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Less than 72 hours after Jason and Jessica Fox created a GoFundMe account to save their puppy’s life, dog lovers around the country have helped the couple raise $18,000.
After three days in a Richmond emergency animal hospital, a lengthy surgery and thousands in vet bills, Jason said the dog, named Fenway, is in stable but critical condition.
“There hasn’t been much of saying he’s doing awesome, and he’s gonna have quite a few surgeries ahead of him but at least he’s not going in the wrong direction,” Jason said.
Fenway’s troubles started over the weekend when Jessica dropped the 10-month-old Australian Shepherd off at Coastal Dog Services in Newport News for boarding. Fenway had previously stayed at the facility when the couple traveled out of town, and Jason said they had no reason to worry about his care.
The following day, the couple received a startling phone call from a Coastal staff member. According to Jason, the employee said Fenway had a cut above his eye and was taken to a local veterinarian, who later referred the animal to the emergency veterinarian in Richmond.
Jason said the first veterinarian at Yorktown’s Animal Emergency Center said the dog was covered in mud and blood on Saturday upon his arrival.
According to a now-deleted Facebook post from the boarding facility’s owner Rick Tvelia, the dog panicked and injured himself when his collar was caught in a fence on Coastal’s property.
When the couple finally saw the dog, Jason said there were several bite marks and cuts on the dog’s neck.
Jason said they previously had made attempts to call Tvelia, but had been unsuccessful. Tvelia did not return requests for comment from WYDaily.
Jason said on Wednesday that Tvelia had reached out since Monday and, at first, offered to help pay for Fenway’s medical bills. But when Jason asked for funds to cover the first vet bill of more than $4,000, Jason said Tvelia responded that he didn’t have the money.
When asked about if Tvelia has offered an explanation for Fenway’s injuries, Jason said he hasn’t been able to talk to Tvelia about it.
“I just don’t have the time for that right now,” Jason said.
Fenway’s road to recovery will be a long one, Jason said. Veterinarians were finally able to perform needed surgeries to remove decomposing tissues and muscles from the dog’s neck on Tuesday night. Fenway’s white blood cell count had been too low to operate.
The dog is also battling a blood infection, Jason said.
“Every time I see the 804 phone number come up on my phone, I get really nervous,” Jason said.
Jessica has driven to the Richmond hospital every day for the past three days, and the couple was even able to take their daughter to visit Fenway, according to a GoFundMe update posted on Tuesday.
Jason said he’s unsure whether he will pursue legal action against Tvelia and his facility. He said he wants to wait it out and see what happens in the coming weeks.
A GoFundMe update on Wednesday morning said that all funds raised would go towards the dog’s veterinary care and possible legal action. If funds are left over, they will be used to prevent other dogs from experiencing similar situations.
“My biggest concern is that my dog recovers and that this never happens to another dog at Coastal again,” Jason said on Wednesday.
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This article was published in partnership with WYDaily’s sister publication, Southside Daily.
