Buddy Girl is a sweet 6-year-old German shepherd mix. She’s been a loving ‘fur child’ and member of her family since she was 6 weeks old. Her ‘dad’ Rudolph is a single parent, struggling to make ends meet, raising and home schooling his young daughter Mary. In early March, Buddy Girl stopped eating, became very lethargic and began having intestinal problems. Following initial treatment at BirchBark Associate Member hospital Harden Ranch Veterinary, Buddy Girl wasn’t improving. She was transferred to Associate Member Pacific Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Service. There she could be monitored 24/7, stabilized and further diagnostics could be performed. Buddy Girl was diagnosed with diabetes and a form of diabetes Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was suspected. She was a very sick little girl. BirchBark Foundation was able to provide the funds to keep Buddy Girl hospitalized for several days, get her treated and stabilized and on the right regimen of medications for her diabetes. She’s doing great now. She will always need to be watched and treated for her diabetes, but with proper diet and health management she has a positive prognosis and is now back in her loving home. For more information on diabetes visit http://tinyurl.com/o5b59pd.
A Personal Note from Buddy Girl’s ‘Dad’ Rudolph
Where to begin with Buddy Girl—She was given to us at our home in Bronson, Michigan by a young newspaper kid. She was so meek and quite when we first saw her. As soon as my daughter Mary caught sight of her, the two were inseparable. Buddy girl found her way into our hearts and became an extra ‘daughter’ to me and Mary's best friend. Buddy Girl would watch over Mary as they both played house, camping in Mary's room with a tent set up and playing dress-up with Mary’s wardrobe—of course cut special to let Buddy Girl's tail out. Buddy soon blossomed out into her role as a fur child/daughter/friend. She’d go everywhere with us in our small, rural town in Michigan. As a single dad the love of both Mary and Buddy Girl is unexplainable. Even into her young phase of life, as we made our way to California, Buddy Girl has provided a solidifying force that binds us together as a family, always smiling and eager to participate in any family outing. I really have to wonder why they called them dogs, which when you turn that name around, spells GOD. As I write this story for your readers, it brings tears to my eyes to know that Buddy Girl was so sick and we could have lost her. Buddy Girl made her way into my heart and Mary's. She's my fur child blessed to us from above to solidify the cement in our small family with her love. Words are not enough to convey our sincere appreciation for your support. BirchBark Foundation has given us back our loving Buddy Girl and my daughter Mary Grace and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. God Bless you and all that you do.
You are Angels!—Rudolph and Mary Grace