“A Missing Piece” – Kouki’s Happy Tail
August 5th, 2025
By Savannah Verdon, Development Manager –
We often take for granted that the benefits of spaying and neutering our pets go far beyond preventing litters and finding a loving home for every pet. For female pets, every heat cycle presents the possibility of developing pyometra, an infection of the uterus that can often be fatal – but with the increased prevalence of spaying, not many pet parents are aware of the danger. Kouki had had several heat cycles without any issues, and each time it was an opportunity for Anja to grow closer to Kouki as she cared for her and attended to her needs. Anja didn’t know about pyometra and never saw the need to have her sweet, six-year-old pittie Kouki spayed. Every surgery carries its risks, and it was unlikely that she’d be impregnated anyway.
“This dog means the world to me. Kouki has saved me and given me a purpose in life. When I found her, it felt like I found a missing piece of myself. Without her, I truly believe I would not be here. When life gets hard, she is always there to pick me up.”
Soon after another heat cycle, Kouki began showing signs that something was wrong. Now it was Anja who would be there to pick her up: Kouki was lethargic, her appetite gone, and her abdomen swollen and painful to the touch. Right away, Anja knew this was something they couldn’t wait to pass, and that Kouki needed to see the veterinarian immediately. Her instinct was correct. If they had waited any longer to be diagnosed, the infection could have killed her. It was comforting to know that she could be saved, but there was no time for Anja to pause with gratitude. It wouldn’t matter if she couldn’t find a way to pay for the emergency spay surgery.
“Kouki saved me in the darkest times of my life. She’s been there when I had no one and no place to go. She has been in heat many times before; we did not know this would occur in dogs, or that it would ever happen to ours. We have spent some of the last of our money to get her emergency care, and have been searching for low-cost locations for the surgery. I work one job and barely make ends meet. We are always struggling. Now I feel like I’m failing her because I cannot afford the care she needs after all she has given to me these past few years.”
Anja would only be failing Kouki if she didn’t do everything she could to get help – she looked everywhere and got on the right track when she found the RedRover Relief Urgent Care grant program online. She had found a more affordable clinic to do the surgery, so all she needed was for her grant application to be approved. Anja had asked for help and found that she could rely on RedRover’s FurEver Friends. Because of your recurring support, we could approve her application quickly and help Kouki get the emergency spay surgery she needed without delay. After a difficult few weeks and a successful surgery, Kouki was home, ready to be nursed back to her loving self by Anja.
“Thank you so much for all of your help. Kouki has been feeling so much better and is back to her normal self. She is rolling around in the grass and acting as if nothing happened. She wouldn’t be here today without your help. Thank you all so much.”
FurEver Friends like you are the reason that hundreds of pets like Kouki are still here today, enjoying more time and more love with their families. Thank you for your recurring support and the lifesaving difference you make every day!
