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[TuffTuck]

My four year old Jack Russell Terrier, Tucker, unfortunately has cataracts. As many of you may know, the breed is well known for their tremendous amount of energy. My Tucker, like many Terriers, loves to play fetch especially with tennis balls. But his worsening eyes are preventing him from his favorite activity because he no longer is able to see the ball.

I, Vickie Fan, beseech you fellow dog lovers to help Tucker by donating to help pay for very expensive surgery costs.
Every little bit helps.
Thank you.

For more information please visit: Tucker's Cataract Surgery Support Group | Facebook

Here are some photos of him: Tucker - a set on Flickr

 

[corgipower]

I'm sorry to hear about your dog. While chazzers can be quite generous, it's a bit much for a complete stranger to come on here and ask for money in their first post.

Cataracts aren't uncommon in dogs and dogs are able to adapt to loss of vision. We can help you learn how to help your dog get around. I've seen numerous dogs who are blind or close to it still run around a yard.

 

[Blue_Dog]

I think scammers need more convincing stories if the expect such things to work.

 

[~Jessie~]

CareCredit® Healthcare Finance - Payment Plans and Financing for Cosmetic Surgery, Dental, Vision, Hearing, Veterinary & Other Medical Procedures

 

[smkie]

You rock Jessie.

 

[Renee750il]

If you will visit this site: Blind Dogs.net - Where dogs see with their heart! you'll find a great deal of help and information. The owner is one of our members who went through dealing with her JRT's loss of sight. It wasn't due to cataracts, but was untreatable, however, if anyone can steer you in the right direction to get help, it's Karen

 

[smkie]

You rock too renee.
When i got up this morning i got rid of a spammer and then i saw this. I wondered what would be the outcome of such a request from a new member. Can't say i am disapointed. I love Chazzers.

 

[TuffTuck]

I think scammers need more convincing stories if the expect such things to work.

I'm sorry you think I'm a scammer. I understand how under these circumstances you and probably others may think that.

No, I am not a scammer. I'll be honest, I am just a little desperate. My name is Vickie Fan, I am 21 and live in Compton, California. I am a full time student and trying to be a full time worker at my part time job in order to make enough hours to obtain more money to pay for my dogs surgery.
I figured a dog message board would be a good place to find help because I assume that people here love dogs as much as I do. My cell phone is filled with hundreds of pictures of my two dogs, Tuffie and Tucker. I have come to realize that for the rest of my entire life I will own at least one dog. They are my children and unfortunately I am in no place to own children because I can't cover my Tucker's surgery costs. The estimate I got from the vet yesterday is between $5,376.00 and $7,445.00. (I can scan this and show you if you want more proof). Yes, of course, I am going to use my student loans but that still will only cover for half of it.

I'm not asking for a lot of money. Maybe just 25 or 50 cents. I have tried other message boards too but many of them probably thought I was a scammer too and omitted my thread. I'm sorry if I wasn't detailed enough before. I just figured people were more likely to read it and respond if the story was not too long.

Thank you everyone else for you kind words and your suggestions. I am definitely up to considering all possibilities. But no matter what, I would like my dog to have his sight. He is 4 years old and he love to play fetch but he can't anymore. When I take him to the dog park I can only roll the ball along the ground within 3 feet of him and I have to make sure that he can hear it. This is all just for his sake.

If anyone wants to see a couple videos of Tucker you can either go to the facebook group my boyfriend has made for Tucker at Tucker's Cataract Surgery Support Group | Facebook

or click here: YouTube - Tucker annoying Tuffie
There should be a link on the side to lead to the other video.

I'm sorry the videos are of Tucker when he was a pup and don't have sound. I'm working on making some more (with sound).

 

[Renee750il]

Oh, something you can do to let him chase his ball right now is get him one that makes noise or has a bell inside it

EDIT: Much as I LOATHE these people, this page on their site does have extremely useful information on getting assistance with veterinary care: Having Trouble Affording Your Pet? | The Humane Society of the United States

 

[corgipower]

He is 4 years old and he love to play fetch but he can't anymore. When I take him to the dog park I can only roll the ball along the ground within 3 feet of him and I have to make sure that he can hear it. This is all just for his sake.

Teach him hide and seek. A dog's primary sense is smell, he should be able to learn to sniff for his ball.

I figured a dog message board would be a good place to find help because I assume that people here love dogs as much as I do.

We do love dogs as much as you do and we are always happy to help. But we're not stupid enough to give our money to a stranger. Everyone is struggling financially. You say even if people give 50 cents. 50 cents is half my dinner. I can't spare it for someone who is sitting on the other side of a computer screen. While you know who you are and why you're asking, I really don't.

