Letter to the Editor: Can’t thank Quincy K-9 Connection enough for helping save local dog’s life

One December we experienced every pet owner’s nightmare. Our dog, Maya, needed emergency veterinary care. She had accidentally been let out by a visiting relative. Huskies are master escape artists, and she was no stranger to slipping out the door. She made a game out of standing in the front yard, refusing to come in and wanting us to follow her for a walk around the neighborhood.

This time, she pushed her luck too far. My best guess is that she was running across the road and went too quickly in front of a car, which drove off afterwards.

I came home and found her lying at the foot of our neighbors’ steps. I immediately knew something was wrong. She was always quick to jump in the car, tail wagging, ready for a ride. This time, she didn’t get up when she saw me and didn’t come when I called. Upon a quick inspection, I found she had a back leg broken cleanly in half. She whined and cried in fear as I picked her up and carried her into the house, panicking. 

We didn’t have vet insurance or credit cards, and I knew options in the area had been sparse from when our previous dog had developed an aggressive cancer. What I didn’t know was how much worse things were for emergencies.

A Google search got us phone numbers, but after 5 p.m., we found almost nobody answered. One after-hours emergency vet clinic was open. We were quickly put on hold for 45 minutes while we tried to make Maya comfortable and figure out what we could do to help her. She was in pain, drooling, laying on my son’s toddler mattress on the floor. 

My boyfriend called the same vet office I had been on hold with for so long, and they answered his call immediately. By that time, I had been on hold so long, they told him they were nearly closed and there was little they could do for us. We would need to pay out of pocket or have CareCredit, which had only approved me for $500 — nowhere near what I knew it would take.

I had just graduated from Quincy University after a 3-month unpaid internship, and we were still recovering from having to buy a car. What else could we do? Surrendering Maya to a shelter or someone else would most likely lead to her being euthanized. She was a healthy, happy, loving dog who had a long life ahead of her. We had rescued her from an abusive home, and our family loved her so much. 

I cried to imagine it and cried seeing her lying there suffering but far from dying. She had come out remarkably, otherwise unhurt, with no road rashes or other injuries. With the right treatment, I knew she would be OK. Why would nobody help an animal in pain?

Earlier, I had made a Facebook post asking for information from anyone who might know a way we could get Maya the help she needed. Most of what people could offer was what I already knew. The Quincy area operated on CareCredit, cash or nothing. No matter what, she was going to lie here all night in pain, possibly with who knew what happening on the inside of her body.

My mind ran through so many terrible scenarios. Was she bleeding internally? How much pain was she in? Would she even be alive when the vet offices opened the next day? Was this how my kids were going to lose another beloved family member?

A well-meaning stranger had messaged me that evening with a name and phone number for a local organization that helped people sometimes in emergencies. I knew from other animal lovers in the community that they may no longer offer the service, as too many people failed to pay back their debts. 

I was desperate, though, and I was not going to give up without trying. 

I called Anne Heckle with Quincy K-9 Connection and had a heartbreaking conversation, going over what we both knew the options and possibilities were. Reluctantly, she agreed that if I would use my limited CareCredit availability, she would help us the next day, and we would see what could be done. I hunted down a leftover pain medication and antibiotic from my dog’s end-of-life care, hoping they might get Maya through the night.

My CareCredit covered almost exactly the cost of the initial appointment the next day — an exam, X-rays, a temporary leg wrap and some medications. I struggled to choose what would be the most important to keeping her comfortable, knowing she deserved more but I couldn’t afford them all. 

I felt like the world’s worst pet owner. A GoFundMe had circulated and brought in another few hundred dollars from some wonderful people. I was looking at it being enough to maybe see her euthanized peacefully, rather than suffering from needing care I couldn’t provide. 

Anne saved Maya’s life.

She helped Maya be seen by a veterinary surgeon in Hannibal. As we dropped her off that evening, my kids were in tears. They were afraid we would never see her again. Knowing the estimated cost of her care, I was afraid we would never be able to pay it back. In the end, the totals came out to more than $5,000. 

I still haven’t been able to manage the payments on CareCredit, so the interest is growing. I’ve managed a few small payments to Anne, but I know in truth it will take years to give it all back. No matter what, I can never thank her enough for her gift to our family. 

Maya made a full recovery and is her happy, silly self again — always loving the kids, eager to go for a walk or a ride together. 

No price could be put on that.

Ashley Cadwell
Quincy, Illinois