Monday, March 29, 2010

Saturday, March 27, 2010

If you’ve ever spoken to me, you know Zeus’ entire life story. If you’ve only read my blog, you know very little about him.

I rescued him just under two years ago from a rescue called SiberRescue based out of Aurora, Ontario. Zeus was found wandering the streets, blind as a bat, underweight and his black fur burned down to orange wire on his back. He gained his weight back, and his fur grew back to a beautiful black. Unfortunately, he never regained his eye sight. After being chained outside the first three years of his life, the sun damage had given him cataracts. Because of his disability, very few wanted to adopt him and the few that did, thought of him as too difficult to stick through.

Until I met him. I met him the same day that I was picking out which puppy I was going to take home from a fresh litter the rescue had just saved. I fell in love twice that day.

As I waited for my friend, Kayleigh, to return from the car, Zeus kept his backside pressed against my leg, making sure I didn’t stop giving him attention. Having no idea he couldn’t see, I backed up slightly, losing the touch between me and him. Immediately, Zeus turned around, trying to find to where I had gone. In that moment, I knew it was love.

I had bad luck getting a dog for the first few months, and Lisa from SiberRescue had already trusted me with a brand new puppy, so the chance that she would allow me to adopt her beloved Zeus felt impossible. I couldn’t give up, though. I sent an email to the rescue and after only two months with Owen, I had a second dog.

Zeus has been through more than his fair share of abuse and still deals with his fear on a day to day basis. But even with all the neglect he’s had to endure in his lifetime, he’s the friendliest dog most people have ever met. We go to the dog park and he spends all his time with the people, his butt wagging hoping for a nice rub. Rescuing him was the best decision I have ever made in my life and I haven’t ever changed that idea. He was my birthday present for my 22nd birthday.

About 3-4 weeks ago, I noticed that Zeus wasn’t opening his eyes or eating his meals. When we went to the dog park that morning, he laid in the middle of the park and didn’t associate with anyone, crying whenever anyone even touched him. Inexperienced me, I thought he just had something in his eye, as the next day and for weeks after he was back to his regular self, for the most part. His right eye stayed red and hurt him to touch. But with his eating habits back on schedule and finding him playing with his friends once again, I stopped worrying.

Until earlier this week when I took him to the vet.

His 6th birthday is coming up and we just found out that his cataracts have caused him retinal atrophy and glaucoma. Although he is still the friendly dog he’s always been, he’s in constant pain. The best thing that I can do for him right now, to rejuvenate his quality of life is to have his eyes removed to remove the source of his constant pain.

I have found a vet clinic who is offering me the surgery with all the extras for just $2,500. Without this surgery, he will need constant medical attention, at least three drops in his eyes a day as well as needing to take a pill every day. This would just relieve a touch of the pain, but it will never bring back his vision.

If you can find it in your hearts to donate any money you can, that would help so much. Believe me, I hate to ask, as I’ve been paying for everything these dogs have needed for the last two years. But it comes to a time that everyone needs a little help. Even a dollar helps. Please pass this along to anyone you know who would love to help this dog’s life.

If you’d like to keep up on how Zeus is doing, I will continue to update this blog with any important information, or you can always email me and I will respond to you asap with any updates I have on him.

Thank you so much for even reading this, even if you can’t afford to donate. Keep him in your thoughts and wish the best for him.

If you can afford to donate, even a dollar, please donate through my chip-in below.