Contact local rescues and shelters, see if your vet can work out a payment plan, check around for a vet who maybe charges less, apply for Care Credit.

 

[smkie]

Honestly i almost did dog pile this thread this morning. I decided to stand back for a bit and see what happened. I am in the same position too and faced something financially out of my ability. THanks to some friends we had help to keep Victor going. I wish you luck and hope you find help. Sorry i can't but i am in the same kind of boat. IF something serious does happen to my dogs i would have no option but to owner surrender and i pray each night that it doesn't happen.

I Found a kitten that was deaf and Barb helped me with a sight for deaf animals. Hope you can find one or someone can suggest one for dogs that lose their sight. I have known a few that did quite well with some deligence from the owners.

 

[TuffTuck]

Thank you everyone for your advice. If it wasn't for you guys I wouldn't have as many options as I did before. I really appreciate it!

And thank you especially Smkie for your help and not ridding my thread .

I too have grown quite fond of this Chazhound dog forum. There are much more helpful and well-intentioned dog lovers than the other dog forums I have encountered. I will be back ...hopefully not for similar reasons as this thread - knock on wood .

 

[PoodleMommy]

Im very sorry to hear about this, however, you will find that many people here have their own vet bills to cover... I know personally I have been to the vet too many times to count in recent weeks with my own pet emergencies... therefore most people wont be able to spare any change at the moment. However, we are still animal lovers and would love for you to stick around and let us hear more about your pups and their progress.

In the meantime I can offer some suggestions.

Have a Yard Sale... things in your house that you no longer need or may think are junk can often be sold... someone out there will want it.

Take Clothes, Shoes, Bags, to a local consignment shop.

Sell any electronic, furniture, or other items you dont need on craigslist or ebay. Electronics seem to go the fastest and make the most money.

Shut off cable or internet for a few months and put that money aside.

Every little bit helps!

Good Luck.

 

[smkie]

Call around too. I had a vet that said my dog needed to be pts because she was too old for surgery. SHe had a mole on her eyelid before that had scratched her cornea resulting in two surgeries One i had to beg for literally because they said she was too old then .THat was almost 3 years ago and she is still going strong. WHen the vet saw her eye he said "its' back your going to have to put her down". A member here on Chazhound and a good friend of mine got someone to allow me a probono appt to see about her eye. THe first thing the vet said was "oh no this is not a mole this is just allergies". One bottle of medicine and it cleared right up. I have gone to this vet ever since and have been charges an unbelievably fair rate and they allow me to make payments. ITs a long drive, almost 40 minutes one way but worth every single second of it. Ask everyone you know that has a pet about their vet. You might get lucky.Call the schools too i kid you not sometimes it works.

 

[suthrnladi]

Call all the medical schools in your area, and as the wise Smkie says, look into all your options. You've been given wonderful advice by the Chazzers, please take it. IF you truly want to help your dog, you will find a way, even if it means sacrifice on your part.

 

[smkie]

Let us know how your dog does! Will be sending prayers.

 

[yoko]

do you have any electronics? go to a pawnshop and sell it. yeah you won't get as much as you would selling on craigslist. but go into the vet and show them your tickets showing you have sold your stuff. i wasn't able to get carecredit when yoshi bloated and i had no money to pay. i sold my tv, mini fridge, computer and playstation3 and all my games. they didn't take me serious when i said i could do payments or that i could pay on the next friday. but when i walked in with pawn tickets showing i had sold everything they talked it out and made a payment deal with me.

yeah it sucked not having that. and i had to use the university liibrary, community library, friends/family computers for a while but i was able to pay for yoshi's surgery and that's all that really mattered. i've been able to buy everything back.

 

[smkie]

YOur the best Yoko.

 

[JRT_Rattie_Mom]

So sorry to hear about Tucker having cataracts. Like Renee mentioned I've had a blind Jack Russell (Lucy) for 5 1/2 years now. Lucy went blind from something that there was no treatment for (but she has also developed cataracts as well in the past year.) Lucy still has a wonderful life even though she is blind. She still plays ball, and does most everything she did before losing her sight, except for catching her Frisbee mid-air!

I can certainly understand wanting the "best" for Tucker, since there is treatment available. I have a list of organizations that can sometimes provide financial assistance with vet care expenses. I don't know what your personal situation is, so I don't know whether any of these would be an option for you, but will post the link just in case:
http://www.blinddogs.net/Financial_Assistance.pdf

Wishing you & Tucker all the best!