Helen

Helen’s Story 

Helen is blind and was found wandering down a hwy, so she is already a miracle dog.  Once found she was sent to Sandpoint shelter in ID. Here is the story from that point on.  

We are still trying to find her the right place to live out her days. 

06/13/03 – the shelter has seen that we are truly trying to save this girl and will work with us, however we still need to raise the money, her right eye is worse that first thought, she is going to the specialist on 6/16/03 and may have to have surgery ASAP to save it. I am taking her in to Dr. Yakely in Spokane, WA on Monday morning and getting the actual costs! It could go as high as $2000.00 total for both eyes! Yikes! When I talked to the Vet Tech Debbie – this is an estimate. I don’t know if all the continued visits are included in these costs – but I will find out on Monday.

UPDATE: 06/17/03 – The news is not good, here is what Karen came back from the specialist with: 

I bring bad news, the vet that she had seen gave false hopes. I cried all the way back to the shelter. Helen’s retina’s are flat lined and there is no hope of her seeing. That is the first main problem – the cataracts are the second problem, but with no retina the eye can not see. The vet was really nice and pretty understanding as I stood there after being there for 3 hours and wanted to cry then, but did not.

Dr. Yakely will talk to anyone and will also give a good recommendation of Helen’s attitude towards life, but that did not make me feel better. Dr. Yakely said she has no aggression in her at all, and has such a good attitude with everyone that saw her today, touched her, prodded her, poked at her eyes, etc.

I had such high hopes for Helen seeing and I am devastated.  She was so sad when I had to put her back at the kennel. Dr. Yakely says she is very adoptable, and gave me a paper with the name of a book for Blind Dogs and your companion. I am going to get that and send with her – hopefully soon.

Helen is one awesome girl.

 We need to find Helen a good foster home to help her now. The shelter had agreed to save her IF we could get the funds to pay for eye surgery and save her sight.  We can not longer save her sight, so we are trying to save her life by finding a rescue or foster home that can help her until she finds her forever home.  We will be starting a fund to help other emergency cases like Helen.

UPDATE: 06/18/03 – We would like to THANK everyone that is helping to find Helen a good home.  She is worth it.  Karen will be testing Helen with other dogs to see how she does, so far so good.  We hope to know more in about a week.  The good news, is that Helen appears comfortable with her blindness, not skittish or jumpy. 

UPDATE: 06/23/03 – We would like to THANK everyone that is helping to find Helen a good home.  She is worth it.  Karen took Helen to the Rolling Dog Ranch on Sun. and had this to say after leaving her there with Steve. 

Helen would like to thank Everyone that has donated for their help!  

And a big thanks to Karen Hertel for taking enough time to ask for help.

We have started ‘HELEN’S FUND’ for future dogs with medical emergencies.  If you would like to help to help other dogs like Helen, Click HERE.