VSEC - Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center of Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks, California
Campaigns at this clinic
Foxy
Foxy is a 7-year-old Chihuahua in Simi Valley, CA, who needs $1,700 for Diagnostics, X-ray, and Hospitalizations.
Simi Valley, CA
I rescued Foxy from Paw Works 6 years ago. I was told no one wanted her. She must have been mistreated because she has always been scared of men. She is the sweetest girl but is very timid and barks a lot. She lives with me and my two young kids. We also have a French bulldog and two cats who love her. She gets along very well with them all. Foxy loves to be with her family. She gravitates towards me and my daughter the most. She sleeps with my 7 year old daughter most of the time. Foxy likes to chase my other dog and cats around. She gets very excited for treats and to play outside. Foxy likes to protect her family and stands guard at our front door throughout the day. Foxy is one of my best friends. She came into my life when I was losing my other dog. She laid with him and kissed him. She loves my kids and her family. My favorite thing is when she runs through the house all hyper. She gets so excited. She has been there for me through my marriage ending, my kids growing and hard times in life. Now all I want is to take care of her. Foxy stopped eating and started vomiting. Then after a few days she started having bloody stools. I took her to an emergency vet but was quoted way more than I could afford to run diagnostics to see what was wrong. I have used all of my care credit on my eye surgery and my son’s braces. I only had enough to be sent home with some antibiotics in case it is not that serious. But she is not better I was a stay at home mom and I am going through a divorce. All of my ex husbands money goes to bills and rent and affording my son who has adhd, sensory processing disorder, behavioral issues, speech issues and tutoring. I want more than anything to help my dog.
Mia
Mia is a 10-year-old Pitbull in Camarillo, CA, who needs $2,000 for IVDD.
Camarillo, CA
Hello! My pets name is Mia. I rescued Mia when she was 10 weeks from an abusive breeder. Mia came to me filled with fleas, ticks and everything in between. With a lot of love and some good medication we instantly welcomed her into our family. Mia currently lives with myself, I am currently a medical student going through clinicals, which means I DO NOT get paid and haven’t in the last 3 years. Mia is so fun!! I have never seen a dog who loves to chase the pool skimmer. But she just absolutely loves it! Mia also loves the jacuzzi which is odd since I have never had another dog who likes it as much as she does. Also, she is such a snuggler but not too much, in the middle of the night if you move just a little too much she is out of there! When I first adopted Mia, I was in a very abusive relationship. After an emergency room visit for myself, I finally found the courage to leave. Despite me saving Mia, Mia truly saved me. I know that sounds very cliche, but Mia was my very first pet that I truly called my own. I had no idea what animal owners meant when they would die for their pet, Now I do. A few weeks ago mia was attacked by another dog. That fellow dog owner has refused to take a responsibility or interest in helping pay for Mia’s bills. When she was attacked her spinal cord was also damaged. Mia is currently paralyzed in her front legs as a result and needs to see a neurologist. Please help. I’m currently in my third year of clinicals for medical school. The last 7 years of my life have been in school and have not had any income during this time. I am roughly $200000 in debt from school and I just want my baby girl back.
Ellie
Ellie is a 4-year-old German Shepherd in Moorpark, CA, who needs $2,000 for Right TPLO.
Moorpark, CA
Ellie was rescued by Westside German Shepherd Rescue. She was then lucky enough to land with a foster family who took care of her until she came into our lives. She has been the best dog you could ask for. Ellie was our first baby until Blue came along and then our daughter. She went from being an active dog who loved to walk and play frisbee, to now laying on a cushion most days. When Ellie was healthy we would walk every morning all around our neighborhood and around town. Anyone who comes into contact with Ellie always comments on how beautiful she is. She's friendly to all! We adopted another dog two years ago, and although she wasn't too sure of him at first, they became best buddies. I have a 16 month old daughter who loves Ellie so much she snares her snacks with her Ellie does the classic head tilt that most German Shepherds do, which has always made us laugh. We also call Ellie the protector because no matter where we go she finds a spot where she can lay down and observe/guard the surroundings. Sometimes she will even cross her front paws, prompting her to be called the princess of the family! Over the last few months Ellie has been having issues with her right knee. We have recently found out she tore her crucial ligament that can only be fixed with surgery. On top of that our vet says she will also need surgery on her left knee since that has also begun to tear. We were not prepared for a double surgery mentally or financially. Finding out Ellie needs surgery on both knees is something we did not plan for. We cannot afford a surgery that can range from $14,000-$16,000. We are devastated. Ellie is our family and we want her to be healthy again and play with her buddy Blue and our daughter!
Harley
Harley is a six-year-old Mini Poodle in Simi Valley, CA, who needs $2,000 for chemotherapy.
Simi Valley, CA
Harley's life completely changed when Jennifer K. adopted him as a pup. "He was abused and was terrified of people," Jennifer tells Waggle. After much love and kindness from his human mom, Harley has made a complete turnaround. "Harley makes me smile, and he is my therapy dog," Jennifer says. "He helps me with my depression after losing my father at a young age. He makes me laugh because he's full of life and spunk." But Jennifer recently got devastating news: Harley has cancer. She is doing all she can to help Harley, who has a fighting chance! "We are trying to save him," Jennifer says. "He needs eight weeks of chemotherapy, and he will be cured according to the vet. Please help me save my boy!" Jennifer has paid for his diagnostic tests, and his radiation treatment and just needs financial help paying for the home stretch of his treatment. "We are completely tapped out," she says. "We had major money issues. We spent more than $6000 on veterinarians, then the pipes in our home burst and we had to drain and repipe the entire house. Harley is my life. It would mean the world to save him!"
Einstein
Einstein is a 9-year-old Chihuahua/Toy Poodle in Simi Valley, CA, who needs $2,000 for Hospitalization.
Simi Valley, CA
I have lupus, I got Einstein as a puppy in 2013. He quickly became attached to me. He has been my emotional support dog every since. He has been by my side thru every bad lupus flare, when I was recovering from hospital stays, or during depression when I lost hope of getting better. He made me laugh and brightened my day just by the way he stares at me and plays. He is my little "rabbit". Einstein keeps us on our toes. He just loves me so much and follows me around every where. If I am in the kitchen cooking, he just sits somewhere he can see me and stares. My family laughs saying I have a "stalker". He is very lovable and very playful. He’s a feisty little one and barks to protect me. He’s my "shadow". Einstein is very entertaining. Randomly, he would chase his tail and go in circles until he catches it. When he catches his tail, he flip flops round and round on the ground. It’s so hard not to stop what your doing to watch him and laugh. He also loves to play tug a war with me. He’ll grab a piece of my blanket and try to pull it off, playing. He even tries to talk to me with his whining. My other dog had surgery and they removed 15 teeth. I bought soft food for them to eat and Einstein ate it for 5 days then didn’t want to eat it anymore. He got sick and vet diagnosed him with pancreatitis. After that he wouldn’t eat much then stopped eating. Took him back and she told me to take him to hospital. He has a severe GI infection, I believe from the food. He eats by syringe now. I am on disability. I lost 1 dog in March and it hurt my heart so much! His brother was diagnosed with cancer and has 4-7 months to live. Now Einstein being sick just kills me. I can’t lose all 3 within 6 month. They are my emotional support babies.
Stanley
Stanley is a five-year-old Pit Bull in Simi Valley, CA, who needs $2,000 for urgent surgery.
Simi Valley, CA • Southern California Pit Bull Rescue
To see Stanley's emaciated body and legs struggling to walk is heartbreaking. The sweet boy ended up at an animal shelter after officers discovered him while responding to a call about animal abuse. He was spared from death at the shelter when Southern California Pit Bull Rescue saved him. "The animal control officer saw Stanley and stated he could barely walk," Mark R., from the nonprofit group, tells Waggle. "His little body was covered in foxtails. He actually had foxtails that were embedded into his tongue. He had to be sedated to remove them from his tiny little body. he weighed a mere 31 pounds -- about 15 pounds underweight." Even though Stanley has been extremely neglected, he's just a sweetheart of a little guy that craves human affection. The rescue feeds him nutrient-rich puppy food several times a day to nurse him back to health. They brought Stanley to a specialist at VSEC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center of Thousand Oaks to have his legs evaluated. "We learned that both of his back kneecaps are out of the joints, which has caused him to rely heavily on his front legs to walk," Mark says. "He will require the surgical skills of an orthopedic surgeon to place his kneecaps back into the joints. He can only undergo surgery on one leg at a time." Now the rescue is racing to save the day again-- this time to raise the money for Stanley's surgery. "We are a nonprofit that relies on donations," Mark says. "Along with Stanley requiring surgery on his kneecaps, he also has several broken teeth that need to be extracted."
