10.05.07
Posted in Barkley Turner at 1:19 pm by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
This is the wonder dog named Barkley. He is far exceeding anyone’s expectations.
Here is his foster mom, Jenni’s, most recent report….
Barkley had a sponge bath today and I trimmed some of his hair to start to even him out. His incision is looking good and shows no signs of infection. The vet who shaved of all of Barkley’s mats while he was at the DVSC actually lives in my apt complex. While we were out in the courtyard doing his business a lady with a huge dog kept staring at us and finally she said from across the way “OMG is that dog named Barkley?” She thought he was looking very good. YEAH!!! I have attached some pictures after his sponge bath.
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09.28.07
Posted in Barkley Turner at 9:55 pm by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
Are you sitting down?
Are you really sitting down?
Do you have a BIG box of kleenex available???
This is unbelievable, but this little fluffer that was a quadraplegic on Monday morning IS WALKING!!!!I just about burst out in tears when the clinic called this afternoon to tell me that he was walking and “eliminating” normally. Ok, not walking normally, but still, WALKING!
After laying underneath his owner’s bed for many days, in excruciating pain, unable and/or unwilling to move, he is now on the road to recovery THANKS TO YOU!!
Here is a little MOVIE of him getting ready to leave DVS.It’s a large file, so hopefully this will work.
Here is another MOVIE showing Barkley following the nurse around.Ok, he doesn’t walk well, but can you believe this?!?!?Now, he needs rest a lot of rest.
Do you want to know how lucky Barkley is to have you?Please read the surgeon’s notes below.Focus on the final paragraph that I’ve emphasized.
The Surgeon wrote:“Barkley is recovering from spinal surgery.Neurological recovery is gradual, and it is normal for it to take several days for the pain from a ruptured disc to resolve.Sometimes if there has been compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots for a while before the surgery it may even take a few weeks or more for the patient to be really comfortable and pain free again.
Since Barkley was showing signs of distress for at least two weeks before his previous owner turn him into your rescue (GO LONE STAR) we do not know how long Barkley has been injured.Bed rest is very important after spinal surgery.Please also keep in mind that since Barkley was weak and/or paralyzed prior to surgery, it is normal for this to take some time to improve.The average recovery period to walking again after spinal surgery is a few weeks, but some dogs may take even longer than this.
In most spinal cord injuries we can not determine how much movement and flexibility he will regain.However, usually 6 months after the injury will be indicative on the amount of function he will regain for the rest of his life.
Barkley’s blood levels according to VCA were all in the normal range, so that is great because healing occurs best in patients that were healthy before the injury.
If Barkley did not have the surgery, the compression of the discs would have eventually shut off all blood circulation to the spinal cord below his compression and this would have lead to all the nerves dying and thus rendering Barkley completely paralyzed.Once the nerve dies there is no hope in regaining any function to the muscles controlled by that nerve.”
Did you read that!!??
HAD YOU NOT BEEN THE KIND OF PEOPLE YOU ARE - COMPASSIONATE, CARING TO A FAULT, PEOPLE, BARKLEY WOULDBE COMPLETELY PARALYZED - ALL FOUR LEGS - WITH ABSOLUTELY NO HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
YOU ALL ROCK!!!
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MATCHING DONATION CHALLENGE
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But, financially, we’re not out of the woods.DVS graciously gave us a few days to raise the final funds we need and thankfully………
drum roll, please….
We have a GREAT Matching Donation Challenge.Since we are so far behind, not only with Barkley’s fund, but even worse with the heartworm puppies, one of our unbelievable ANGELS has issued this challenge…
For all donations made this weekend, to get us even, she will MATCH dollar for dollar!!!
Oh my goodness!!!
If you think you can help with this fabulous MATCHING CHALLENGE, please go HERE for paypal or go HERE to send a check(please indicate September 29 Matching Donation Challenge). If you want to use a credit card - American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Discover - I’ve uploaded the credit card authorization form - please click HERE to down load the form.You can then fax it to 281-754-4851.Andemail me (Teresa@shihtzu-rescue.com) so I know to look for the fax.If you want to use a credit card, and have already used it before, just email me (teresa@shihtzu-rescue.com) the amount you would like to send to help.
