Little Sully

UPDATE ON SULLY WHO HAD EYE SURGERY:
Little Sully continues to bubble over with joy and energy. He was good natured and happy when he was blind, but as a seeing dog he is ecstatic!

He has become quite popular at the dog park , the first one out of the gate when we arrive and the last one willing to head home. Chasing the big dogs is his favorite passtime.

Sully had a check up with Dr. Olivera a couple of weeks ago. The doctor and his staff adore him! His eyes are looking good, but he probably will be on drops for the rest of his life. His blind eye doesn't tear properly and had become irritated, but the drops seem to have alleviated the problem. He has drops for his sighted eye too, and that eye is clear, bright and healthy, He did have a couple of seizures several months ago, so he is on a very small daily dosage of medication.

He has a huge appetite for food as well as for life, and like so many rescued dogs he seems to have that attitude of gratitude. How fortunate Sully was to have had all the wonderful, generous supporters who made his surgery possible!

Foster mom wasn't able to get new photos, but I just had to share the update :-)
Denise

Update on Sully

SULLY'S VISIT TO DOC:
Sully had a great morning! He already has 85% vision in his right eye and that percentage should continue to increase in the next weeks. Getting that cone off felt awfully good, too :-)

Check out those gorgeous eyes as Sully poses for the camera with Doctor Olivera and his assistant.

Crystal

Sully: Post-surgery

NOTE FROM FOSTER:
Sully's surgery went really well!!!!!

I wrapped him snugly in a blanket and brought him home late this afternoon. He was wimpering so pitifully, as though he wanted me to know he did not have a good day; however, he has no idea of the new wonders that await him in the near future.

He has a serious medication regimen, and the next two weeks are crucial, but he is already wandering, eating a little, and trying to scratch his cone off. He is supposed to rest quietly for two weeks, no steps, running, jumping off furniture or rough playing. I set up a bed for him in a spare bedroom, but he cried and and almost scratched the door down. He's not used to being alone, so I just bring his little bed wherever I go or hold him on my lap, like I'm doing right now. We go back for a check up tomorrow.

Time for another round of eye drops & pills. He really is a tough little sport. How lucky for Sully that Karen was there to rescue him and give him the start to a whole new life.

Crystal

NOTE FROM KAREN:
Oh Crystal- bless you for your great love and care for Sully!! He could never get that from me, and now let's pray he has sight restoration.

Thank you to the Denise and Dee Dee, too, for the blog and the fundraising efforts!!

HURRAY for SULLY!!A great success!

Karen

Sully has eye surgery today

NOTE FROM FOSTER:
Here are some pictures of Sully playing with some of his friends, former Red Lake dogs some of you might recognize. Sometimes Sully gets confused and ends up by himself, but most of the time he is right in the middle of the fun. Every day he seems to become more sure of himself, stronger, and more energetic.

Tuesday, January 10th is the big day when little Sully will have his eye surgery. I am very excited. Hopefully everything will go as predicted and our little guy will be on his way to recovering vision in his right eye. A huge huge thank you goes out to all of you who so generously sent in donations and made this surgery a reality.

I have been treating Sully's eyes with drops twice a day in preparation for the operation,and there will be a recovery period where Sully will need to wear the cone and rest quietly. He will have a few post op visits, including one the day following his surgery.

Sully is such a gentle happy spirit, easy to work with, easy to love. I will post an update after the surgery.

Sully thanks you all for thinking about him and sending up positive wishes and prayers for the best results possible.

Crystal

Update on "Sight for Sully"

Great news! A huge thank you goes out to all of the generous contributors to "Sight For Sully". Thanks to your kindness and generosity we can now move forward with Sully's eye surgery. It is so exciting!

Even with the challenges Sully confronts every day, he loves life, so imagine how happy he will be when he can see the world around him. I will keep you posted on his progress. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!

Crystal

Sight for Sully

Little Sully had his appointment with the animal eye specialist. This amazing gentle boy, who managed to survive four rough years before Karen rescued him was diagnosed as being totally blind. Why this is surprising is because Sully gets around so remarkably well that most people that have met Sully thought he probably had some vision.

When he first walked into my house he tapped his head on every wall, table, couch and chair,but only once. He went out the back door,rolled down the deck steps, but only once. Then he walked the perimeter of the fenced yard,came up the steps, and re-entered the house as though he had lived here all of his life.

Sully scampers from room to room with the other dogs,loves bounding up and down the hills in the woods and even follows the other dogs into the lake for water. Sully loves to cuddle and is about the sweetest, most grateful little guy you could ever find.

He would love to play and tries to, but because of his visual limitations the other dogs often misread his signals; for example, he will walk right into or under another dog's stomach.

I tend to be over-protective and find that I often underestimate his intelligence and resourcefulness, qualities that no doubt have kept him alive.

Now, for the good news---although Sully's left eye (the one that appears clearer) is beyond hope, the damage to his right eye can be reversed!

During the consultation the eye specialist stated that he doesn't see any reason that the sight couldn't be restored in the right eye.

Now, for the NOT so good news, the cost will be about $1600. If we could start a "Sight for Sully" fund and raise some of the money this deserving little guy might get the best Christmas present ever.

If you can help, you can make a donation with a credit card through PayPal or GiveMn.Org using links on the right pane of this blog or send a check to:

Red Lake Rosie's Rescue
23880 So. Good Road
Trail, MN 56684

Include "Sight for Sully" on the memo line.

Mary also set up a donation page thru GiveMN.org to make it easier for people to donate. The funds go right to Red Lake Rosies. I posted in the
comments section of the blog - someone already donated $20!

Here's the url: http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Sight-For-Sully

THANKS! on behalf of Sully, his foster mom, Crystal, and his rescuer, Karen.

A Diamond in the rough: Sully

Meet Diamond-- now Sully. He is a little poodle mix who came to Red Lake Rosie's Rescue and soon we noticed he was blind. He was so frightened and would cower whenever we came near him.

We thought Diamond was an old fellow, however, the vet aged him at 4 years old. We had Diamond's teeth cleaned and had him neutered.

We soon discovered Diamond was a great dog, walking well on a leash, and doing little dances for us.

We took Diamond to the clinic and Julie gave him a great haircut and bath. Thankfully he then went to Crystal's foster care and she dearly loves this boy.

Here's a pic of Diamond on arrival. A very sad little boy. No comparison to his demeanor now!!

Karen

CRYSTAL SAYS:
I couldn't think of a name for our little guy that felt right. I told my son he is so persevering and brave and he said "How about "Sully" for the persevering Ann Sullivan (Helen Keller's teacher) and the heroic airplane pilot named Sully.

He sleeps on the bed, walks on a leash, is totally housebroken, finds his way down the deck steps to go out to the fenced-in yard. He stands on his back legs and dances in a circle when he gets excited.

Affectionate, smart, sweet, brave and happy little guy -- whoever ends up adopting this little guy is truly going to be blessed.

Crystal