Let me start by telling you about "Parker", the dog that this Fund Raiser is all about.
To the best of my knowledge he is 12 years old, as of June 29th, at least according to how it is figured
from a shelter's guess back in June of 1997, when I picked Parker up at the Orange Animal Shelter in
Orange, CA.
Parker, as he became known as after finally getting his name shortly after his adoption. His full name
being, Col. Parker Pickle, he goes by Parker though. He had been picked up from the streets by the
Orange Animal Shelter. It was obvious that he had been abused on the streets or possibly by a past owner.
I am guessing the streets. I noticed he had been groomed within a month or two prior to his pick up date.
He did these twirls when he is asking for a treat of food or an outing. This leads me to believe he once
had a good home. He loves going outdoors and for car rides but remains an overall indoors dog.
He went through his new doggie door right away. Whew! Then there was the sad look in his eyes on
occasion where he would lay on the floor and simply look sad. I continued with encouraging words and
behavior so happiness did come. When I would cross or uncross my legs while sitting on the couch, Parker
laying in the floor nearby would react by jumping like I was going to kick him or something. This went on
for quite awhile. He was an aggressive dog yet obviously had been abused by someone kicking at him. I
decided to put him into training and that seemed to calm him some. We adjusted and became very close.
Now that he is blind from cataracts he prefers to not be away from me at all.
Parker used to go to work with me almost daily for years. (I owned and ran an export company for 10
years.) He had his crate and the office floor, with a few quick outings during the work day. But at the
end of the day, once the warehouse was closed, I would let him off his leash and let him run through the
23,000 sq ft area. I never have seen him run so fast and enjoying his freedom so much! I had to offer a
drink and a treat just to get him to come back to the office area to leave and head out for the ride home.
He loves riding still today, though now it is to just be with me instead of the actual ride. I am assuming it
is because he can't see now when we go for a ride.
Fast forward now to June 2004. We moved from CA to NV where we had to start adjusting to the hot
summers. He adjusted better than myself I think. It is now July 2009 and because of his age and diabetes,
he was diagnosed Christmas Eve 2008 with diabetes, he now has cataracts. The Vet has said he is not blind
from Diabetes but blind from cataracts in both eyes. His age and also having diabetes does contribute to
the cataracts growth. Between the surgery and office visits, pre and post, it will be a minimum of
$3500.00 for his surgery. Until he is able to have this surgery he is missing out on many things he enjoyed
right up and until his eye sight became none. He lost even shadows back in February this year. He now
walks very slow as to not hurt himself should he run into a wall or object. I don't want to leave out the
encouraging news though. Recently he has started to trot some when outside on walks everyday. A couple
of weeks ago we spent the entire day at a park. He trotted and walked for hours, wore me out! It was
obvious he was ready to be back to himself. The only problem keeping him from running and twirling again
is his eye sight. He's blind, he lost his freedom, his spunk. The surgery would restore his eye sight
immediately. There will be additional costs related to the up keep of his eyes even after the surgery. I
am praying I will be able to maintain that care financially. I am guessing that will be between $20-50 per
month.
Just to give you an idea of the costs related to his diabetes on a monthly basis:
Syringes $15.00
Insulin $24.00
Special Dietary Food $58.00
Vet visits averaged over 12 months, minimum $80.00
=========
$177.00 Monthly as of December 2009*
*This is prior to surgery.
Besides helping Parker REALLY enjoy his next 4-6 years of life he also will be able to prevent more cornea
scratches and eye infections. Simply being able to see allows him to avoid loose items on the ground and
around small bushes that can scratch his eyes. Parker was energetic and more spontaneous in his behavior
prior to his health change back in December 2008. He used to jump up on my high bed just a few months
before the weight loss and diabetes onset. He doesn't even try to jump up now but he will come to my
feet and sit until I pick him up. He lost approximately 8 Lbs back in the time frame of Oct 31st until Dec
24th, 2008! He should weigh about 15-16 lbs, depending on his BFI (Body Fat Index). He now weighs about
13.5 lbs, yes he has already gained a few lbs back. I have asked for this Fund Raiser because I don't want
Parker and myself to have to wait until our finances allow the surgery to be done. I have given everything
I can afford currently and scheduled every step of extra care in shots in the morning and evening daily plus
the extra cleaning of his feet and such because he can't see where he voids and has stepping accidents
daily. The extra care, shots and extra baths is not so much fun but it is out of love between an owner that
has promised to adopt him and all of his issues for all of his life. It breaks my heart to listen to his bark
and then whimper after a bath now. He used to run like crazy and bark afterwards, but he can't run with
no sight. He is frustrated that he can't run and play. I am sad about this too. We have made it ten
wonderful years so far and managed just fine and some how, we will make it to the end, years from now,
hopefully with his sight. The economic time has put me in a situation that I feel I am failing as a pet owner
and companion to a wonderful and fun dog. He still gives love and affection to me. I need to give him this
surgery and his eye sight back. Please help me give that to Parker. Thank you for reading and a special
thank you for helping Parker and me. Just one last note, I checked many many charity sites that used to
help dogs have cataract surgery but none of them have funds right now.
God Bless
Shirley and Parker
To the best of my knowledge he is 12 years old, as of June 29th, at least according to how it is figured
from a shelter's guess back in June of 1997, when I picked Parker up at the Orange Animal Shelter in
Orange, CA.
Parker, as he became known as after finally getting his name shortly after his adoption. His full name
being, Col. Parker Pickle, he goes by Parker though. He had been picked up from the streets by the
Orange Animal Shelter. It was obvious that he had been abused on the streets or possibly by a past owner.