These funds will cap off Barkley’s fund and the fund for all the adorable heartworm dogs we’ve just treated!! We should be back in the black after this.(At least until thenext Barkley comes scratching on the Lone Star door).
Thanks to Anonymous 2 in honor of Marty Howard who loves all the dogs, Judy Florence, Anonymous, Fur Kids, Martha Hughes, Barbara Grabell, Gay Yancey, Debbie Styron in honor of Maliaka, Traci Tran, Lorna Van De Weile, Barbara Moran, Impulse Devices - Wylene Dunbar, Anna Dee Lastick, Cathryn Brown, Wyatt Edenfield, Joan Samara, Doug Cameron, Joan Lundemo, Donna Ferris, Nichele Shakespeare, Lael Ward, Deborah Knoepfel, Sandy McPherson, Beth Kupka in memory of Josephine, Christine Hutchison, Cheryl McDonald, Rebecca Morgan, Joyce Hilldebrand and Mike Tate, Deborah Bettes in memory of Chloe, Melony Robichaux, Gloria Parrent, Barbara Grabell, Wendy Barnum, Linda Harrington, Rosemary Cody, Maureen Skarzynski , Jean Simth in honor of Jose, Pat Schoenfelder, Letitia Groce, Joyce Ycasas, STARS of Texas, Dantganh Vu, Traci Tran, Donna Wilt, M Hughes, in memory of Squickey, Rick Brezik, Pam Glass, Patricia Barnett in memory of LeAnn’s beloved Airdales, Capo and Casey for their very generous donations.
Also huge thanks to Becky P and Jenni C for staying up late to get all the stuff to me.And for being Barkley’s co-foster parents so that he has someone to watch him most all day. And to Karen H for getting pictures.
WE CAN ONLY DO THINGS LIKE THIS BECAUSE OF THE VERY GENEROUS DONATIONS THAT COME IN WHEN THE DOGS HAVE A NEED.
WE GET NO FUNDING FROM ANY OTHER METHOD - NOT FROM THE GOVERNMENT, NOT FROM THE SPCA OR HUMANE SOCIETY, NOT FROM ANY OTHER METHOD EXCEPT FROM YOU!
YOUR DONATIONS COUNT!!! WE ARE A 100% VOLUNTEER FOSTER-HOME-BASED ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE NO PAID EMPLOYEES AND VERY LITTLE ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD.
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09.27.07
Posted in Barkley Turner at 1:27 pm by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
Little Mr. Barkley Turner continues to make progress. The most recent update is that he continues to use his front legs and one back leg more and more and he is actually urinating on his own now - YEAH!! What a lucky little boy.
His fund is currently (1 PM Thursday) at $3,030 and we still need around $970 before he has to be released. We’re making good progress but certainly don’t want to leave his little Franken-Barkley body there any longer than necessary. So, please consider a little donation to his fund.
If you think you can help, please go HERE for paypal or go HERE to send a check(please indicate Barkley Turner). If you want to use a credit card - American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Discover - I’ve uploaded the credit card authorization form. If you want to use a credit card, please click HERE to down load the form. You can then fax it to 281-754-4851. And email me (Teresa@shihtzu-rescue.com) so I know to look for the fax.If you want to use a credit card, and have already used it before, just email me (teresa@shihtzu-rescue.com) the amount you would like to send to help one or more of these babies.
And, please, please don’t forget all the heartworm positive fluffs. Right now, we’re having to put all of the funds toward Barkley so we can get him out when he’s ready. We just got in another Heartworm Positive Boy but will delay that expense until we get all this other stuff caught up. To help the little heartworm fluffs, please go HERE for paypal or go HERE to send a check(please indicate Heartworm Dogs).
