This Who We Are Helping page will provide brief stories about the dogs we are currently raising funds to assist. They are the dogs and families that your support will assist in a very meaningful way. We will continue to share the stories of our new clients on this page as well as on Facebook so that you can see the impact of your support to our organization.
BRUISER
From Bruiser’s owner: We have had Bruiser since the day he was born. He is now about to have his 11th birthday. Bruiser has had some health problems over the years because he has calcified disks, and because he was diagnosed with hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) about 5 years ago. He has flare ups of the HGE that can land him in the hospital to receive antibiotics and fluids.
Recently we began to notice that Bruiser was having more and more difficulty peeing. We took him in to our vet and they did some x-rays and an ultrasound. They found that he had a lot of stones in his bladder as well as some stones lodged in his penile urethra. The vet tried to dislodge the ones in his urethra and flush them back into the bladder but was unable to do so. She recommended that he be taken directly over to the emergency and specialty hospital for surgery to be done as soon as possible, as the stones could cause a complete blockage with would be very dangerous. We love our boy so much, and hope that he can receive funding to have this surgery right away!
Owner: Bonnie May
Veterinary Hospital: Metzger Animal Hospital, State College, PA
Amount Needed: $4,000
BAILEY MAE
From Bailey’s owner: Bailey Mae is my 4 month old Pembroke Welsh Corgi. On January 6th I took Bailey to the vet because she was not feeling well. She was diagnosed with Giardia and put on medication. In the next few weeks Bailey’s symptoms worsened and included lethargy, a fever and mouth sensitivity. After 2 more vet visits I was told her symptoms were caused by teething, and she was given more medications.
Two days later Bailey was so sick that we drove almost 60 miles to the Burlington, Vermont emergency hospital. She was panting, in a lot of pain and did not want to eat at all. They sedated her and checked her teeth and gums for pain. She had no reaction until they reached where the jaw is connected to the skull. They confirmed that this was not just pain from teething, so they did blood work and x-rays.
The CBC confirmed an elevated white blood cell and low red blood cell count, and the x-rays were inconclusive. Therefore it was recommended that a CT scan and either a 2M Antibody Test or a biopsy of her jaw muscles be done. Their concern was that her symptoms might be indicative of an autoimmune condition or degenerative bone disease.
The estimate to do these tests is beyond what I am able to pay. I have already charged over $1,100 on Care Credit. My work went from full time to part time after the holidays so I have no way to pay for Bailey’s expensive medications and these diagnostics along with my regular living expenses.
ANYONE who knows me can see how much I light up when I talk about Bailey. I could talk for hours about how much happiness she brings me, how smart she is and how much unity she brings to my life. The happiness this li’l pup brings me makes up for everything I have been going through with her. My savings are gone. My debt has piled up. My tax return is spent before I’ve even received it… But I don’t regret it one bit because this is my dog and it is worth anything to keep her with me and get her better.
Owner: Hailee Leavy
Veterinary Hospital: Upstate Veterinary Specialties, Latham NY
Amount needed: $2,500
BUDDY
Buddy is a Boxer who was adopted by Norm Murray three years ago. According to his family Buddy is a very loyal and loving dog. Buddy had severe back problems at the time of his adoption and Norm spent thousands of dollars in laser treatments to get Buddy feeling better.
Buddy had done well until a few months ago. A growth appeared at the base of his tail and Buddy’s regular vet recommended leaving it unless it began to interfere with Buddy’s quality of life. Unfortunately the tumor grew to the point that something needed to be done. Norm was now retired and did not have the funds to cover likely surgery so he came to Bandit’s BandAid for assistance.
Buddy was taken to Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists for a work up including blood work, imaging and a biopsy. The pathology determined that Buddy has a spindle cell tumor. These tumors are locally invasive but generally do not metastasize. It was recommended that the tumor be removed as soon as it can be scheduled.
Owner: Norm Murray
Veterinary Hospital: Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists
Amount needed: $ 4,200
MADISON
Original Post – Madison is a 7 year old Pembroke Welsh Corgi belonging to Kristi and Carol Procaccino. Kristi came to Bandit’s BandAid when Madison was diagnosed with lymphoma. Kristi was provided with some options for her treatment costing between $3,000 and $7,000. However we were not satisfied with the level of testing or care that she was getting at this particular hospital so we agreed to work with Kristi to find a top notch veterinary oncologist to conduct a proper diagnosis and develop a treatment plan for her.
