Brownie News

.(read Brownie's story below)

To make a donation to Brownie, do the following;
1 Send a donation via www.PayPal.com to:
julianne1030@peoplepc.com

The Donate button on this blog to the right is for rescue dog efforts, but if you want your contribution to go directly to Brownie use the two options here.

2. Make your check payable to the vet clinic where she’ll have her surgery in 3 weeks

“SCVSG”.
907 ½ Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles , CA 90026

_________________________________________________________________

OUR GOAL: $2,400

DUE DATE: September 25, 2008

FUNDS RAISED: $2,496*

FUNDS STILL NEEDED: $0*

We’re 100% there! Thanks for helping!

GOAL: $2,400 DUE DATE: September 25, 2008

WE MET OUR GOAL!

THANK YOU FOR HELPING!!!

*Updated 9/25/08

Brownie: The Final Word as of 9-29-08

Good Morning,

  This email is going out to the 72+ amazingly kind people that donated
to help save Brownie's life, along with some of the other invaluable
people who've stepped up to help this tiny girl. The last six weeks has
blown my mind. I cannot tell you how amazing and truly heart touching it
has been to see such wonderful people rally around this little baby.

  But this is not the update email I wanted to write. Forgive me for
taking a few days to send it... I've been trying to find the right
words. I still can't seem to.

  Brownie is recovering well after surgery. She is back to being
mischievous and hilarious and full of cuddles. But, sadly, the surgeon
was not able to repair her liver shunt. Once he opened her up, the shunt
could not be found. This means it was, despite the interpretations of
all the test results, an internal shunt. The surgeon tried to locate it
anyway and was unable to do so. Either it is on the other side of the
liver, or it is too small to palpate. But it could not be repaired. So
the surgeon spayed our little girl and sewed her up.

  I cannot begin to express the disappointment and grief that washed
over me upon learning this. I was so, so sure that our baby could be
made well.

  We did everything we could, and I would do it all over again. The
good news is that Brownie's liver, despite the shunt, is in good shape.
It's not riddled with shunts, in fact, just the opposite. The surgeon
feels that she could live several years without symptoms and when those
do arise, we can treat them medically for as long as possible. They have
found a good balance of medication and special diet that is keeping her
strong and comfortable. She could have years of life left. And we had to
try... she deserved everything that was in our power to do.

  Brownie will be a Pugs to Pits baby forever. McCall and her neighbor
(who has fallen madly in love with Brownie over the past weeks) have
agreed to have shared foster custody of her for the rest of her life, no
matter how long it is. Isn't it ironic that this tiny girl is already so
loved that we have two people desperately dedicated to caring for her?
I, along with the rest of the Pugs to Pits team, will always be there to
make sure this baby gets everything she needs for the rest of her life.
We'll keep her comfortable and let her enjoy life to the fullest. She is
one hell of a fighter. I have no doubt she'll shock us all with how long
and how richly she lives. The surgeon saw her on the day of the surgery
and was so impressed at how much she had grown just in the 6 weeks since
he originally evaluated her. She will continue to thrive and fight, I
have no doubt.

  I can't thank you enough for partnering with us as we fought for
Brownie. Please know we have not given up... she will live strong and
happy for as long as possible. Thank you for reaching into your hearts
and extending yourself to help this precious puppy. McCall wrote a note
that I wanted to share with all of you. I have no words beyond what she
shares, so please accept her thanks from all of us:

8/29/08 – “On behalf of Bonnie Vigeland- “Pushing for you, knowing you’ll pull through.”

$24 – Julianne – 8/29/08 – “We love you, sweetheart, you’re going to be just fine!”

$24 – McCall – 8/29/08 – “For my little Brownie. We won’t stop fighting for you. I love you!”

$57 – Lesleigh – 8/30/08 – “In memory of Laila and Vesta. Be well, little girl.”

$25 – Bonita – 8/30/08 – “From one rescuer to another; god bless and keep you and Brownie. All my rescue kitties send good thoughts her way, even if she IS a dog. LOL.”

$100 – A Dog Lover – 9/1/08

$30 – Alexandra – 9/2/08 – “Brownie, your two-legged rescue angels were nice enough to let me be a small part of your journey to being the perfectly healthy little dog we all want you to be!”

$100 – Anonymous – 9/2/08

$24 – Deborah – 9/3/08 – “In loving memory of Cookie.”

$24 – Andy, Kelli, Pedro, Lily, Ginger, Pickle, Zoey, and Oreo – 9/3/08 – “Keep fighting dear sweet Brownie! There is lots of love for you!”

$20 – Jacqueline – 9/3/08 – “For Brownie.”

$25 – Anonymous – 9/3/08

$50 – Anonymous – 9/3/08

$24 – Lea – 9/3/08 – “For Brownie. Fight on, little girl!”

