Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/waggle-butterball-charles/

There’s no question that 2020 has been a difficult year, marked by job losses, natural disasters, and a global pandemic. In more normal times, we’d spend November celebrating with friends and family. Instead, people are barely hanging on during what should be a festive time of year.

The many challenges of this giving season have inspired the Animal Rescue Site to partner with Waggle to support two animals in desperate need of surgery this month. With your help, we’re hoping to provide a blind dog and an injured kitten with the life-saving medical care they’ll need to have a happy, healthy, and pain-free Thanksgiving with their forever/foster families.

Our first pet patient, Butterball, is rescued lab mix who was born blind. This led Butterball’s previous family to dump the puppy at a shelter, where she waited a month to find her new family. That person turned out to be Barb T., who felt an instant connection with the cute and playful puppy who, despite her disability, didn’t seem to know she was different. “I just needed to have this dog,” the Wisconsin woman told Waggle, recalling how she adopted Butterball on the spot. “Never in a million years did I think I’d have a blind dog.”

Over the next five years, Barb and Butterball only grew closer – nowadays, they’re inseparable. “I was meant to have her, and she was meant to have me,” Butterball’s owner said. “It’s my job to care for her and stays healthy,” said Barb, recalling a pledge she made to the blind dog on her adoption day.

But one day, Butterball began vomiting uncontrollably, leading Barb to rush the blind dog to the animal hospital. “I thought maybe she had eaten something,” the woman recalled. “Then it just got worse; everything she ate, she was vomiting back up.”

Vets gave Butterball fluids and nausea medication, but nothing worked. Nor did tests and x-rays provide any clues. “I was lost. I was really lost without her,” said Barb, recalling her terror as Butterball was checked into the hospital. “I had a heavy heart. I could not fathom losing my dog at such a young age. Butterball and I bonded in such a strong way.”

Doctors decided Butterball would need surgery to determine the cause of her illness, but the timing couldn’t be worse. Barb, who had been out of work for over a year, was already selling off her belongings to pay for Butterball’s medical expenses. There was simply no way she could afford the $1,527 surgery that could save her dog’s life. “I appreciate anyone willing to assist me to afford her care,” Barb told Waggle. “This dog means everything to me!”

Our second pet patient, Charles, is a sweet rescued kitten who’s had an especially rough start to life. When the 3-month-old stray wound up at a Georgia shelter, the malnourished kitten weighed less than 2 pounds. Charles’ legs, meanwhile, were fractured in multiple places, making it painful and difficult to walk.

Fortunately, little Charles was rescued by Maine Coon Rescue, a non-profit rescue that rushed to save the tiny kitten and placed him in foster care. “He is a very sweet boy who is happy to be in a foster home with someone who loves and cares for him,” rescuers told Waggle. “He is learning to relax and adapting to his new life in his foster home.”

But while Charles is eating more and getting stronger every day, the kitten needs surgery to fix his broken leg, which is fractured in multiple places. Rescuers are eager to help, but leg surgery is far too expensive for a non-profit organization funded entirely by donations. This led Maine Coone Rescue to turn to Waggle, which partnered with the Animal Rescue Site to raise $2,000 for the injured kitten’s operation. “Charles needs this surgery to make him feel better and not be in pain,” rescuers said. “We wanted to help give him this chance.”

The Animal Rescue Site and Waggle are raising money to help Butterball and Charles get the medical care they need to live healthy, pain-free lives, but we need your help! If you’re able, please donate to Butterball and Charles’ medical funds on Waggle, which will help us provide these rescued pets with life-saving surgeries just in time for Thanksgiving. Thank you for helping needy animals during this very difficult year!

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog