My Friend's Newly Adopted Dog Needs Help :(

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

They say that dogs are good judges of character, and I believe that's true. The first time Rich entered my home several years ago to check my furnace, I knew he was a good person because of the way Jackdoodle responded to him. Instead of the ferocious lunging and barking with which he usually greets any service person who enters our house, JD brought Rich a ball. Somehow he just knew that this particular stranger loved dogs, and he was right. The fact that Rich is also an honest, hardworking, punctual, down-to-earth family man is just frosting on the kibble as far as JD is concerned. As for me, when I called the HVAC company after my furnace started acting up yesterday morning and was told that Rich didn't have any openings until this morning, I was prepared to sleep in my parka if I had to, rather than settle for a different technician. 

Over the years, Rich has always taken a little time to play ball with JD, no matter how busy he is, and he and I have shared a lot of stories about our dogs. This morning, he gave me the sad news that his Rottweiler Bella, who had lots of health issues, had died in January. After grieving for a few weeks, Rich needed to fill the empty space in his home and his heart by adopting another dog. He found a listing for a female mixed breed at a local shelter who seemed like a good match for him, and went to meet her. The two of them really hit it off, and Rich made plans to adopt her. But sharing the kennel with the female was Duke, a big black senior male Lab mix who seemed depressed; he'd been at the shelter for several weeks, and nobody was interested in adopting him. Rich knew that big black senior males in shelters have the odds stacked against them when it comes to being chosen for adoption, and he just couldn't bring himself to leave the old guy behind to face a very uncertain fate. He asked to adopt both dogs. Duke needed neutering before he could be adopted out, and a home check needed to be done, so arrangements were made.

Long story short, Duke's neuter surgery was horribly botched, and a short time after Rich brought him home, the dog's incision was bleeding heavily and he was terribly swollen. Rich was unable to reach anyone at the shelter, and fearing for the dog, he brought him into the local emergency vet. Thank Dog he did, because Duke had a very very bad infection along with swelling in his groin and legs, and every kind of worm there is. He was admitted to the hospital. Less than 24 hours after finally getting a home, poor Duke was back in a kennel environment, feeling worse than ever. And less than 24 hours after his good heart led him to save a senior dog, my friend Rich found himself with an enormous (and still growing) vet bill for a dog he hasn't yet had the chance to get to know. Doesn't matter, Duke has a home for the rest of his life. 

One of Rich's friends has set up a Go Fund Me page to help Rich with Duke's vet bills. Here is the link. If anyone here has anything at all to spare, a good man and a good dog sure could use some help. Thank you so much for reading.

 Please Help Duke   

Go Fund Me Page

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am thrilled to help. What a nice man!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you so much, Laurie!

[Andrea, Belle and Honey]

Done, in memory of the late lab, Ellie-Belle, who would tell Duke that 9 isn't so old, and a loving home is worth fighting for.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you so much, Andrea. What a wonderful way to honor Ellie-Belle's memory. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thank you for letting us help Duke.  What a wonderful guy Rich sounds like.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you so much, Nancy! 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Karen, do you think the "place" that totally botched his neuter can help! I hope it wasn't the shelter.

That being said, this is what I love about DoodleKisses! All of these wonderful doodle friends helping others.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It was the shelter, and they have asked to see Duke's medical bills. We can hope that they will contribute something to these expenses, but I'm not holding my breath.

Doodle Kisses people are the best people in the world.  

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Just saw this and am happy to contribute to this boy's recovery.  Your friend (Rich) has a wonderful heart and so do you Karen.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you so much, Linda! :) 

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

Donated. Just posting to bump this up so more will see it.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you so much, Nancy!