Thanks to Judy Florence, Anonymous, Fur Kids, Martha Hughes, Barbara Grabell, Gay Yancey, Debbie Styron in honor of Maliaka, Traci Tran, Lorna Van De Weile, Barbara Moran, Impulse Devices - Wylene Dunbar, Anna Dee Lastick, Cathryn Brown, Wyatt Edenfield, Joan Samara, Doug Cameron, Joan Lundemo, Donna Ferris, Nichele Shakespeare, Lael Ward, Deborah Knoepfel, Sandy McPherson, Beth Kupka in memory of Josephine, Christine Hutchison, Cheryl McDonald, Rebecca Morgan, Joyce Hilldebrand and Mike Tate, Deborah Bettes in memory of Chloe, Melony Robichaux, Gloria Parrent, Barbara Grabell, Wendy Barnum, Linda Harrington, Rosemary Cody, Maureen Skarzynski , Jean Simth in honor of Jose, Pat Schoenfelder, Letitia Groce, Joyce Ycasas, STARS of Texas, Dantganh Vu, Traci Tran, Donna Wilt, M Hughes, in memory of Squickey, Patricia Barnett in memory of LeAnn’s beloved Airdales, Capo and Casey for their very generous donations.
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09.25.07
Posted in Barkley Turner at 9:46 pm by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
I received a call from DVS this morning wanting permission to shave Barkley. Never before has DVS asked to do “grooming” but evidently he was so terribly matted the mats were pulling on his skin and causing a lot of discomfort. Not a professional groom, but hey, gets him by.
They had to do the surgery from under the neck because of the specific rupture - I haven’t seen an incision underneath the neck like this.
The report from DVS this afternoon is that he is quite a bit more comfortable but still not out of the woods. He has regained some ability to use one of his back legs and both of his front legs but still cannot walk. He’s also unable to urinate by himself so they are manually expressing his bladder.
Jenni, one of our super-HEROS (aka volunteers) in DFW went to visit him today and got the above picture. Her is her report.
I visited with Barkley today, he was a little groggy and scared because he was shaking a lot. He liked when I petted his head and was whimpering a bit. Seems like a really sweet boy. Jenni
We’re still in a lot of trouble right now. We did get around $500 in donations today but are still way behind. Thankfully, we still have a few days. The ICU bill is funded, but we still need around $2700 for his surgery. On top of that, we’re still close to $3000 behind on the heartworm treatment bills. I’m still am about to have an anxiety attack. 
We only have three days to raise what we need so that we can retrieve Barkley from the DVS.
HELP!! HELP AGAIN!!
FUNDING UPDATE: Noon Wednesday, September 26
Thanks to Judy Florence, Anonymous, Fur Kids, Martha Hughes, Barbara Grabell, Gay Yancey, Debbie Styron in honor of Maliaka, Traci Tran, Lorna Van De Weile, Barbara Moran, Impulse Devices - Wylene Dunbar, Anna Dee Lastick, Cathryn Brown, Wyatt Edenfield, Joan Samara, Doug Cameron, Joan Lundemo, Donna Ferris, Nichele Shakespeare, Lael Ward, Deborah Knoepfel, Sandy McPherson, Beth Kupka in memory of Josephine, Christine Hutchison, Cheryl McDonald, Rebecca Morgan, Joyce Hilldebrand and Mike Tate, Deborah Bettes in memory of Chloe, Melony Robichaux, Gloria Parrent, Barbara Grabell, Wendy Barnum, Linda Harrington, Rosemary Cody, Maureen Skarzynski , Jean Simth in honor of Jose, Pat Schoenfelder, Letitia Groce Barkley’s ER/ICU bill is paid and there is $750 toward his $3,000 surgery bill.
If you think you can help, please go HERE for paypal or go HERE to send a check(please indicate Barkley Turner/Heartworm/Medical Fund). We can now take credit cards – American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Discover. I’ve uploaded the credit card authorization form. If you want to use a credit card, please click HERE to down load the form. You can then fax it to 281-754-4851. And email me (Teresa@shihtzu-rescue.com) so I know to look for the fax.If you want to use a credit card, and have already used it before, just email me (teresa@shihtzu-rescue.com) the amount you would like to send to help one or more of these babies.
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Posted in Barkley Turner at 11:36 am by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
Yesterday, Monday, we rushed (thanks Missie) Barkley to the Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center for evaluation. This is THE speciality clinic in Dallas and they have surgeons well-versed in back surgeries. The surgeon called me around 1:00 to tell me that Barkley was in bad shape and they were not sure they could help him. Although he had feeling in all four legs, he was totally unable to use any of the legs that morning and was considered a quadraplegic at that point. His condition was worsening. He asked what we wanted to do but didn’t give a very good prognosis.