Madison has now been admitted to the NorthStar Vets hospital where she will have blood work, x-rays and an ultrasound to assess the staging of the lymphoma and determine the best treatment. Madison’s owners have used up their resources dealing with the initial diagnostics and Carlo has not been working because his landscape employer shut down operations for the winter. Because time is of the essence to successfully treat this disease we have moved forward with the assessment and will update this page when we have additional information.
Update – Madison has now been to the veterinary specialty center twice. During her first overnight stay the decision was made to use the CHOP protocol, a multi-drug treatment that is given weekly or bi-monthly over a period of about 24 weeks. Dogs given this form of chemotherapy have a very high response rate, and Madison is already proving this to be true! At her second appointment tests showed that she has already gone into remission! The cost of each visit will run approximately $300 so we have revised the goal to cover the estimated amount for the full term of the treatment plan.
Owner – Kristi and Carlo Procaccino
Veterinary Hospital – NorthStar Vets, Maple Shade, NJ
Amount Needed: $4,500
MISY
Misy is an adorable Shih Tzu belonging to Rene Blissett. Rene came to Bandit’s BandAid when Misy was diagnosed with bladder stones. Misy is already under treatment for Cushing’s Disease and Rene has been able to pay for treatment of that disease but is unable to do so for the surgery. It is critical that this surgery be done as soon as possible because stones can be seen in her urethra and they can cause a blockage that can obstruct urine flow and cause the bladder to rupture. And bladder stones are also quite painful.
Rene has been dealing with her own health challenges including recent back surgery, a broken pelvis, and a second back surgery as soon as the pelvis heals. She is a widow and only has enough income at this time to cover her basic living expenses. As such she does not have the resources to pay for this surgery and has reached out to our organization for fundraising assistance.
Owner: Rene Blissett
Veterinary Hospital: Parker Veterinary Hospital, Oxford, MI
Amount Needed: $1,200
CHEWIE 
Original Post: Chewie is a sweet older Chihuahua who began having seizures in February of this year. He was on Keppra to control the seizures. In June, after having blood work done, they determined that in addition to seizures, Chewie had kidney problems that had not been evident 6 months earlier. Blood work showed some improvement in August, and it was not clear whether the kidney problems and seizures were related.
However, on September 21st Chewie began having cluster seizures and was taken to the emergency hospital. He was kept overnight and ended up having a total of 8 seizures that day and night. He was put on phenobarbital in addition to Keppra, and predisone was also added in case the seizures were caused by a tumor.
After spending over $2,000 on Chewie’s care since developing seizures his owner needed assistance to find out why his blood work was continuing to worsen and he was lethargic and not eating. Bandit’s BandAid was able to cover the costs of a consultation with an Internist, an ultrasound and an updated blood panel and urinalysis. Those test results will be reviewed by the organization’s veterinary advisors and an action plan developed.
Update: Unfortunately the test results confirmed a diagnosis of advanced kidney failure. Fluid therapy was given but at this advanced stage there was no possible cure. Because the diseased was progressing rapidly the decision was made to help sweet Chewie to the Rainbow Bridge.
Owner: Lauren Saez
Veterinary Hospital: Lakeshore Veterinary Specialists, Oak Creek, WI
Amount Needed: $1,500
WILBUR
Original Post – From Wilbur’s owner: Wilbur was given to me as a pup and he came from a very responsible breeder. All of the other dogs in the litter and the parents are healthy. Unfortunately Wilbur is an anomaly with all of his problems.
Wilbur had cleft palate surgery and his nose re-opened twice. He has also been treated for pneumonia five times. All the surgeries have cost me upwards of $7500. Wilbur is also on monthly medication and has had skincare testing. He also gets all of his food cooked at home so I can make sure it’s the right size and consistency. He cannot eat out of a bowl and has to sit at the dining room table with me for every meal and eats off a fork.
