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October, 2003 Kelsey - Dallas, TX ESRA #2002-430TX Gender: Female

Kelsey is a gentle soul who was abruptly dumped from a car on a rainy day in a small town south of Dallas, TX. Every time a car would pass, slow down or stop, Kelsey would run to it eagerly, tail wagging, thinking her owners had returned for her. Every time somebody would walk their dog, check their mail, or children would play outside, Kelsey would approach, hoping to make new friends. She couldn't understand why nobody would take her home! This continued for almost a week.

Finally, a dog lover who lived nearby could not stand to see her suffer like this. She started to feed Kelsey at night after work. It had been raining for several days. Kelsey was eating out of garbage cans, dodging cars and hiding under bushes in the rain at night. The nice lady contacted ESRA in Dallas and told us about her. We told her we would do what we could to help, if she was still there. She went home that night and found our little girl out in the drizzle, fed her and took her home. The next day was a new beginning for Kelsey. She was shaking a little, because she was frightened at first. She soon relaxed and rested her chin in my lap as we drove. She seemed to know she was finally safe. She rode so nicely in the car on the way to the vet!

At the vet's, she sat nicely for a treat, taking them gently from our hands. She is a very well-mannered little gal. The vet took Kelsey, examined her and was very disappointed to inform us Kelsey has a terrible load of heartworms. It is such a heavy load, we have to split her treatment over the next couple of months. She may need three treatments. She also has a slight heart murmur, which we hope will disappear after she has been treated. It will be very expensive to treat Kelsey, but it will be so well worth it. She is such a good girl. Everyone at the vet comments on her gentle personality. She has undergone her first round of treatment, and will continue her treatment in a month. She will convalesce for a few months before she can be placed. Kelsey could use some extra help with her vet bills. She would love to count you as one of her supporters!

Update: March 1, 2003

Kelsey has asked us to post a happy update on her condition. After her first heartworm treatment and a terrible bout with pneumonia, an ulcerated bowel and subsequent recovery, she is finally beginning to feel really good!

We recently did some blood tests, and they came back much closer to normal levels than we have ever seen with her. We have delayed her second "split" heartworm treatment because of her terrible near-death reaction to the first one in November. We will continue to monitor her closely and evaluate her on a regular basis. She recently tested as a "light positive" on a heartworm test, much better than before. If she is up to it, we may treat her again in a month or so after another blood test and chest x-ray. We may go ahead and spay her first, depending on what we find. Kelsey's foster dad has taken such good care of her. He held her paw in the emergency animal hospital for three days and spoiled her rotten upon her return home. She sings to him on a regular basis. We and Kelsey appreciate all of the e-mails inquiring about her and the wonderful support of her sponsors.

Click Here To Sponsor Kelsey

KELSEY'S GENEROUS SPONSORS TO DATE:
Ernie & Rose Lorentzen	In memory of Lady Danica
David & Cally Bybee	From Daisy - another Dallas girl
Lindsay Anderson	In Memory of Penny
Leah and Bruce Glaub
Steven Lesser
Kay Trice
Vicki and Bill Wingo
Mike and Lorena Sala	Because of Bobb & Suzy--kindred spirits
Amanda J. Browning	Im memory of Jan Flagg, our angel
Carlee Mashak	In memory of Jan Flagg
Cindy Brassfield	In memory of all the "Special" Springers I have known
Dette & Thomas Thompson
Carla Hopper
Katrin Owen
Roger and Barbara Allison	In Memory of Lucy
Stephen Settle
Carrie Hughes
Roberta Malone
May Henry-Weins
Vicki C. Bennetts	In memory of Geronimo, passed away on March 6 after living with me and loving me for 16 good years. Kelsey looks like one of his progeny
Kathryn Patton	From another Springer named Kelse, wishing a healthy outcome.
John & Esther Brant	In memory of Ginger
Jean Matthews	In memory of Shawn
James Byrnes	In memory of Snoopy