After nine days in the doggie hospital, our beloved Vinnie is home! It was determined that he had IMHA brought on by a severe reaction to being vaccinated.
RECAP: Upon seeing Vinnie's photo at the 4 Paws Sake website, our family felt that we could give Vinnie (Schnauzer/Poodle = Schnoodle) a loving home, and decided to be his foster family with the intent of adopting him. We needed to make sure, prior to just jumping into the adoption, that he would work out with our other (very old) dog, Bridgette. After going through the application process, Vinnie came home with us, and we all fell very in love with him. He was a PERFECT match!
Two weeks into fostering him, he very suddenly became extremely lethargic, stopped eating, playing, etc., and, within a few hours, was urinating almost straight blood. We contacted 4 Paws Sake, and got him to the 24 hour animal hospital.
Vinnie's blood-work came back showing him to be dangerously anemic. I don't know vet lingo, but his blood was at a 9, when a normal dog's is between 40- 49. He underwent a transfusion, and was tested for a number of different blood diseases and disorders. Some of these tests had to be sent to the University of Michigan to be run. He was a VERY sick dog, and we really didn't think he'd make it.
4 Paw's Sake vowed to stand by Vinnie, and continue to pay his medical bills, no matter what, to find out what was wrong with him, and get him better! Cindy, president of 4PS, was on the phone with his vets daily, and with me, keeping us updated. Finally, Vinnie is back home with us...a bit on the thin side, but getting back to his old self a little more every day!
TODAY: His Vet bills, with ongoing blood tests, medications and treatments, are over $2,000. Even after the discount that the vet gave to 4PS, the bill is still over $1000. THAT is where the RAFFLE comes in!
In order to raise money to help pay for Vinnie's Medical Bill, as well as to support the MOST AWESOME 4 Paws Sake organization, I, with the help of some great friends at Ravelry and Yarn Haven, am holding a raffle. Here's the deal...
For every $5 you donate to 4 Paws Sake, using the 4 Paws Sake DONATION PAGE (paypal), you will receive a ticket into the raffle to win one of the four lovely (and most desirable) prizes listed below. For every $20 you donate you will receive ONE EXTRA ticket ($20 = FIVE tickets). Here's how it will work...
THE RAFFLE
1.) DONATE: Go HERE and make a donation using your PayPal account. You MUST use THAT page to make your donation/buy your raffle ticket. For every $5 you donate to 4 Paws Sake, using the 4 Paws Sake DONATION PAGE (paypal), you will receive a ticket into the raffle to win one of the four lovely (and most desirable) prizes listed below. For every $20 you donate you will receive ONE EXTRA ticket ($20 = FIVE tickets).
When the PayPal page pops up, enter "FRIENDS OF VINNIE" in the long blank box that says "Item," and enter your donation amount in the "unit price" box.
2.) FORWARD your donation confirmation page from PayPal (the one that will show up in your email) to FriendsofVinnie@gmail.com This will serve as your ticket entry. This will also be the email addy I use to contact you, should your number be drawn, to get your mailing address and prize preference. Also, forward me your RAVELRY user ID if you have one. Feel free to send me your blog as well!
That's it! It's THAT STINKIN' EASY!!!!
The GOAL is to reach
Okay...WHAT ARE THE PRIZES??? There are four prize groups:
"GOOD DOG"
Wollmeise, Compari Orange, 80/20 Sock Yarn (purchased during the March Loopy Ewe sneak-up) and an adorable "Good Dog" Piddly Bag from Piddleloop as well as a gorgeous zipper pull, Puppy Stitch Markers, and "Friends of P" buttons! This prize is valued at over $65. Thank you to Jen and Wendy of Piddleloop for donating this one of a kind bag and adorable accessories!
"PUPPY LOVE"
Wollmeise, Frosch 80/20 Sock Yarn (purchased during the March, Loopy Ewe sneak-up) and "Puppy Love" Piddly Bag from Piddleloop! This prize is valued at $50. This bag also has a grommet (not shown) to pull yarn through should you choose. Further views of this bag can be seen here.
"MALAMUTE"
Yarn Pirate, Malamute, Sock Yarn and "Blue O's" Piddly Bag from Piddleloop! This prize is valued at $50. This bag also has a grommet (not shown) to pull yarn through should you choose. Further views of this bag can be seen here. Thank you to TTOWNKNITIOT for the donation of the Malamute!
"VINNIE 'S PALS"
Yarntini, Vintage Stripe, Fingering Weight Sock Yarn, 3 Skeins of Sarah's Cashmere Yarn , Jelby Stitch Markers, a Yarn Haven Small Project and Yarn Tote. Special thanks to SIGH, Jelby and Yarn Haven for these donations! This prize value is immeasurable...This particular Yarntini yarn has gone for as much as $100 on eBay. The rest of the prizes in this group are valued at $85.
On April 30th, 2008, I will draw a number using the Random Number Generator to determine the four winners. The number chosen first will have first choice of prizes; the second number drawn will have second choice in prizes; third number drawn will choose of the remaining two prizes, with the fourth number drawn receiving the remaining prize. Any donation received after 11:59 PM EST, April 29, 2008 will NOT be entered into the raffle.
The winners will be announced here, on this blog, on April 30th, 2008. Each winner will be contacted and notified of their prize options after the previous prize has been claimed.
None of the donations can be refunded once sent.
SPECIAL THANKS to the following shops and individuals for donating their time, skills and products to help Vinnie: Piddleloop, TTOWNKNITIOT, Jelby, SIGH, and Yarn Haven! Also, thank you to the stinkin' AMAZING folks at the "Friends of P" group at Ravelry, and Yarn Haven for just being AWESOME!
The RAFFLE will begin at 1:30 PM EST, on April 9, 2008.
Please feel free to link up your blog or website to promote this raffle and cause! The puppies NEEEEEEEEED you!
WE DID IT! YOU DID IT! THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!
Okay...wow...still in shock....moving onto the the next part of this plan.
The NEXT goal is to hit the $2000 mark! This money, I have been assured, will go to cover all of Vinnie's rescue expenses, initial exams, vaccines, etc. The rest of the money will go to help
MARLEY <----------------Click here for Marley's story.
One of the gals at Ravelry, MYGIRLROBOT, created this button (resize it as needed) to be Vinnie's official "button." You are more than welcome to use it on your blog, ravatar, in emails, whatever! You can snag it by taking it from here, or from flickr.