It is difficult for me to ask for help but I can no longer afford to pay for additional surgeries. I looked into pet insurance but Wilbur did not qualify because he had so many pre-existing conditions.
Last year I was divorced and my ex got pretty much everything except Wilbur. Honestly all I really wanted was Wilbur. So being without a lot of money I bought a travel trailer and lived in an RV park where I also got a job as head of maintenance with an hourly wage plus my lot space. There was an issue with contamination of the the water at the park and the owners wanted me to cover it up, which I refused to do. Things became really tense and they asked me to leave. I just moved into another park and am looking for work. I always land on my feet because I have a good skill set but at this time I cannot help my pup with the major medical expenses he is facing.
Update – On August 14th Wilbur went into surgery to receive a corneo conjunctival transposition (CCT) graft, which is a procedure to treat a deep cornial ulcer. It is done in order to save the eye. Wilbur’s surgery went well and he was sent home at the end of the day with eye drops and instructions to care for him. Unfortunately a few days later Wilbur started to have problems with his eye again. Wilbur met with the surgeon a week after surgery and the specialist was able to see some blood vessels that had not been there in previous exams. So Wilbur was given additional medication, a new large cone and instructions on how to treat the eye and he will go back to the surgeon at the end of the following week. If Wilbur’s eye continues to improve the next step for Wilbur will be to meat with a dermatologist to treat the continual ear infections that Wilbur has been dealing with.
Owner – Brian Pillsbury
Veterinary Hospital – Eye Care for Animals, Tampa, FL
Amount Needed – $2,800
KOSA
Original Post – From Hope: Kosa was rescued by my mother at the age of three. His previous owner got him as a puppy and decided she did not like him. So she kept him in a stark, bare room or in an empty pantry. He was only let out of these rooms twice a day to go potty. My mother had recently lost her beloved rescue corgi Beau to a brain tumor. The house was so empty so Mom called her veterinarian and let her know she was looking for a younger male Corgi. A day later a Vet Tech called and said they had a young male Corgi, the one the owner didn’t want, that needed a new home.
Fast forward to 2018. I began noticing the Kosa was limping and took him into his vet who felt Kosa was dealing with arthritis. We were treating him conservatively but in recent weeks he started to have more problems walking. I reached out to Bandit’s BandAid and they helped us get Kosa examined at a specialty center. In addition to his walking problems Kosa had been exhibiting symptoms of a UTI, and in fact they did determine that he had an infection. After a thorough exam the vet informed me that Kosa has a neurological deficit that is causing his walking problems. However she could not be more specific because he will need an MRI to determine the cause of that deficit. We have therefore contacted the Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania to meet with their neurology department.
My mother is bedridden and on a fixed income. I am her caregiver and she needs help 24/7 so I cannot work outside the home. My mother has always covered the basic bills for Kosa but we cannot afford a major veterinary bill like this. Kosa had such a rough start to his life, and I want to ensure that we do everything we can to give him a good rest of his life.
Update – Kosa was seen by a neurologist at the UPenn Ryan Animal Hospital. He strongly suspected that Kosa had Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) and suggested that he be tested for it. His results were affected/at risk. Based upon the DNA test and the symptoms Kosa has exhibited it was felt that further testing was not necessary at this time. Instead, A course of twice weekly physical therapy sessions including water treadmill, along with home exercises, should be undertaken to slow the progression of symptoms. Kosa will be reassessed after his first round of PT to determine what additional diagnostics and/or treatment is needed.
Owners: Nancy and Hope Lane
Veterinary Hospital: Ryan Veterinary Hospital, University of Pennsylvania
Amount Needed: $2,500
LILY
Lily is 7 year old Pembroke Welsh Corgi that has been with her owner since she was 8 weeks old. Donna, her owner, said she was one of a litter of 4 puppies that she went to see in Augusta Maine. Lily was the last puppy out of the box, and she went right over to see Donna and chew on her sneaker. And that was all it took! Donna picked her new puppy’s name right then and there and off they went to their new life together.
In late 2017 Lily had a growth on her gum that needed to be removed along with another on her foot. Donna was able to obtain care credit to go forward with the surgery and she is still paying off the balance. Lily also suffers from allergies that require her to receive periodic shots that her owner must also pay for.