I am guessing the streets. I noticed he had been groomed within a month or two prior to his pick up date.
He did these twirls when he is asking for a treat of food or an outing. This leads me to believe he once
had a good home. He loves going outdoors and for car rides but remains an overall indoors dog.
He went through his new doggie door right away. Whew! Then there was the sad look in his eyes on
occasion where he would lay on the floor and simply look sad. I continued with encouraging words and
behavior so happiness did come. When I would cross or uncross my legs while sitting on the couch, Parker
laying in the floor nearby would react by jumping like I was going to kick him or something. This went on
for quite awhile. He was an aggressive dog yet obviously had been abused by someone kicking at him. I
decided to put him into training and that seemed to calm him some. We adjusted and became very close.
Now that he is blind from cataracts he prefers to not be away from me at all.
Parker used to go to work with me almost daily for years. (I owned and ran an export company for 10
years.) He had his crate and the office floor, with a few quick outings during the work day. But at the
end of the day, once the warehouse was closed, I would let him off his leash and let him run through the
23,000 sq ft area. I never have seen him run so fast and enjoying his freedom so much! I had to offer a
drink and a treat just to get him to come back to the office area to leave and head out for the ride home.
He loves riding still today, though now it is to just be with me instead of the actual ride. I am assuming it
is because he can't see now when we go for a ride.
Fast forward now to June 2004. We moved from CA to NV where we had to start adjusting to the hot
summers. He adjusted better than myself I think. It is now July 2009 and because of his age and diabetes,
he was diagnosed Christmas Eve 2008 with diabetes, he now has cataracts. The Vet has said he is not blind
from Diabetes but blind from cataracts in both eyes. His age and also having diabetes does contribute to
the cataracts growth. Between the surgery and office visits, pre and post, it will be a minimum of
$3500.00 for his surgery. Until he is able to have this surgery he is missing out on many things he enjoyed
right up and until his eye sight became none. He lost even shadows back in February this year. He now
walks very slow as to not hurt himself should he run into a wall or object. I don't want to leave out the
encouraging news though. Recently he has started to trot some when outside on walks everyday. A couple
of weeks ago we spent the entire day at a park. He trotted and walked for hours, wore me out! It was
obvious he was ready to be back to himself. The only problem keeping him from running and twirling again
is his eye sight. He's blind, he lost his freedom, his spunk. The surgery would restore his eye sight
immediately. There will be additional costs related to the up keep of his eyes even after the surgery. I
am praying I will be able to maintain that care financially. I am guessing that will be between $20-50 per
month.
Just to give you an idea of the costs related to his diabetes on a monthly basis:
Syringes $15.00
Insulin $24.00
Special Dietary Food $58.00
Vet visits averaged over 12 months, minimum $80.00
=========
$177.00 Monthly as of December 2009*
*This is prior to surgery.
Besides helping Parker REALLY enjoy his next 4-6 years of life he also will be able to prevent more cornea
scratches and eye infections. Simply being able to see allows him to avoid loose items on the ground and
around small bushes that can scratch his eyes. Parker was energetic and more spontaneous in his behavior
prior to his health change back in December 2008. He used to jump up on my high bed just a few months
before the weight loss and diabetes onset. He doesn't even try to jump up now but he will come to my
feet and sit until I pick him up. He lost approximately 8 Lbs back in the time frame of Oct 31st until Dec
24th, 2008! He should weigh about 15-16 lbs, depending on his BFI (Body Fat Index). He now weighs about
13.5 lbs, yes he has already gained a few lbs back. I have asked for this Fund Raiser because I don't want
Parker and myself to have to wait until our finances allow the surgery to be done. I have given everything
I can afford currently and scheduled every step of extra care in shots in the morning and evening daily plus
the extra cleaning of his feet and such because he can't see where he voids and has stepping accidents
daily. The extra care, shots and extra baths is not so much fun but it is out of love between an owner that
has promised to adopt him and all of his issues for all of his life. It breaks my heart to listen to his bark
and then whimper after a bath now. He used to run like crazy and bark afterwards, but he can't run with
no sight. He is frustrated that he can't run and play. I am sad about this too. We have made it ten
wonderful years so far and managed just fine and some how, we will make it to the end, years from now,
hopefully with his sight. The economic time has put me in a situation that I feel I am failing as a pet owner
and companion to a wonderful and fun dog. He still gives love and affection to me. I need to give him this
surgery and his eye sight back. Please help me give that to Parker. Thank you for reading and a special
thank you for helping Parker and me. Just one last note, I checked many many charity sites that used to
help dogs have cataract surgery but none of them have funds right now.
God Bless
Shirley and Parker
Parker's Fund Raiser
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Thank you all for your help!
| November 2007 |
| December 2007 |
| July 2002 |
| November 2007 |
| December 2000 |
| June 2009 |
| December 2006 |
Proceeds from all Purchases are given to the Fund Raiser.
Click Products at the Top of the Page to go Shopping. Be
sure to Use the Name "Parker" somewhere in your order
so that they know the proceeds go to the Parker Fund
Raiser. If you want to donate without shopping click the
Donation Button to the right.
Click Products at the Top of the Page to go Shopping. Be
sure to Use the Name "Parker" somewhere in your order
so that they know the proceeds go to the Parker Fund
Raiser. If you want to donate without shopping click the
Donation Button to the right.
| All rights reserved. Copyrights 2000-2010 |
| June 2009 |
| June 2009 |
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