“He’s Love. He’s Home.” – Dash’s Happy Tail

By Savannah Verdon, Development Manager –

For such a little guy, Dash sure had a big spot in Jay and her children’s hearts.

“Dash means everything. He is what defines family for us. He brings my daughter and me so much joy. We are the trio. He isn’t an ‘animal’ to us. He’s love. He’s home. He’s my son and my daughter’s brother.”

The two-year-old Chihuahua enjoyed daily morning walks with Jay, when he could sniff out the neighborhood news and leave some messages of his own. One Friday morning, Jay noticed Dash was struggling to urinate. She immediately reached out to their veterinarian and made an appointment for the following day. They diagnosed him with a likely urinary tract infection and sent him home with antibiotics and pain medication. After three days, Dash didn’t seem to be getting any better. Worse, Jay noticed blood in his urine. She took him back to the veterinarian on Tuesday. They took X-rays and determined he had a kidney stone. It was causing him immense pain, and rather than leaving him to pass it on his own, it was recommended that he undergo surgery to remove it. Jay was given a quote for several thousand dollars – far more than she could afford on her own.

Jay spent hours that afternoon calling other clinics for a second opinion. Dash was examined again, and it was confirmed that surgery was his best option. This time, Jay was given a quote for less than half of the previous estimate. It was much more affordable, but still outside of her budget. As a single mom and full-time student while still working full-time, large, unexpected expenses could be a major source of anxiety for Jay. The fact that her sweet boy Dash was struggling in pain made it that much harder. Between the last of her savings and her upcoming paycheck, she was still falling short of the full amount needed for his surgery. The new veterinarian let her know about the RedRover Relief Urgent Care grant program, and she applied before even leaving the clinic.

At two years old, Dash had never been neutered. Their veterinarian had never raised it as a concern, so Jay thought it best to leave it alone. But without being neutered, he could face serious health and behavioral problems in the future. When our case managers reviewed her Urgent Care application, they saw an opportunity to help Dash in two ways. While he was under anesthesia, he could have the kidney stone removed and be neutered, thanks to the spay/neuter sponsorship awarded by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the Vodka for Dog People. Jay was grateful to hear her application had been approved and amazed by the generous opportunity to help Dash even more.

Because we could count on the recurring support of our RedRover FurEver Friends to make his Urgent Care grant possible, Dash underwent his surgery and came out on the other side a healthier, happier boy. While his recovery wasn’t always smooth, he had three wonderful nurses at home taking care of him.

“Thank you so much for reaching out and checking in on Dash! He’s doing much better! Recovery has been challenging, but he is slowly getting back to himself. We are currently working on building his stamina back up for our longer walks. We are forever grateful for your assistance. He says hello and thank you as well!”

As Jay said, we are FurEver grateful for the families we’re able to help because of your commitment to providing lifesaving care to pets in crisis. Thank you for being an important part of our compassionate community!