Remie and Alfred came from different walks of life but both have one thing in common. They are both sick and need your help. We have set up a Giving Grid to raise money for our Emergency Medical Fund. We will continue to post updates below.
An update on Thursday, March 30, 2017
Both Remie and Alfred have made great progress thanks to your generosity and support! But they still need more help. Here’s an update on both dogs.
Remie had her second surgery over a week ago and she’s doing very well in her foster home. Nine growths were removed from her mammory gland area; most were benign but there were some signs of additional cancer. A review of Remie’s case by an oncologist yielded good news. They did not recommend any additional chemotherapy right now as the cancer was localized and removed. She is healing well and we pray the cancer remains in remission. Remie is now able to go out and about and is pictured here (smaller dog on the right) with a friend she made at a recent outing.
However, Remie’s new challenge is her mouth…she needs major dental work. It was too risky to do the dental work while she was undergoing surgery, therefore we are waiting for her to heal a bit and will be scheduling her dental appointment in the coming weeks. We estimate the cost of dental to be between $500-$1,000. Therefore we are still fundraising to cover her medical expenses.
Alfred, who suffers from mange, continues on his treatments of medicated baths, medications, and a feeding schedule to help him gain weight. He went for a medical checkup last week and we’re now awaiting additional test results to determine what further treatments he may need to help him overcome his skin condition. He is also slowly gaining weight. 
He is the sweetest dog ever and is pictured here out for a walk at our sanctuary.
Please consider even a small donation to help us to continue to pay for Remie and Alfred’s medical care! And if you have already donated, thank you so very much for your gift. Please share!
Remie resting after surgery
An update on Sunday, March 19, 2017
We’re happy to report that Remie had her second surgery a few days ago and is doing great! Nine growths were removed from her mammary glands and were sent out for biopsy. Last month, she underwent her first surgery for removal of several growths from her mammary glands, which turned out to be cancer.
Alfred, who has mange, a very painful skin condition, continues to be treated with medicated baths and medication.
Thank everyone for your donations and well wishes for these two dogs. We appreciate your support.
BUT WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP! We are still fundraising to cover the cost of their medical expense, which will be about $5,000. We need to raise another $1,600. Won’t you help? Even a few dollars goes a long way.
Original posting on March 15, 2017
Remie
Remie, now 11 years old, first found her way to Pets Alive in 2015 when her owners no longer had time for her. Shortly thereafter, she was adopted – but her new owner died and she was eventually returned to Pets Alive after her owner’s family was no longer able to care for her.
Remie’s growths on her underside
A sad Remie was in bad shape when she came back to Pets Alive in December 2016. She had flea infestation so bad that some of her fur was missing. This needed to be treated immediately, requiring medication. Even more alarming were the large growths in the mammary area that would require surgery.
Remie with her foster family
Lucky for Remie, a foster family came along almost immediately, willing to care for Remie as she struggled to regain her health. As we worked to clear up the flea infestation, surgery was scheduled.
Last month, we removed the first two of what turned out to be cancerous tumors – but that was only step one. It was an extensive surgery (particularly given her advanced age) that required healing before additional tumor removal could occur. She has two other smaller growths that need to be removed and biopsied but because of her ill health and age, the second surgery was delayed until she was healthy enough to withstand additional treatment.
Remie in her foster home
We anticipate her second surgery later this week. In the meantime, she rests comfortably in her foster home and enjoys a snooze in a comfortable chair. Her combined surgeries and medical care will cost us over $2,600.
Alfred arrives at Pets Alive in Feb., 2017
Meet Alfred. On February 25, 2017, Alfred was found laying in the street late at night and was brought to us by a good Samaritan the following morning. He is in very bad shape.
Ironically, this was not the first time Alfred has been at Pets Alive. He originally came to Pets Alive in September 2015 as a stray. We didn’t know how long he had been on the run, but his skin was crusty, his fur was sparse and his body very thin. It was obvious that no one had cared for him in a while. We named him Alfred.
Along with a horrible case of alopecia (hair loss), this piteous looking fellow was covered in fleas. Alfred was immediately bathed with a medicated shampoo and he seemed to enjoy the warm water running over his body! He was a happy guy despite being so neglected. Alfred was placed on medication for his skin and continued to get medicated baths. Three months later, his skin condition improved and we put him up for adoption.
In December, 2015, he was reclaimed by his owners when they saw miraculously saw a picture of him posted on our Facebook page. His family had been searching for him for nine months and had just about given up hope. They provided us documentation that Alfred was their dog, including records from their veterinarian that Alfred had been getting treatment for his skin condition prior to getting lost, and so Alfred went back home.
Alfred’s back, showing the affects of mange
Unfortunately, last month, Alfred was once again found on the loose. We do not know how long he had been on the run this second time, but now when he came back to Pets Alive, his skin condition had worsened. He now has mange and is emaciated. A lot of his fur was missing and his skin was raw.
Mange is a parasitic skin disease caused by microscopic mites and is very painful. As soon as he came to the shelter, he had a veterinarian visit and we started him on medicated baths several times a week, and we ran blood work.
Alfred’s back
After his first bath, he seemed more at ease. He’s also on several medications and a feeding schedule to help him gain weight. However, if his skin condition does not improve over the next week, we will need to do a skin culture to determine the extent of his infection. This poor guy, about 7 years old, does not deserve the pain he has endured.
We estimate Alfred’s treatment could cost over $2,000.
We have set up a Giving Grid to raise money for our Emergency Medical Fund to help both Remie and Alfred. Even a small gift will help Remie and Alfred. We cannot do this life-saving work without your help.
Prefer to send in a check? Make checks out to Pets Alive and mail it to us at 363 Derby Road, Middletown, NY 10940. Write “Medical Fund” on the check.
THANK YOU!
(Bookmark this page and come back for updates to Remie and Alfred’s recovery). And please share this with friends and family so they too can help Remie and Alfred.