Gosh, what to do. I hate it when there is no crystal ball. He gave me an estimate of $2700-$3000 for everything, including the CT scan and surgery. That’s a chunk of change especially when we are already $3000 in the hole for heartworm treatment and other medical care. You will totally kill me, and I know that we are now in serious trouble, but I told him to go ahead and do the CT scan and then call me back to let me know where we stand.
I got the call back just after 4:00 pm. Barkley had already had the surgery. What?? When they did the CT scan, they saw a HUGE rupture at C4/5 and it was seriously pressing on the spinal column.
When the surgeon called, he said they though his only chance to recover was if they did it immediately. So they did. Sometimes you just gotta have faith. He said he came through the surgery extremely well. They removed a HUGE amount of disc material that was seriously pinching the spinal column. He said this little boy must have been in excruciating pain for the past few days/weeks.
The surgeon also gave him a good prognosis for the future.
But now for the bad news. We’re in a lot of trouble right now. We still have round $300 to raise for his ICU visit, plus now the $3000 for his surgery. On top of that, we’re still close to $3000 behind on the heartworm treatment bills. I’m about to have an anxiety attack right now. We only have four days to raise what we need so that we can retrieve Barkley from the DVS.
HELP!!
Thanks to Judy Florence, Anonymous, Fur Kids, Martha Hughes, Barbara Grabell, Gay Yancey, Debbie Styron in honor of Maliaka, Traci Tran, Lorna Van De Weile, Barbara Moran, Impulse Devices - Wylene Dunbar, Anna Dee Lastick, Cathryn Brown, Wyatt Edenfield, Joan Samara, Doug Cameron, Joan Lundemo he has $810 of the needed $1053 in Barkley’s ER/ICU fund as of 9 pm Sunday night.
If you think you can help, please go HERE for paypal or go HERE to send a check(please indicate Barkley Turner). We can now take credit cards – American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Discover. I’ve uploaded the credit card authorization form. If you want to use a credit card, please click HERE to down load the form. You can then fax it to 281-754-4851. And email me (Teresa@shihtzu-rescue.com) so I know to look for the fax.If you want to use a credit card, and have already used it before, just email me (teresa@shihtzu-rescue.com) the amount you would like to send to help one or more of these babies.
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09.23.07
Posted in Barkley Turner at 10:48 pm by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
I received a call from the VCA clinic this afternoon - Barkley is responding well to the pain meds and is now sitting up and eating. This is significantly better than Friday night when he was laying on his side crying. But, unfortunately, he is still not attempting to get up on his back legs. Both back legs still have feeling so there is a good prognosis with surgery. He will be transferred to DVS tomorrow morning for a neuro consult and it is likely that he will need back surgery. In the past, the cost of back surgery has ranged from $2500-$4500 depending on the circumstances. We’ll get the estimate from DVS tomorrow. And will immediately start trying to get his fund intact. It’s difficult right now, with over $3000 in Heartworm treatments still outstanding and now this. Oh well, no one said this was an EASY volunteer task. Thanks to Judy Florence, Anonymous, Fur Kids, Martha Hughes, Gay Yancey, Debbie Styron in honor of Maliaka, Traci Tran, Lorna Van De Weile, Barbara Moran, Impulse Devices - Wylene Dunbar, Wyatt Edenfield, Joan Samara, Doug Cameron, Joan Lundemo he has $750 of the needed $1053 in his ER/ICU fund as of 9 pm Sunday night. If you think you can help, please go HERE for paypal or go HERE to send a check(please indicate Barley Turner). We can now take credit cards – American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Discover. I’ve uploaded the credit card authorization form. If you want to use a credit card, please click HERE to down load the form. You can then fax it to 281-754-4851. And email me (Teresa@shihtzu-rescue.com) so I know to look for the fax.If you want to use a credit card, and have already used it before, just email me (teresa@shihtzu-rescue.com) the amount you would like to send to help one or more of these babies.
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09.22.07
Posted in Barkley Turner at 9:00 pm by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
One of our DFW volunteers, Karen, went to visit little Barkley at the VCA hospital today. What a great caring group of people at that place.
Here is a picture of this boy.
Unfortunately, this little guy has not been to a vet in years and is not on heartworm preventative. Oh well, we’ll cross that bridge later.