$50 – House of Seven Paws – 9/3/08

$50 – AB – 9/4/08 – “Brownie, I would give you a HUGE hug if I could!”

$24 – Nancy – 9/4/08

$24 – 9/4/08 - “From Finn with love for little Brownie.”

$50 – Anonymous – 9/4/08

$40 – Kimberly – 9/4/08

$30 – Carla – 9/5/08 - “In gratitude to Brownie’s rescuers.”

$24 – Dona – 9/6/08 – “Brownie you are a fighter and it shows in your sweet and gentle eyes how much you want to get well. I imagine you playing and frolicking about your yard and giving kisses to the children in your family. Oh what a lucky family they will be because you will be a devoted and loyal companion. I am so glad to contribute to your life and well being. Get Well Soon. I hope that when you recover from you liver surgery that you can come over for a play date with my dogs. Oh don’t forget to bring Julianne and Joe. Best Wishes!”

$50 – Anonymous – 9/6/08 - “God packaged a bundle of joy with four legs!”

$30 – Holly – 9/7/08

$24 – David – 9/8/08 - “Go, Brownie, Go!”

$24 – Anonymous – 9/8/08

$350 – Anonymous – 9/8/08

$25 – Christy – 9/8/08 - “This is to show you the world is not a cruel place and you are already loved by so many.”

$25 – Don & Jeanne – 9/10/08 - “God Bless you, Brownie!”

$50 – Ponchomom – 9/10/08 - “I love you, Brownie, feel better soon!!”

$150 – Anonymous – 9/10/08

$24 – Geoff – 9/10/08 - “WE LOVE YA, BROWNIE!”

$24 – Krista – 9/10/08 - “In memory of all the NOC dogs that didn’t make it out alive. Live a long, healthy life in honor of them all, Brownie!”

$30 – Alexandra – 9/11/08 - “Go, Brownie, Go!”

$24 – Anonymous – 9/15/08

$75 – Colette and Eric – 9/17/08

$60 – Anonymous – 9/17/08

$24 – Elonne – 9/17/08

$24 – Holly – 9/17/08

$24 – Zizi – 9/18/08 – “Brownie, get well soon from Zizi, Harriet, Lola and Bubba”

$24 – Robin – 9/18/08 - “Give Brownie a hug and tell her I love her!”

$24 – Bonnie – 9/19/08

$25 – Kaye – 9/19/08 - “Our Yorkie had the same surgery at age 6 and lived to be 13!”

$24 – Edith – 9/19/08

$25 – Irene – 9/21/08

$30 – Deborah – 9/22/08 – “"A father and son are walking on the beach. The son keeps picking up stranded starfish and tossing them back into the ocean!! After awhile the father says, "Son, why do you keep trying to save the starfish? There are thousands of them stranded here at low tide!! Can't you see it doesn't matter??" There was silence for a bit . . . The son picked up another starfish and tossed it back into the safety of the tides, "It mattered to that one!!"”

$24 – Richard – 9/22/08 – “In memory of Hans, Greta and Bucket.”

$50 – John – 9/23/08

$25 – Catherine – 9/23/08

$40 – Anonymous – 9/24/08

$100 – Loree – 9/25/08 - “In memory of my beloved Thor.”

$200 – Elayne Boosler's Tails of Joy – 9/25/08 - “Thank you for all your amazing work to save Brownie and others!”

______________________________________________________________

Can you spare $24?

What if your $24 would save a LIFE?

Most of you are aware of the battle Brownie, a 3 month old Lab/Shep mix puppy, has been fighting. (Read the previous posts about Brownie here: Brownie's Blog) This tiny girl has fought hard for us and hung in there over the last two weeks.

It took several days of testing and lots of vets and hospitalizations to determine that her distemper-like symptoms were actually indicative of a liver shunt. She has a liver cyntigraphy and the interpretation is that her liver shunt should be operable.

Brownie went in today to see the liver shunt surgeon and he said that, while he can make no guarantees, if her liver shunt it external, as we think it is, then he can likely fix it and she’ll go on to lead a fairly normal and healthy life.

He is starting her on Pheno Barbitol for the next three weeks – then it’s surgery time.

We have three weeks to come up with about $2,400. The amount seems mind-boggling. To date, we’ve raised funds to pay for Brownie’s hospitalizations, her cyntigraphy test, and her consultation with the surgeon (all well over $1,000) – so that brings me great encouragement.

We’ve come a long way – and we can make it the rest of the way with your help!!

$2,400 seems insurmountable. But $24 seems doable to me. We just need 100 people to give $24 each. Getting 100 people involved in one cause is certainly a feat – but I think it’s possible.

This original email is going to well over 100 people, and I know many of you will be kind enough to pass it on. So, if we can just find 100 people who are willing to donate this manageable amount – voila! Brownie’s life is saved!