Captain
Captain is a seven-month-old Pit Bull in Simi Valley, CA, who needs $2,000 for emergency surgery.
Simi Valley, CA • Southern California Pit Bull Rescue
Captain laid on the concrete shelter floor for 11 days suffering in pain. A car hit him with such force it broke the femur bone in one of his legs. Animal control picked Captain up, but no one claimed him, and no one helped him. Until Mark R., the founder of Southern California Pit Bull Rescue heard about Captain. "I drove three hours from my house to the shelter to pick him up," Mark tells Waggle. "He would have been euthanized if I didn't get him. Can you imagine not being able to move for 11 days?" Mark drove Captain straight from the shelter to the Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center of Thousand Oaks. That's where a board-certified orthopedic surgeon performed emergency surgery on Captain to fix his leg. "It took a plate and seven pins to put his femur back together. Right now, he can only walk with a sling and needs three months of rehab. But the outlook for him is really positive!" The rescue rang up quite a tab at the animal hospital for Captain's surgery, and they're scrambling for financial help to pay it off. "Your donation goes toward giving him the type of like he deserves," Mark says. "How his owners didn't come looking for him is beyond me. It's truly just beyond me to have a puppy like that and not look for him. We will make sure he will be placed in a loving home. He's a sweetheart."
Ella
Ella is a one-year-old Pit Bull in Simi Valley, CA, who needs $1,000 for heart surgery.
Simi Valley, CA • Southern California Pit Bull Rescue
Ella had a rotten start to life. When she was a puppy, she was attacked by another dog and needed surgery. But when a veterinarian examined Ella, the doctor found she had a level five heart murmur. That's one of the most severe murmurs; it's so loud you can feel it by holding your hand against a dog's chest. Mark S., with Southern California Pit Bull Rescue, tells Waggle that Ella's owners could not afford her medical care, so they dumped her in an animal shelter. "How horrible is that? The dog will cost too much money, so off to the shelter you go," Mark says. The shelter then contacted Mark. "They said, 'This puppy needs heart surgery,'" he says. "Who is going to adopt a dog like that? She would have never made it out of the shelter." So Mark saved Ella immediately. The VSEC Veterinary Specialty And Emergency Center Of Thousand Oaks' cardiology team performed an echocardiogram and a balloon valvuloplasty surgery. During the procedure, a surgeon used a balloon to inflate Ella's defective heart valve, so it expands and works better. Though the operation was expensive, Mark says it was worth every penny; Ella is so much happier. "It totally changed her life," he adds. "She didn't have a lot of energy; now she does. She can be active. She's expected to live a full productive life. If she didn't have the surgery, she would have only lived five to six years." Now the nonprofit group is trying to pay off Ella's surgery tab and hopes Waggle's generous pet lovers help Ella and donate. Southern California Pit Bull Rescue doesn't turn away dogs with costly needs. "That's why I started this rescue, not for the healthy dogs, but for dogs who will probably never make it out of the shelter unless someone pays their medical bills. That's what my rescue is about," Mark says. Please have a heart and donate to help Ella's!
MOJO
Mojo is a one-year-old Pit Bull in Simi Valley, CA, who needs $1,688 for leg surgery.
