This is Star. She needs your help
Meet Star. This picture was taken when she was just a young pup maybe around 11 weeks old. She is 6 months old now. Star is a Great Dane who's previous owner didn't care enough. Read her story below. How could someone not love this face? Well her owner didn't just because Star is going to need surgery costing possibly as much as $1800. UPDATES ARE POSTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE
(If you've already read Star's story and just want to read the updates or want to see more pictures of Star
Sunday Feb 27, 2000 my husband and I drove to Warren, Ohio which was over an hour away to meet Donna Furbee on Lafayette ST NE. Donna had an ad posted for a free 6 month old Great Dane pup. Another Great Dane rescue person notified me of this ad asking if I could go get the dog since I was closer. Both of us knew what could happen to an AKC unspayed Great Dane. She could end up in a puppy mill or in a laboratory and have painful experiments done on her for years.
Donna had told me on the phone that Star wetted her crate at night but she felt it was because Star didn't like being left alone. Since Donna worked second shift and didn't have much time for Star, she felt it was best to find Star a new home. Donna said that Star only wetted her crate at night.
When we arrived at Donna's house she invited us in and let Star out of her room. Star happily greeted us. My husband noticed that Donna didn't seem upset that she was giving up her puppy. She almost seemed relieved. She gave me Stars AKC papers, pictures of Star's parents and grandparents, heart worm pills and shot records folder. Donna showed me the vet receipts which I requested showing Star was updated on her shots and was indeed heart worm negative. Donna did not let me hold the vet receipts but showed them to me. I didn't think much of it. I told her to put that information in the folder she had for me with the rest of Star's information in it. I watched her put the vet receipts in the folder then her daughter turned our attention to Star and how she likes to play with her Frisbe.
I walked Star out to my vehicle and loaded her up. Still no emotions from Donna. She didn't even walk outside with us. I felt she was too upset to say goodbye to Star. Little did I know. As we drove a ways down the road I started looking over the information Donna gave me. I could not find the vet receipts in the folder. I knew Donna put them in the folder but I could not figure out why she would have taken them back out. I thought, it didn't matter because the shot records folder that the vets give out to keep your dog's vaccination records in had their vet office's stamp on it which Donna must not have realized.
My husband thought the whole thing seemed odd so I told him I would call Star's vet first thing Monday morning. I called Star's vet and told them how Donna had given Star to me since she didn't have time for her. I asked them if Star had ever been checked for a urinary infection since Donna had told me Star wetted her crate at night and I had notice a strong smell in her urine. What I was told next was a shock.
The vet's office had told me that this was an ongoing problem with Star and their notes showed that Star was doing more then just wetting her crate at night. Donna had told them that Star urinates in the house and in her crate no matter how many times she is taken outside. She also urinates on herself while laying down. They had discussed a more serious problem called ektopic ureter which would require expensive surgery.
Ectopic Ureter is where instead of the urine running from the Kidney to the bladder it goes from the Kidney to the urethra which causes Star to lose control. The vet's office faxed me over all of Star's records. It clearly showed that Donna knew of this and had lied to me about Star's health and urine problem. I immediately called several vets to see what could be done. It appeared that not much could be done and it would be too costly to try and correct the problem. I called Donna and left a message on her machine that I was very upset that she had not told me the truth and it would break my heart to have Star put down. I told her how it wasn't fair to dump all of this on me and in rescue work I see plenty of heart ache as it is. Days later Donna finally called me back. She left a message on my machine saying that Star only had a week bladder. Well, this is something she never told me in the first place. She said that Star only wetted her crate at night because she didn't like being left alone. Star has something more serious than a weak bladder.
Today 2/29/00 I called Ohio State University and Akron Veterinary Hospital for further information about this condition. OSU which is a 2 hour drive for me one way said the surgery would cost as much as $800 or more but with great success. Akron which is 30 minutes from me said depending on how severe could cost $800 to $1800 but with great success. I was so heart broken. I sat by Star, she put her head in my lab and just loved on me. I looked into her eyes and knew I couldn't end her life. My daughter made the comment that she runs around and plays like she doesn't know anything is wrong. I told her that's because Star doesn't know anything is wrong. To her life is just one big adventure and fun.
I knew then that I had to come up with the money to treat Star. Star depended on me now to care for her. I couldn't let her down. I know it's a lot of money to spend on a rescue especially when so many more animals in need will need my help. I still couldn't end Star's life. I knew that no matter what I was going to get her that surgery and my husband agreed.
Rescue work is so hard especially when the previous pet owners don't tell us the truth about the animal's health. They act like it doesn't bother us. Like we've seen plenty so we don't mind. Let me tell you, it breaks the hearts of us rescuers when we have to put a rescue down. We have to look in their eyes knowing that they don't know what is going to happen and they are not worried because they trust us to care for them. I have had rescued puppies die in my arms while I try to will them to live. Sometimes all we can do is let them know before they die that someone did care enough and loved them.
Star's rescue could not have come at a worse time. Weeks prior I rescued Velvet, another owner release Great Dane. I had her tested for heart worms and she was positive. The owners did not care if I put her to sleep even though they had her for over 2 years. I am treating her for heart worms.
I am going to have the surgery done on Star. I just can not and will not end her life when it is just beginning. After she fully recovers I will be looking for a new home for her. She will be up for adoption to the right home with responsible pet owners. I am exploring all possibilities to see if there is any other solution other than surgery but so far it doesn't look like it.
I have never been good at asking for help and now I find myself having to ask for help twice in one month. If anyone would like to send a donation to Star you may do so by sending a check or money order payable to THGDR and mail to;
THUNDER HILL GREAT DANE RESCUE
PO Box 0183
Medina, Ohio 44258-0183Please specify if you would like your donation refunded if I should reach the surgery amount or if you would like me to use the money on the next needy rescued dog. Should anyone wish documents showing Star does have a urinary disorder and or vet receipts of her surgery please send a self addressed stamped envelope and I will be happy to send you copies.
UPDATE; 3/12/00 Star discovered a grape. It was so funny watching her bat it back and forth across the floor with her big paws. She'd pick the grape up in her mouth than toss it in the air and bat it across the floor again.
UPDATE; 3/20/00 I have not received a single donation for Star's surgery which will be done in two weeks. I understand times are tough and I was the one who agreed to rescue Star not anyone else. I did however get an email from a woman telling me I have resentment towards the former owners because I feel owners are dumping their responsibilities as pet owners. She also said I should let Star die so I can save more pregnant dogs because she willingly puts down ill dogs when she rescues them. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I just wish she would have kept hers to herself. <grin> I have a feeling it was Star's previous owner who sent me that email. I know what I am doing is right. Star deserves a chance.
UPDATE; 3/21/00 Star had a bout with diarrhea. I let her out of her crate first thing in the morning and she had already had diarrhea. It was all over the crate and all over her. The poor baby. I gave her a bath and scrubbed out her crate. You could tell she didn't feel good and she had no appetite. The next several days consisted of just yogurt, yogurt and a little dog food, yogurt and more dog food...
UPDATE; 3/27/00 Star is over her diarrhea but had gotten very thin because of it. Today her appetite is back stronger than ever. I now have to delay her trip to Ohio State for a few more weeks until she puts more weight on. I would like to hurry up and get her the surgery. As it is now I have to be around to let her outside every few hours. I let her outside as late as 1:00 AM then again at 6:00 AM to try and keep her from wetting at night and having to lay in it. It doesn't always work.
(Click on the Click Here image to read the rest of Star's story and to see more pictures of Star
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