Money has run out for a Longview woman who’s nursing her service dog back to health after he was poisoned in her backyard early this month.
Charlotte Judd said she can no longer afford follow up veterinary visits or medication for her 10-month-old great Pyrenese-cross Sampson and her daughter’s two-year-old border collie-kelpie cross Quinn. The dogs consumed acetaminophen March 4.
Judd believes Sampson and Quinn were intentionally poisoned. She was told by doctors at the Southern Alberta Veterinary Emergency (SAVE) in Okotoks that acetaminophen was present in both dogs’ systems and her daughter found pieces of bacon in Sampson’s vomit.
Judd suffers from lupus, fibromyalgia, severe arthritis and was recently laid off from her job. She said the impact has been significant.
“Whoever did this has no idea what they’ve done,” she said. “The only way I can get back to work and make sure the dogs are safe is to rehome them.”
Judd said she was already struggling, but the veterinary bills have made the situation worse.
“I have a car payment due on Monday, I have rent due on the first,” she said last week. “It’s reached a point that I absolutely have to find a job.”
Since the poisoning, Judd is monitoring Sampson around the clock. The puppy sustained liver and kidney damage, an eye infection, severe allergies, occasional leg tremors and impaired vision while Quinn’s condition wasn’t as serious, said Judd.
“The vet said we should monitor Sam very closely,” she said. “She said there are signs that go with mild brain damage.”
Sampson last visited the vet March 18, but Judd couldn’t afford to have him fully checked.
“The follow ups are very important, particularly in Sampson’s case,” she said. “Sampson’s liver enzymes and his kidneys need to be monitored. It also helps them to have an idea of how to go about adjusting any medication.”
Quinn appears to be back to normal, but Judd would like to have her checked.
“The follow ups would tell us where she is at,” she said. “We suspect she is probably pretty good, but she should be checked just to be sure.”
The health of Judd’s dogs is just a small part of what she is dealing with. Knowing they were intentionally poisoned is something she’s been struggling with.
“I’m never going to be happy here,” she said. “This was a cruel act.
“This has devastated us financially, emotionally and it’s taken a huge toll on my health.”
Judd said her stress level increased, resulting in irregular heart rhythms caused by her heart disease and an increase in pain and headaches.
Finding new homes for Sampson and Quinn would leave Judd without a service dog and her daughter without her favourite companion.
The only thing that has helped Judd through the last few weeks is the generosity of those around her.
Judd received more than $4,000 through donations and a GoFundMe page set up by her friend Josiah Ditoro, paying for most of the vet bills incurred the past three weeks.
“I was able to completely pay the vet bill two days after I brought Sampson home, which was amazing,” she said.
In addition, Petcurean donated six bags of dog food and six cases of canned food, thanks to the efforts of Ditoro who is reaching out to other corporations for donations to help Judd out.
Ditoro said the GoFundMe page is still active with a goal of raising $4,800 to help Judd with the expenses that she incurred as a result of the poisoning.
“Donations have really slowed down,” she said. “Even going to the link and sharing it would really help us at this point.”
Like Judd, Ditoro also has a service dog which helps with her limited mobility as a result of cerebral palsy and fibremyalgia.
“What happened to Charlotte is my worst nightmare,” she said. “They are so much more than just a dog. They are a partner, they’re a best friend and our independence.”
To make a donation to Charlotte Judd or share the GoFundMe page via social media go to https://www.gofundme.com/emergency-help-for-2-poisoned-dogs
Turner Valley RCMP continue to investigate the incident.