Simi Valley, CA • Southern California Pit Bull Rescue
Mojo was struck by a car, the driver took off and left her to die. She was so severely injured she could not move. Then a good Samaritan saw the dog on the side of the road, stopped, picked her up, and brought her to a shelter. "We were heartbroken when we heard about her," Mark R., the founder of Southern California Pit Bull Rescue, tells Waggle. His nonprofit organization raced to Mojo's rescue after the shelter made a post saying the dog's injuries were too severe for them to handle. "My rescue fixes dogs like this. This is what we do. No dog is too challenging for us. We are the voice for the voiceless," he says. Once Mark got Mojo to VSEC, Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center Of Thousand Oaks, even he was surprised at the extent of her injuries. "I had no idea how severe she was," he says. Mojo's leg was broken in two places, her hip was dislocated, and her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) on her knee was torn on another leg. She needed emergency surgery. Then Mark brought Mojo home where he and his wife, Liz R., cared for her. "I had to walk her with a sling to get her to go out to go to the bathroom. My wife had to hold her by her leash," Mark says. Mojo was weak from everything she had been through. "We had to hand feed her. She was so dejected she would not eat or drink," Liz says. "I had to take water and squirt it in her mouth. She had been laying in the shelter for five days. She laid there until she was almost dead." The beautiful dog with gorgeous hazel eyes needed more surgeries to fix her legs. Her medical bills topped $14,000. Now Mojo is doing very well, but the rescue is still trying to pay off her tab. They say seeing Mojo walk again and not be in pain is priceless, "Pit bulls are amazing," Mark says. "She is such a resilient dog. You would have never known she had surgery." Mark wants to thank anyone who can give to Mojo's campaign; paying off her medical bills helps the rescue save more pups in the future just like her, "We depend on people who are generous and tenderhearted to be able to help the animals who need us."
Baby Lacy
Baby Lacy is a 6-month-old Pit Bull in Simi Valley, CA, who needs $2,000 for medical treatment.
Simi Valley, CA • Southern California Pit Bull Rescue
Baby Lacy got off to a rough start in life when she was just a little 6-month-old puppy. A family showed up to the shelter with her lying in the back of a pick-up-truck. It was clear that she was badly injured, and that’s when Southern California Pit Bull Rescue stepped in to have her examined. Her rescuer, Mark R., explains, “She couldn’t walk and it was clear that her right leg was broken. But after being examined at the emergency hospital, it turned out that both of her back legs were broken. Poor Baby Lacy had to undergo two surgeries, as every bone in her back legs and paws were snapped. The rescue covered the cost of her procedures in the hopes of getting her back up on her feet. Even though she’s had a tough recovery and had to wear a cast for 6 weeks, Mark notes, “She’s just such a super sweet girl.” Back at the rescue, Baby Lacy made friends with another rescue dog, Hope, and the two of them were recently adopted together by a loving family who will shower them with affection for the rest of their lives. Southern California Pit Bull Rescue needs help from generous donors to cover the cost of Baby Lacy’s medical invoices, as the surgeries were quite expensive. With your contributions, you’ll be helping the rescue to continue to get veterinary care for animals who desperately need it so that they can go on to find their forever homes and have happy lives, just like Baby Lacy.
Baby Jesse
Baby Jesse is a Pit bull puppy in Simi Valley, CA, who needs $2,000 for surgery to repair broken elbow.
Simi Valley, CA • Southern California Pit Bull Rescue
Jesse is a 4 month old puppy who found herself in a shelter, moments from being euthanized. Her owner was a homeless man in Bakersfield, California who was arrested and Jesse was transferred to the local shelter. As fate had it, Jesse was diagnosed a broken paw. "The shelter would prefer to spend $8 to euthanize a dog instead of fixing its paw", Mark R., founder of So Cal Pit Bull Rescue stated. He was asked to take the pup into his care, which he did without hesitation. A 90 minute drive to the shelter to save a dog's life is not out of the ordinary for Mark's team. Jesse is now the most fun-loving, rambunctious puppy you've ever met. Rest and recuperation aren't going to be easy with this little one! So Cal Pit Bull Rescue needs your help to pay for her incredibly expensive surgery. Any donation will help! With rest and a lot of TLC, Jesse is expected to make a full recovery. When she's in the clear, she will be spayed and her umbilical hernia (as though she doesn't have enough with her broken elbow!) will be repaired. So Cal Pit Bull Rescue only adopts out their pups after all follow ups are cleared, and the dogs have been spayed or neutered. So Cal Pit Bull Rescue had to go through 3 different emergency hospitals until finally one was available with an orthopedic surgeon. Sweet Jesse was diagnosed with a broken elbow, a difficult break to repair. She was scheduled for surgery the following day, and had to be kept sedated and on meds to control the pain she was experiencing overnight.