If you can consider partnering with us in this goal and donating, I’d be forever grateful.

You can send a donation via www.PayPal.com to:
julianne1030@peoplepc.com

or you can make your check payable to the vet clinic where she’ll have her surgery in 3 weeks

“SCVSG”.
907 ½ Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles , CA 90026.

This is going to take a HUGE team effort. I’d like to keep a list of donors and post it on our blog for Brownie.

I would deeply appreciate receiving your permission to publicize your first name (or a pseudonym), your donation amount, and any special comment (a message to Brownie or a dedication for your donation) you'd like to submit. This way, we can keep track.


August 26, 2008
What a day yesterday was! It was a day of waiting (for test results!) and a day of building hope. We received $1000 yesterday towards Brownie’s care and the test she went through! That is astonishing for one day!!!

It was enough to pay for her liver cyntigraphy and to make a good dent in the bill we owe for her vet care. (THANK YOU ALL!!!) It touched my heart so deeply to see people who already do SO much for animals in need to reach deep and find a way to also help little Brownie. I can never thank you all enough for your kindness, compassion, and generosity.

McCall called me yesterday evening when she picked up Brownie from Dr. Broome’s. The results had come in. The liver shunt very well could be internal and inoperable, we all knew that going into this – but we spent the whole day waiting and holding our breath.

As I heard McCall say, “its an external shunt and the vet says she’s an excellent candidate for surgery!” I think my heart burst.

I was so relieved I wanted to pull my car over and get out and do a happy dance in the middle of the street. Don’t worry, I managed to maintain decorum. This tiny puppy is going to live! She is going to be fine!!!

Brownie will likely have to have a managed diet for the rest of her life, but liver shunt babies most often recover and lead very normal, long lives. I am overjoyed that this is her prognosis – the puppy we really weren’t sure had any hope at all!

I spoke with Southern California Veterinary Specialty Group. Dr. Eich is a liver shunt pro. We need to get Brownie into see him and to schedule the surgery as soon as possible. The sooner the shunt starts closing, the better!

The cost for the surgery + consultation with Dr. Eich is normally $2700-$3150. However, they extend a 25% discount to rescues. This is just ballpark, Brownie could exceed this, but our goal, in order to get this life saving surgery for little Brownie is $2300.

I know, it’s a massive amount of money. But what is the cut-off price for a life? This surgery is her only chance – the toxins flowing into her body from the shunt are poisoning her brain and organs. The shunt needs to be closed so her little body can function properly. It’s not cheap – but it is vitally important.

McCall and I will apply for every grant, and chase down every fundraising opportunity we can. Please know that! We have to raise these funds as soon as possible. I know that many of you have already given all that you can – please know how appreciated that is.

But if you can help spread the word, that would be invaluable. Yesterday proved to me that there are some incredibly kind people out there who are willing to give in order to save a precious life. We have a concrete plan now – a way to truly SAVE BROWNIE’S LIFE!



Donations for Brownie’s surgery can be sent in the form of a check made payable to;
“SCVSG” (Southern California Veterinary Specialty Group) and mailed to:

907 ½ Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Donations can also be sent via PayPal to; julianne1030@peoplepc.com

McCall told me yesterday that Brownie can see again – all the fluids, medication, and special diet are keeping the toxins at a low enough level that she has her sight back. And she’s acting like a puppy – she wags her tail and loves belly rubs.

This is a far cry from the hunched over, drooling, moaning little puppy we took to the ER! She has every hope of a bright future. We just need to help her secure it.

Thank you all again for your kindness and compassion. We are so, so, so grateful. We are feeling the stretch for sure, with Brownie and now our little Zoey (our SLA baby who came back positive for Parvo yesterday, but is fighting hard).

And my thoughts are never far from our shelter babies who’ve we’ve not yet been able to bail out… But it’s amazing to know that the rescue community is out there and so many people are ready to help and support us. I hope I have many opportunities in the future to return the favor!

August 25, 2008
Thank you all for your kind emails of support, offers of donations, and continued networking. We’ve received donations of $75 and have received promises for about another $200 in donations.

So THANK YOU! For those of you that did not receive the original email plea, it is below for your reference. I am sending this to just about everyone I can think of, desperate times, and all!

It was an eventful and expensive weekend for Brownie. We found it EXTREMELY odd that whenever we’d put her on IV fluids she would improve amazingly, but as soon as she was off of them, she’d decline horribly.

The vets began to suspect toxins and possible liver problems. Sure enough an acid bile test revealed crazy high liver values way over 300. It appears that our tiny girl has a liver shunt and NOT distemper.

Brownie is stable and has been since Saturday night thanks to special food, LOTS of fluids and vitamins, medication, and McCall’s care. She is at Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging in Tustin today to see Dr. Broome.

