A “heart dog” is that once in a lifetime (maybe twice if you’re truly blessed) soul mate dog. He or she is the one you click with similarly to, but different from, how people in love click. There’s an understanding, a bond stronger than most, and a special level of communication. Your heart dog “gets” you and you get him or her right back.
Don’t miss the opportunity for fall photos with Sightlines Photography in support of Sonny, a puppy with a severe and complex heart condition requiring surgery.
Who are you supporting?
Sonny is a young Great Dane mix puppy in our care requiring a balloon valvuloplasty for a severe and complex heart condition at the Veterinary Medical Center in Minneapolis. The estimated cost for this procedure alone is $5,600 – 6,500 CAD, not including his first trip there for diagnostics, other trip-related expenses and his care at our local Winnipeg hospital.
What if it rains?
We will have a location booked as a backup in case of rain. In the event of rain, you will be required to be fully vaccinated and wearing a mask to enter the building. If you are not fully vaccinated, we can accommodate having your dog’s photo taken inside without you coming in.
PURCHASE YOUR SESSION
PRICE: $50 per dog
*$5 for each additional dog
Each time slot is 15 minutes long. Your session will include digital images and a thank you gift from Sonny. Physical prints are available through Sightlines Photography for an additional fee.
Immediate two-legged family members are permitted, but please keep the number as low as possible (the focus, after all, is your heart dog!).
SONNY’S STORY
Sonny is a young Great Dane mix puppy who came into our care after being abandoned at an emergency veterinary hospital in Winnipeg. He had tested positive for parvovirus, a virus often fatal if not treated. This would be his first, but not his only, battle to fight.
Heartbreakingly, Sonny was very soon also diagnosed with Grade 4 heart murmur. Sonny is clinically affected by the murmur, which makes it hard for him to do any activity that is normal for a puppy his age. Even a short walk down the street or sprint in the backyard leaves Sonny gasping and coughing to breathe.
In order to further diagnose Sonny, we travelled with him to the Veterinary Medical Center in Minneapolis in mid-September. These tests revealed that due to issues with his aorta and pulmonary artery, Sonny suffers from hypoxia due to his blood not re-oxygenating.
Without intervention, Sonny will maybe live 1-2 years. This short amount of time will not have much quality, and he will be unable to exert himself to avoid stress on his body. However, Sonny is a candidate for a balloon valvuloplasty surgery at the Veterinary Medical Center in Minneapolis. The benefits outweigh the risks for Sonny. If the surgery is as successful as the specialists hope, Sonny has a fantastic chance at living a more normal life, with the possibility of almost no symptoms. If the surgery does not go as well as hoped, a second surgery for a Blalock-Taussig shunt is also an option.
The team here at Manitoba Underdogs Rescue isn’t about numbers, and every dog we bring into care deserves a second chance. And that is just what we’re going to do for sweet Sonny. Thank you for your support!
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Thank you to our sponsors for supporting Sonny and this fundraiser. These incredible local businesses collaborated and put together the thank you gifts from Sonny that every booked session will receive!
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