Bizzie is a 9-year-old Labrador Retriever in Omaha, NE, who needs $1,000 for Bilateral TECA.

Bizzie came to us as a 6 year old purebred Lab from a local breeder. The breeder said she'd not been able to bring a litter to term, so she was free so long as we had her spayed. She's been with us since October 2017. She's been fighting chronic ear infections, and (after 4 years of trying various methods of treating it), the best option is surgery to remove the ear canals.

Bizzie is a sweet-tempered and very well behaved family member. Everyone who meets her remarks on her beauty and her good behavior. As a former "show dog," she knows how to behave around people and other pets; she is calm and her fur is luxuriously soft. Our favorite thing about Bizzie is how she likes to sit on our near our feet when we're working or at the table.

I am the primary earner for my husband and me. He retired last year (age 68) amid the pandemic. We have some savings, we sold my car, and we're approved for Care Credit (about 29% APR), but this surgery is a financial crunch.

After visits to our regular vet and to a vet specializing in dermatology, it was recommended that Bizzie have a Total Ear Canal Ablation (TECA) because there was nothing else to relieve the pain and itching from the constant inflammation. Dr. Myer at VCA Midwest Vet agrees that the left ear is near end stage (where the ear canal becomes hardened).

Bizzie is special to us in that we're showing her what life is like when she's just a regular dog. As a show dog, she was taught not to interact with other dogs. In our home, she learned to engage in play with our dog Casey (who passed in 12/2020 from bone cancer), our puppy Wrigley, and with dogs at the park. It's a joy to see her play rather than just sit and watch!