Mercy Fund Animal Rescue Inc

I went to intentionally adopt a senior dog based on the photo on PetFinder. I’d watched this dog for months and should have gone sooner. When the dog was brought out of the Marion Animal Hospital on US 70 I said this isn’t the same dog. I was told “you don’t have to take him”! (This person said she’d had him most of his life (he was 12) and also said she was getting ready to take him off PetFinder when I applied.)). Of course I did; I’d locked eyes on this sweet boy and wouldn’t walk away. As it turns out the picture on PetFiinder was a stock photo of a Jack Russell. He wasn’t. I could HEAR breathing issues when he came around the corner from a vet visit but none were disclosed. I fell in love immediately as did my dog. We looked forward to at least a few good years with him. Instead, after the free physical (I asked for the breathing to be evaluated; was told it was allergies and to give him Bendaryl) and again when I got the dental (my expense, likely his first) a couple of weeks later I again asked about the breathing and was told an EKG was done we soon had progressive emergencies. I couldn’t get anyone to answer the phone in the vet office as I was driving towards them during the first emergency so I took him to the best vets in WNC for an emergent visit. He was seen immediately and shortly had to be intubated to revive. He had testing which disclosed severe laryngeal paralysis. We had 2 more emergency visits and were given tiny vials of small amounts of liquid to relax and calm. When multiples were required daily and my precious pup was getting worse by the day I made the necessary incredibly painful decision to sit on the floor with him and hold him closely while he passed away peacefully at AHNA in Asheville. I would have done any and everything could I have saved him. 16 months later I am still hurting and angry thinking about what his months before I got him were like as well as angry about the vet’s office. When I spoke to the lady vet who called with results from a growth removed from his neck during the dental sedation I told her about the dx. She said they would have had to do testing to discover this!! WHY DIDN’T YOU? YOU COULD HEAR HIS STRUGGLE BREATHING!!! The unspoken answer was the rescue couldn’t afford it!!! She said they just wouldn’t put him to sleep for a procedure again. I said no problem; you’ll never see him let alone touch him again.

I had sent pictures early on to the lady who brought him to me. She “seemed” like she wanted to hear how he was doing. I never heard from her.

I am glad I could give him his best life full of love and the best care available during the 4 1/2 months of his life he was mine. I’d do it again but sooner had I known how sick he was. My big dog and I are still grieving this sweet little fella, the only animal I have ever actually looked to adopt. All of my other animals for 30+ years were from the side of the road, foster failures, dumped in my neighborhood. I’ve loved them all but this little boy I chose. I will never adopt from this group again for obvious reasons.