You are doing it again, O Great Orangers! (Hmm...Great Orangetons? Great Orangutans?) And how!
As the flotilla of post-post-debate diaries continued to sail up the Recent List and dock on great Wreck, you took notice of emeraldmaiden's important call to the community:
A Four-Legged Friend In Need.
Our beloved community member LoreleiHI and her service dog, Dervish, were in a car accident yesterday. LoreleiHI is okay (-ish); home from the hospital now. But Dervish needs urgent and extensive treatment. Now. The vet needs payment. Now.
WOWZA! In a few hours, you--YOU!!!--have chipped in a gob-smacking $1501.
It's astounding. It has shown LoreleiHI and Dervish that they are loved and supported. It has also shown the vet that we are for real, and she is willing to begin treatment. An astonishing array of generous contributions: $5. $10. $25. $50. $100. $200. Each of these gifts represents so much love and sacrifice. Every donation is special.
It is, however, less than a quarter of the way to the estimated goal. Please go to emeraldmaiden's diary and contribute at least a diary recommendation, so that every Kossack who drops in today will get the chance to help Dervish if they can. The diary also has pics of the wonderful woozle, and more details and links: GoFundMe and PayPal. I'm not gonna give 'em to you here. Hop over there; tip & rec; FB & Twitter; circulate the word in other diaries.
You can save Dervish's life. Yes, you can.
FINAL UPDATE: It is with a heavy heart that I report Dervish's passing.
From LoreleiHI's GoFundMe page*:
The decision was made today, based on the advice of the neurologist, to put Dervish down. It was also based on the fact he was visibly miserable and not acting like himself. While we were waiting for the nurses to prepare, he dragged himself onto my lap for the last time, with great effort, and rested his head on my arm with a sigh. He died happily held in my arms, being told he was a good, brave dog.
Much more was raised than was needed for his care up to that point, and for his (forgive me) single cremation and retention of his remains and some of his fur. The final bill was a touch under $750.
Now there is what to do with the excess. Shall I return it, or put it toward a new service dog with the group I was training Dervish with?
I leave it to you.
[*Trigger warning: LoreleiHI has posted a beautiful picture of her final moments together with Dervish. The picture may be difficult some of us.]
Along with many other Kossacks this afternoon, I have already reassured LoreleiHI that we want her to keep our gifts. She will most certainly need them. I think Dervish will want to bark corrections & directions across the Rainbow Bridge at a new service dog as soon as possible.
I am overwhelmed and honored by the work you in this community did in the space of mere hours. The GoFundMe reached $3510, and PayPal was already at $320 last night. You gave LoreleiHI and Dervish your heart and soul--everything you could. You gave them an opportunity to get the best medical advice and to make the best decision for their family. You gave them time to share time. And time to say goodbye.
I love you for this, and more.
earicicle