Then a few weeks ago Lily began limping and contacted us to assist her so Lily could be seen by her vet and get some radiographs done of her leg. Those images revealed that Lily had a torn cruciate ligament that will require surgery to repair. Lily’s owner is on a fixed income and she does not have the ability to pay for CCL surgery for her girl. Your support of this fundraiser will allow Lily to receive the surgery that she needs to walk pain free once again.
Owner: Donna Ladd
Veterinary Hospital: Veazie Veterinary Clinic
Amount Needed: $2,000
LOGAN
Original Post – Logan’s owner, who is an Animal Chaplain, came to Bandit’s BandAid because Logan was limping and she was concerned it was a disc problem because he had disc surgery four years earlier. The veterinarian at his rehab hospital had examined Logan and felt it was more likely a problem with the leg itself though she was not certain. We therefore scheduled Logan to be seen at the specialty center where his disc surgery had been done.
Logan was examined by a neurologist and a orthopedic specialist and they believed his limping and pain is primarily caused by a cruciate ligament rupture. The next step is to do some imaging and if the rupture is confirmed, perform surgery. Logan will go to the Vetria surgery center next week (where Ziva had her bladder stone surgery) to get x-rays and if needed, surgery to repair the ligament. Your donations to Bandit’s BandAid help dogs like Logan receive the the medical care that they need to live a long, pain free life.
Update – Logan received the x-rays and it was conformed that he has a torn ligament. At that exam the vet noticed that Logan had some major dental issues that needed to be addressed before considering surgery on his leg. Logan was seen by a dental specialist who determined that Logan had Grade 4 periodontal disease and needed most of his teeth removed. On August 27th Logan received the needed dental surgery including the removal of 33 teeth. Once he recovers we will determine what steps are needed to deal with the ligament injury.
Owner: Janice Driggers
Veterinary Hospital: Vetria Pet Wellness & Surgical Center, Tampa FL
Amount Needed: $1,500
ZIVA
Ziva is an 8 year old Pembroke Welsh Corgi who is everything to us. My husband is disabled and I was in a serious car accident and have been going through the process of getting on SSA disability as well. Ziva has gotten me through all of this as well as through the loss of our other Corgi to DM a few years ago. I will do anything I can to help my special girl.
Two years ago we had to take Ziva to the emergency hospital because she was in pain and having difficulty urinating. X-rays revealed a lot of bladder stones as well as two stones lodged in her urethra. She required surgery to remove the stones, and then was put on a prescription diet. I am still trying to pay off that large Care Credit bill.
This past December Ziva began having problems urinating again. Our vet worked with us to deal with a bladder infection and to try to break up any stones that he suspected had returned. However this past week it was clear that Ziva was really suffering and would probably need surgery.
Bandit’s BandAid helped us get in to see a veterinary surgeon that they had worked with and he determined that her situation was critical. A number of large stones were observed in the X-ray and the concern was that her bladder could rupture. Ziva is currently staying at the vet awaiting surgery, which will happen either later today or first thing in the morning. We are so very grateful for any and all support that Ziva can receive from your donations to Bandit’s BandAid.
Owner: Robin Hart
Veterinary Hospital: Vetria Pet Wellness & Surgical Center, Tampa FL
Amount Needed: $1,500
WIDOW
Original Post – From Widow’s owner: Widow was born in an animal shelter in New Mexico. When she was a few days old, she was taken from the shelter by a rescue along with her mom and siblings, and brought to me to foster. Widow quickly fell behind her siblings in growth and energy levels. At 3 months old she suffered from a severe case of bloat. Although her bloat was treated she continued to have major health issues. Because the rescue was not providing proper veterinary care I adopted Widow outright and took her to an excellent local vet.
At that point Widow was so sick that her new vet told me that euthanasia was a valid option. However we agreed to move forward with some diagnostics. She was tested for Parvo, but given her size and other symptoms the vet suspected a liver shunt. A blood test revealed slightly elevated liver values, and a bile acid test showed extremely abnormal liver enzymes. I was eventually able to cover the cost of an ultrasound which confirmed that Widow had a large exohepatic shunt.