She’ll have a liver cyntigraphy there. It will cost $395, but it should definitively tell us whether she has a shunt, and if so, whether or not it is operable. If it is operable, the surgery will be several thousand dollars, but will likely save her life and she’ll likely recover well.

I am relieved to know this sweet baby does not have distemper. A liver shunt, while FAR more expensive to treat, is at least something specific we can address. And I am hopeful that she’ll survive this and grow into a happy, healthy, loving dog.

We have accrued over $1200 in bills for Brownie thus far. The donations we’ve received and the promises of donations brings this to about $925. The vet clinic has graciously allowed us to pay the bill next month or we never could have authorized treatment – we did so trusting that generous and kind people would step in to help.


If you wish to donate, checks can be made payable to;
“SCVSG” (Southern California Veterinary Hospital) and should be sent to me at:

907 ½ Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

You can also pay via PayPal: julianne1030@peoplepc.com

Of course we also have to tackle the cost of the cyntigraphy today, $395. While I wrote this email, I had a kind person offer to pay $100 directly to Dr. Broome’s office, so that brings it to $295. We scheduled the test because we knew that her only hope of surviving is to figure out the details of the shunt ASAP.

If she needs surgery, we will tackle that beast when we know for sure. For now, all our hopes and prayers are for this tiny little puppy as she fights so hard to survive. We’ll do whatever she needs us to do. She is fighting hard – how can we give up? We have to fight for her, too.

In addition to all of this, I got word this morning that a SLA shelter puppy with mange that we rescued last week is now exhibiting Parvo symptoms. My heart is pretty much in my throat. She’s on her way to the vet’s…

We’ll have her tested immediately and begin treatment – now we have two little lives to fight for. We need your partnership in a way I cannot even express.

Thank you for being willing to help out, whether it’s through donations, networking, or spreading the word. Brownie sends her love and appreciation, and so does Zoey!



August 20, 2008
Last week my rescue partner, McCall, answered a panicked ad on Craigslist. Someone had found a litter of 3 month old puppies wandering, abandoned, at a construction site. They were all skinny and clearly hungry, but one in particular was emaciated. They gave away all of the puppies (oy!) except the tiniest one.

They planned on keeping her, I suppose. Then she started exhibiting some really scary symptoms – drooling, a head tilt, and lethargy. They panicked and posted on CL for help. My rescue partner, who is also going to school to be a vet, was moved to try and help. She contacted them and they brought the puppy to her on Sunday.

She was just going to have her vet examine the puppy and prescribe a treatment plan and then the people were going to pick up the puppy and take it from there. We offered to try and help fundraise if the situation got bad, but they sounded like they’d take responsibility. Sadly, we can no longer reach them, of course…

McCall took the puppy into the vet on Monday and while the symptoms seemed odd, there was not enough to diagnose an illness beyond her severe emaciation and malnutrition. McCall has been nursing and feeding this baby 24/7.

Unfortunately, as we feared, her symptoms worsened. She has gone blind and is exhibiting a lot of things that make our vet think she likely has Distemper. It’s hard to be sure, but whatever it is, we have one sick little baby on our hands.

Because she stopped eating and because she worsened drastically yesterday, she’s been on IV antibiotics throughout the night and is now at a different vet’s to be on an IV all day.

We hope that she will be able to come home with McCall tonight and she can continue to forcefeed and administer medication and fluids SQ. But if the puppy is not stable, she will continue to be hospitalized.

This puppy, whom McCall named Brownie, is not beyond hope. Our vet gave her a 50/50 prognosis. Either the neurological conditions will worsen or she’ll fight through. It’s impossible to know – but we have to give her every chance in the world to fight through this. She’s already been sick at least a week and she’s holding her own.

She needs care, though, serious antibiotics and whatever supportive care we can offer. And apparently, if it is distemper, this battle could go on for as long as a few weeks.

Luckily we have two great vet offices working with us. And McCall is ready to do whatever she can to save this baby. This is not easy, I have been where McCall is and it’s heart wrenching to care for a tiny creature that is battling for her life.

It’s even harder to do it when you have to be constantly worried about paying for the cost of the treatments she needs to save her life.

Normally I only ask for donations for death row dogs that we are desperately trying to get out of the shelter. Goodness knows they need it! We somehow make it work for the day to day needs of our dogs – but we’ve already wracked up a huge bill for this baby, and there is not an end in sight.

We are committed to giving her a chance to fight… but we need help. We are a small rescue and I fund our operations pretty much myself. This is way beyond our means. If you’ll consider donating to Brownie’s care, I would be very grateful.

Just email me and I’d be happy to give you information on how to donate – donations directly to our vets’ offices are just fine! I know that this email is going to many other rescues that are also financially struggling, so even if you cannot donate, we would gratefully accept your thoughts and prayers for this tiny girl.