Everyone who has ever had a veterinary emergency with their beloved, four-legged best friend knows both how pricey and how gut-wrenching the entire experience is.
So when one doggie dad faced veterinary expenditures reaching just shy of $24,000, he said he was willing to go to unusual measures to keep his baby girl alive.
Jaxon is the dad of a two-year-old Weimaraner named Rambo. For reasons that are still unknown, Rambo fell into hypovolemic shock, which means her heart was unable to pump blood to the rest of her body. Not only that, but she also suffered gastroenteritis, or a stomach flu.
“She began vomiting throughout the night over 30 times and by Saturday am we were in the emergency vets,” said Rambo’s dad.
As you may have guessed, this caused her health to worsen rapidly, and they weren’t sure how long she’d have to be in emergency care. On top of hypovolemic shock and gastrointestinal issues, fluids started leaking into her lungs, and she got pneumonia. One of her lungs even collapsed.
Being at the emergency vet under 24/7 surveillance is ultimately what saved her life but it cost over £1000 ($1200 USD) per day to be under their care. Rambo’s insurance would cover her up to £6500 ($7,800), but her cost was already at £11,500 ($13,800) after only a single week in their care.
So Jaxon launched a gofundme page to try to get funds for Rambo’s crucial care. He even indicated that he was willing to ‘sell his house.’
“If the worst happens and Rambo requires significant surgery, the cost of this as well as the aftercare is something I need to be able to provide my beautiful baby girl,” added Jaxon.
Her dad got so frightened that he started sleeping in his car that he parked near the vet, so that he wouldn’t be too far from his darling baby girl. But not only did more than 600 individuals donate, with the total raised already reaching £10,000 ($12,000), Rambo reacted to less intrusive therapies, and they were able to skip surgery altogether.
“My little angel is by no means completely better, it will be a long road to recovery for her and she still requires 24/7 observation at this time along with a large dose of medication. Nonetheless, we did what we said we would, we came home,” stated Jaxon.
Due to all the love, support, and outstanding treatment, Rambo started to make a miraculous recovery. After two long weeks, she was finally able to leave the hospital and travel home with her adoring dad.
COVID-19: Rescue dogs shot dead in Australia over coronavirus restrictions
A council in Australia killed the impounded animals to prevent volunteers at an animal shelter from travelling to pick them up and potentially spreading the virus.
Fifteen rescue dogs, including 10 puppies, have been shot dead by a rural Australian council under its interpretation of coronavirus restrictions.
Bourke Shire Council in New South Wales destroyed the canines, which had been at its pound, to prevent volunteers at an animal shelter from travelling to pick them up and potentially spreading the virus.
“The council decided to take this course of action to protect its employees and community, including vulnerable Aboriginal populations, from the risk of COVID-19 transmission,” the Office of Local Government, a government watchdog, told The Sydney Morning Herald.
The spokesman said officials were investigating whether any animal cruelty laws had been broken.
Five of the dogs had been housed at the pound since early August and one of the dogs then had 10 pups.
The council said staff became concerned for the welfare of the animals due to overcrowding at the pound and two of the dogs attacking one of the others.
A source said the shelter volunteers were distressed and already had COVID-safe measures in place to handle the dogs.
And comedian Ricky Gervais has expressed his disapproval of the killings on social media.
Bourke Shire Council told ABC News the dogs were euthanised because the rescue organisation was from another local government area and they had concerns about people from other communities entering Bourke.
All of regional New South Wales has “stay-at-home” orders in place due to COVID-19.
The council said it had contacted its usual dog rehomer, who is based in the same area, but they were unable to come to Bourke.
The shelter that was supposed to receive the dogs declined to comment.
Animal Liberation regional campaign manager Lisa Ryan has called for an urgent investigation.
“We are deeply distressed and completely appalled by this callous dog shooting and we totally reject [the] council’s unacceptable justifications that this killing was apparently undertaken as part of a COVID-safe plan,” she said.
Australia has recently seen a surge in COVID-19 cases, forcing the country’s largest city, Sydney, to extend its lockdown through September and impose tougher restrictions, such as a curfew and a mask mandate outdoors.
Staff are allowed to work at animal shelters even when lockdown measures are in place, according to the Office of Local Government spokesman.
“Councils are also encouraged to continue to work with re-homing organisations and volunteers to care for animals, where that can be undertaken consistent with NSW Health advice,” he added.
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