Widow is only 7 months old, but she has already beaten the odds. She was given a week to live after she was diagnosed with the liver shunt. A prescription diet, Metamucil, lactulose, olive oil and milk thistle have kept her going and given her energy and even some sass! Despite her spirit, I see the toll it takes on her body, and I know that she could develop neurological problems at any time. The sooner surgery is done, the better the odds are that she will survive it and have a more normal lifespan and a more normal life.
Update – Widow transferred over to the Power’s Pet Emergency and Specialty Center near her home and was seen by their internist who questioned whether Widow truly had a liver shunt. After performing another bile acid test it was determined that she did not, in fact, suffer from that condition, but the cause of her medical problems was then unknown. So in early August Widow had surgery to be spayed and to take biopsies of her intestines and lower GI system. Unfortunately Widow had difficulty recovering from the surgery and after having a few good days at home she began to decline. She returned to the hospital where the most difficult decision was made to help sweet Widow to the Bridge.
Owner: Stephanie Huffman
Veterinary Hospital: Power’s Pet Emergency and Specialty Center, Colorado Springs
Amount Needed: $3,000
JEFF & GIBBS
Jeff and Gibbs (short for Leroy Jethro Gibbs) are young dogs being fostered by Elizabeth Wilcher. Liz is an office manager and vet tech at a clinic in Texas. She rescues dogs that often need medical attention in addition to new homes. Liz is in the process of forming (and paying the costs to form) a nonprofit rescue organization. While she goes through that process, Bandit’s BandAid will be assisting with the medical needs of a few of the dogs she is fostering.
Jeff is an 18 month old Chihuahua mix that was born in her clinic along with 8 other puppies by emergency c-section. The owner was destitute so Liz paid for the surgery and cared for the mama dog and her puppies until they were weaned and adopted out. Unfortunately the home that Jeff was placed did not work out and he is now back with Liz. Jeff need vaccinations, a heartworm test, and to be neutered and microchipped.
Gibbs is a 2 year old 24 pound terrier mix that was rescued from a kill shelter in south Texas. Liz was able to give him his vaccinations, heartworm test and prevention, but Jethro needs to be neutered and microchipped before he can be adopted to a new home.
Foster: Elizabeth Wilcher
Veterinary Hospital: Pet Vet Animal Hospital, Farmers Branch, TX
Amount Needed: $250
LUCKY
Lucky is a sweet 7 year old spaniel/chihuahua mix. Her owner came to Bandit’s BandAid because Lucky was suffering from a number of symptoms including itching, loss of hair and painful anal glands. She suspected that Lucky had developed bad allergies but because she was on Social Security Disability she did not have the funds to get Lucky tested. Bandit’s BandAid provided the funds to get Lucky tested, and during those tests it was revealed that she also suffered from hypothyroidism. She was put on medication to treat the thyroid as well as monthly injections to treat her allergies.
Last week when Lucky was taken in for her monthly allergy injection, it was noticed that she had gained a significant amount of weight even though she had been limited to 2/3 cup of food daily. Lucky will need to undergo testing as soon as possible to determine whether her thyroid medication is working properly or whether there is another cause for her weight gain.
Owner: Linda Nagel
Veterinary Hospital: Blue Cross Animal Hospital, Las Vegas, NV
Amount Needed: $300
PERCY
Original Post – Percy is a sweet 4 year old black headed tri-colored Pembroke Welsh Corgi who has been seeing veterinarians for 2 years about a skin condition that caused him to lose much of his fur. His skin has become hot and inflamed and he has felt miserable. He had undergone a lot of expensive treatment at his vet and with a dermatology specialist. His owners came to our organization hoping to get some assistance with both the cost of additional treatments, as his owners must retire soon, and help finding an effective way to treat his problems. Percy has begun seeing a new dermatologist but he also needs some testing to determine why he is unable to gain weight regardless of his food intake.
Update – After 4 months of treatment by the dermatologist, Percy has gained weight, his skin irritations are under control and his coat has filled in. Percy is a perfect example of what the right specialist can do to diagnose a long term problem, and to develop and implement a successful treatment plan.
Owners: Tom and Christie Warrick
Veterinary Hospital: Animal Dermatology Referral Clinic, Dallas ,TX
Amount Needed: $800