Marley (our 4th kiddo)

Our Shank Family is asking for your prayers through a hard time. We just got some news yesterday from our vet that saddened us into tears and heartbreak. Many of you know about what is going on because of our calls for comfort. Many of you love our dogs and are hearing about this for the first time.

A week ago, I saw Colten lift up on Marley's chin. Marley yelped in pain. I automatically thought "Oh no. What's wrong with his spine?"

Very shortly after the thoughts I had subsided after a little comfort from Kale. I thought I just overreacted as I usually do.

A few days later I realized he wasn't himself. He actually wasn't himself at all.

Marley is Dominant. He eats and then when he is done, Jackson has his turn. Well, for a few days I noticed that Jackson was eating and Marley was not interested. The night before last and yesterday morning Kale and I witnessed Marley fall to his right side a few times. That's when I really knew something was wrong.

I told Kale that I would be taking Marley to the Vet. With Christmas in sight and much money spent on gifts and all sorts of other expenses, Kale had asked me to just be careful. We have so much to take care of right now and he feared paying hundreds to a vet over a simple pulled muscle that will heal in time. I actually was convinced after seeing him stumble that he really did just have a pulled muscle.

So, along we go. The vet bill was supposed to be around $50. I even called to find out the charges. We do love our dogs but vets like to charge for anything and everything.

So, after she did an evaluation (which was actually a neurological evaluation) later finding this out.... she must have known the whole time....

she broke the news to me. Colten is sitting right beside me the entire time. She said that he had a spinal injury. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Did she really just say spinal injury. I wasn't alarmed or scared. But then she mentioned a surgical referral. I started getting scared. Humans have insurance for these things. Well, our pets do not. I knew that it would be big and that would be o.k. What I wasn't expecting was $3000 plus big right out of the gate. There is no way that we can put our family through a surgical procedure financially knowing that he will never be the same, he might now make it through and all the rest that goes along with one surgery after another.

I knew when she said this that our family just can't afford these type of expenses. I immediately lost it. I mean I lost it. Here I am so concerned over a pulled muscle sitting beside my oldest child (whom the dog was bought for in the first place as a gift) and I am being told that I have to euthanize my own dog.

So, the story begins.

I'm heart broken. I can't believe what is happening. Our pup and our LOVE is going to die at our hands? I know, he isn't a human but oh my goodness he is such an important part of our family.

Right now, we have him on medication. He takes a anti-inflammatory, a muscle relaxer and a pain killer twice a day. The other reality to this situation is that these meds are $150 every 7 days. How long can we budget this? How long can we watch our dog be in pain and then get relief knowing that it will never get better?

He will go on this way until the neurological damage is so severe he can't walk. That is not something I wish to put my dog through.

Marley goes back to the vet on December 28th for a follow up. This will be the time we get an x-ray to confirm and then make our decisions. I know that we will make the right decision and I know it will be what is best. I am not ready to say good-bye. Needless to say, he slept at my feet all night last night. ALL 100 pounds of soft, snuggly Marley! Love Love Love him!!

~Love

Our Shank Family