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| UPDATE: Everybody's favorite "special needs" boy has now left the hospital. What's more, after a brief stint in foster care with Carmella and family (including 4 majestic Great Danes) on Staten Island, Donnie has found a forever home with Theresa of the Sunnyside section of Queens. Theresa has been mom extraordinaire to many special needs dogs over the years. Some photos of Donnie's ears (post-surgery) as well as of his adoption day, are posted here. There is simply no adequate way to thank everyone who so generously donated funds for Donnie's care or for the love, support and prayers they extended to him and to us as a Rescue. Donnie is now a completely different Cocker Spaniel from the sad neglect case we found huddled in a ball at Manhattan ACC just a few short weeks ago. At that time, he was in so much pain that he showed no emotion. He was one of the most expressionless dogs we have ever encountered. It was as if he had turned completely inwards, with no joy or hope left in his little spirit. Shortly after his surgery, however, we met the REAL DONNIE. His pain having been relieved after such a prolonged period of suffering, the dog we encountered was JOY PERSONIFIED, all wags and wiggles, even jumping up to give kisses. Donnie holds no grudges against anyone for all he has endured. In fact, he seems to love the world at large: people, dogs, cats, the list goes on and on. Donnie is at last the happy, healthy, handsome dog he was always meant to be. While he will require follow-up at NYC Veterinary Specialists for his skin and a regimen of medicated baths for a while, Donnie has begun his life anew. And he is relishing EVERY MOMENT of it. While you may never meet in person, please know you have made all the difference to Donnie's life and that, to the end of his days, he will always hold a little part of you in a corner of his heart. Thank you, everyone, from the bottom of Donnie's heart and from the bottom of our hearts, too. In addition to those private individuals who supported Donnie's cause, we would like to extend a special thank you to Donnie's medical team at NYC Veterinary Specialists, particularly his dermatologist, Dr. Gilbert, and his surgeon, Dr. Kyles, for the extraordinary calibre of care that they and their compassionate, highly skilled staff provided to Donnie. Thank you as well to the Mayor's Alliance For NYC's Animals and to the Picasso Fund for subsidizing Donnie's medical care insofar as our fundraising efforts fell short of the extraordinary sum required to save him. 
 
 
   
  
UPDATE: Donnie has come through surgery like a champ and is doing very well. We are posting a couple of photos taken of Donnie in the hospital on July 9th, the day after his operation took place. He is on heavy duty pain meds and rather bewildered by the giant cone on his head but is bearing up well. Donnie will remain in the hospital for at least the next week in order that he can continue to receive intravenous pain meds and so that the medical staff can monitor the surgical sites for any signs of infection. He is doing as well as can be expected so far! UPDATE: Donnie is going in for surgery on both ears TODAY, July 8, 2008. He has been at NYC Veterinary Specialists since June 23rd receiving steroids and 5 different antibiotics in an effort to knock out a massive infection, one that affects not only his ears, but also his entire body. An ear culture has revealed that Donnie has been affected by EVERY CONCEIVABLE FORM OF BACTERIA, including E-Coli and Pseudonomas, both of which are notoriously difficult to eradicate. We have been medically advised that surgery is the only option for Donnie, as there is no other way to relieve his excruciating ear pain. Ear ablation is major surgery and quite high risk. It involves complete removal of the ear canals due to calcification arising from chronic, untreated infections. Once the ear canals have been removed, the openings to the ears are simply sewn shut. Cosmetically, Donnie will look great, as his ear flaps will completely cover the surgical sites. Sadly, however, he will be rendered completely deaf (we believe that Donnie likely has only minimal, if any, hearing left at this time in any event). Donnie will remain in the hospital for 1-2 weeks following surgery so that his post-surgical pain can be managed effectively and to monitor the surgical site for any signs of infection. While this surgery is obviously quite an ordeal for any animal, we have had it performed before on a couple of other dogs, all of whom came through it like champs and were adopted into loving homes where they are flourishing. Given the length of Donnie's pre-surgical and post-surgical stays, the new cost estimate for seeing him through to complete recovery is $7500.00. As a result of the generosity of so many who have been touched by Donnie's story, we have raised just over $4500.00, so we are well on our way to reaching our initial funding goal for him. If you have been moved by Donnie's horrific story of NEGLECT RISING TO THE LEVEL OF ANIMAL CRUELTY and have not yet made a donation towards his care, please consider making a donation now via the Paypal link below or by check payable to: Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue, Inc., P.O. Box 545426, Flushing, NY 11354. Our rescue is a 501(c)(3) corporation, so all donations are tax-deductible. PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP US REACH OUR FUNDRAISING GOAL FOR DONNIE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY! Effective immediately, our 5th Anniversary Summer Fundraiser (currently listed on petfinder as CELEBRATE) has been converted to an EMERGENCY FUNDRAISER, with all proceeds to be allocated to dual ear ablation surgery for Donnie, a 3 year old Cocker Spaniel who was surrendered by his owners to the Manhattan Shelter in horrific condition on June 20th. The cost of Donnie's rehabilitation will exceed $5,000.00. Having received $500.00 in donations so far, we are only 10% of the way towards our fundraising goal for Donnie. The attached photos of Donnie are GRAPHIC and may be highly upsetting to some viewers. Sadly, the photos reflect the reality for this poor sweet soul, who allowed one of our volunteers to handle his ears without so much as snapping, this despite the fact that he is without doubt in horrific pain. How anyone could allow their pet's condition to deteriorate to this point is really quite beyond comprehension. The level of neglect that this poor dog has experienced rises to the level of animal cruelty, which the ASPCA animal police will be investigating. We know that the economy is not what it once was and that times are tough for many of us. However, if every person who adopted one of the 600 dogs from Abandoned Angels over the past 5 years could, in honor of their beloved four-legged family member, contribute just $10.00, your collective generosity would enable us to provide Donnie with the care he needs. PLEASE!! Our rescue receives minimal independent funding, therefore we must rely on our circle of past adopters and other friends to help dogs like Donnie. Donnie has been sorely let down by those he called "family." PLEASE HELP US TO RE-DEFINE THE MEANING OF "FAMILY" FOR DONNIE BY SHOWING HIM HOW MUCH THE ABANDONED ANGELS FAMILY CARES ABOUT HIM. PLEASE MAKE A DONATION FOR DONNIE'S SAKE AND IN HONOR OF A PET YOU LOVE (THOSE WHO DONATE AT LEAST $50.00 WILL RECEIVE A FREE 100% COTTON ABANDONED ANGELS T-SHIRT, THEREFORE PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR SHIPPING ADDRESS). Donations can be made by clicking the Paypal link below or by mail to: Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue, PO Box 545426, Flushing, NY 11354 (please specify that your donation is being made FOR DONNIE'S SAKE). Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue, Inc. is a 501(c) corporation and all donations made are tax-deductible. We will continue to post regular updates about Donnie, who has been rushed to NYC Veterinary Specialists in Manhattan for emergency treatment. We are now a 501C Corporation, all donatons are tax deductible. |