. Finances are hard for everyone, we are all struggling. I'm not asking for $100, I'm not asking for $10, I'm asking for ANYTHING that can help my baby get the medical care she so very much deserves. When I adopted her, I didn't rescue her, she rescued me. Now it's time for me to fight for her. I refuse to give up on such a loving 2 year old pup who has a full life ahead of her.

There is not much support out there for these types of situations, and not much information on meningitis in dogs. Eventually my goal is to start a non-profit organization addressing this issue in the future but right now my main concern is Sadie. Your donation, whatever it may be will be very much appreciated. Thank you.