Sweet Willa

I take a lot of photographs of the dogs and cats that come and go through my rescue. Lately my attention has been focused on sweet Willa. The joy I find in my photography helps me forget for a while the reality of Willa’s story.

Willa arrived at Silver Rescue sway backed, emaciated, heart worm positive and full of other parasites. Her teats hung low from nursing the latest of countless litters. When she could no longer produce healthy puppies for her backyard breeders to sell, they discarded her like useless garbage. Abandoned and alone, she wandered up to a stranger’s porch hoping for a kind hand and a meal. She received both and thanked the kind people with kisses. Despite her sad condition, she played gently with their children. They could see that she was a dream of a dog looking for a chance to fulfill her true potential.

Over time in Silver Rescue’s care, her body and spirits began to heal. She found a friend in each rescued dog and was a guardian angel to new dogs, especially puppies. After her own abuse, starvation, abandonment and fear, she seemed to understand that they needed to feel safe and loved. She grooms and socializes them, teaching them manners and getting them ready to find forever homes. Many a Silver Rescue pup has found a new family because of Willa’s gentle attention.

Such a good dog should have found a family of her own long ago, but time after time she has been overlooked, probably because of her dark brindle coloring. And, because of her early hardships, her muzzle has begun to gray, making her look older than her years. We’ve kept our hopes up, but more and more it looks like Willa is one of Silver Rescue’s “lifers”.

Now, Willa has been diagnosed with cancer: mast cell tumors all over her body, a mammary tumor and a melanoma on her ear. X-rays have shown no other malignant growths in her body. What seem to be benign growths on her pancreas were biopsied and dismissed for now, but Dr. Lucas will keep tabs on them. The X-rays have even shown a BB in her side. We will do whatever we possibly can to make sure Willa has a good quality of life for as long as she has left on this earth. After analyzing Willa's health and illness Dr. Lucas feels that with chemotherapy Willa can have 2 to 3 more good years ahead of her. However, if we do nothing she has six, maybe nine months. With the promise of so many years ahead of her, we cannot deny Willa the treatment she needs to live. She deserves that.

So far, expenses for surgery, pathology, and consultation with the oncologist, x-rays and ultrasound have amounted to $903.94. Upcoming expense estimates for chemotherapy for the mast cell carcinomas are $1820.88. The second estimate for chemotherapy targeted directly and most effectively for the melanoma on Willa’s ear is $3202.80. In total we must raise approximately $5926.82.

Willa is a happy, playful girl and otherwise in good health. We have stopped wondering why she has to go through this when she has already been through so much. Now we just need to get busy raising funds for her care.

Can you help?

You can make tax deductible contributions via:
- PayPal to [email protected]
- US Mail to Silver Rescue, P.O. Box 111888, Nashville, TN 37222
- Mail or call in donations to Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners, 3020 Mallory Lane, Franklin, TN 37067 – 615-333-1212
Please indicate that your donations are for Willa (‘with Silver Rescue’ if you call Blue Pearl directly). And, if you do donate directly via Blue Pearl, please email us so we can send you your tax deductible receipt.
For details about Willa’s condition, you can call her primary veterinarian, Dr. Piper, at Grassmere Animal Hospital 615- 832-6535 or her oncologist, Dr. Pamela Lucas, at Blue Pearl 615-333-1212.
** Willa's medical bills, invoices, and estimates are readily available upon request. **