Thanks to Judy Florence, Anonymous, Fur Kids, Martha Hughes, Gay Yancey, Debbie Styron in honor of Maliaka, Traci Tran, Lorna Van De Weile, Barbara Moran, Impulse Devices - Wylene Dunbar, Wyatt Edenfield, Joan Samara he has $720 of the needed $1053 in his fund as of 9 pm Saturday night.
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09.21.07
Posted in Barkley Turner at 10:47 pm by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
Wednesday, I received an email from a lady whose nine year old shih tzu was “very sick.”
I was wondering if you could help me. About 8 to 9 years ago we bought a beautiful little shihtzu and he has been the joy of our lives. Within the last week or two he has just not been the same. He won’t hardly come out from under the bed and he hardly eats or drinks. If I gently touch his head he is fine but if I go anywhere near his kneck he snaps at me, something he has never done. When I got the dog I was married and had two incomes coming in and we where able to take care of him. Now, however, I am a single mom helping to put her son through college and I have no extra money for the vet. My friends at work and I spent friday calling every vet we could and no one will take payments and I just don’t have ANY extra money. It takes all I make just to make ends meet. Do you know of a vet that could help me or a place I could take him where he could be taken care of and given to someone who can afford to take care of ! him the way he deserves. He is such a good dog, he has never caused us a day of unhappiness until now seeing his face so sad. He is AKC registered and he even as a puppy has never chewed a thing.. He is truly a Saint. Please can someone help us.
I told her about Imom.org, the organization dedicated to helping those with limited funds, but she didn’t/couldn’t get the information together to help her Barkley.
Tonight, I received a second message…
I went on the (imom.org) sight to apply, but they say you have to apply for care now and I did that by phone and was turned down. They also want a written estimate from a vet what it will cost and I can’t take him to the vet because I don’t have the funds to pay. I just don’t know what to do. Let me ask you this… If I can’t get help to pay for him is there somewhere I can take him even if I have to give him up I can’t stand to see him barely moving. Please give me some advice.
Then just a few minutes later…
I just went in to check on Barkley and he is worse… He can barely even pick up his head to look at me. My oldest son tells me I should put him down because its not right to make him suffer. He has been such a good dog. If I decide to do that do you know somewhere I can take him and have him put to sleep.. Gosh this is so hard… A man who breeds dogs looked at him and he said he isn’t sure a vet could even help him. He thinks he got something that is just taking his life away
So, what did I do? Did I tell her “look, we have 100+ dogs that we are caring for right now and don’t need another.”
Did I tell her “We’re already $3000 short to pay this week’s vet bills.”
Did I tell her “He is your responsibility.”
Did I tell her ANYTHING that sounded like what a reasonable person would say.
NONONONONO. No, I did not. I told her to get her you-know-what in a car and get that baby to our VCA vet in Irving immediately.
WHAT WAS I THINKING????
I wasn’t thinking - that’s for sure. My husband always tells me I need to quit thinking with my heart. Ha! Fat chance that will happen.
So, guess what trouble we’re in right now? She surrendered the little guy, (we named him Buckley Turner), to us and he is now at the VCA clinic hospitalized in stable condition for the weekend. He has a herniated disc - I think they said T10/11. May or may not need surgery, but keeping him stable over the weekend is estimated to be $1053. Should we do this???
If you think we should, PLEASE help! We only can do these “rescues” because of your generousity. And please, pass this message on to all of your fluff loving friends so we can expand our message.
I’m trying to get one of our DFW Heros (volunteers) over to the clinic tomorrow to get pictures.
We really need to know if we should do this asap. If you think this is something we need to do and you want to support us, please go HERE for paypal or go HERE to send a check(please indicate Barkley Turner/Heartworm/Medical Fund). We can now take credit cards – American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Discover. I’ve uploaded the credit card authorization form. If you want to use a credit card, please click HERE to down load the form. You can then fax it to 281-754-4851. And email me (Teresa@shihtzu-rescue.com) so I know to look for the fax.If you want to use a credit card, and have already used it before, just email me (teresa@shihtzu-rescue.com) the amount you would like to send to help one or more of these babies.
All we need now is enough to cover the VCA ICU. If they determine he needs back surgery, we’ll tell you next week.
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