Mail Call!!

Harley attended the staff meeting!

Good Morning TSBR Troopies and Harley fans...

Friday was a busy day for our Sweet Yellow Boy and we wanted to be able to give you
a full update. So here goes...

Harley wanted to start by giving a big SHOUT out to some extra special folks and
thank them for his sussies and mail:

• Paws and nose bumps to Megan H. for the beautiful handmade quilt she made and sent to Harley all the way from Montana! Wow
• Wet furry nudges to the Gilbert's, Tex, and Hunter who made it possible to give Harley his first toys to keep him busy while he heals. Harley particularly liked the squeaky blue bird.
• BIG Harley shakes to his benefactors across our nation who have taken Harley's story to heart and are joining us on our mission to ensure he does NOT suffer one more day and his abusers don't win...your financial support is helping Harley have life and live it! What a blessing.

Not only did Harley enjoy his mail, but he loves his Veterinary team and handler Kari so much, he convinced them he would be a good boy if they'd let him come to their staff meeting...what a ham!

Medical Update:

• Harley is improving daily and all of his blood values have either normalized or greatly reduced with the exception of two.
• Harley remains anemic. However, as long as he is stable and without respiratory compromise he will not undergo blood transfusions.
• He has one nasty bad ear that has now been cleaned and packed with special medicine and that should be greatly improved in just a few days.
• We all know bad teeth hurt...He's got a few broken teeth but he had one molar that is in pretty bad shape and infected. While he is not a candidate at this time for an extraction, we are treating them with antibiotics and pain meds and will adjust his food as needed to help.
• Harley has a GREAT appetite! Although he is less a fan of his special kidney diet he loves his cookies and treats (watch your fingers), and his team is pulling out all the stops to be creative and get him eating his special food.
• Harley now weighs 72.4lbs and we anticipate his ideal weight to be near 95lbs. That's an additional 23lbs he needs to gain.
• Harley's microfilaria...part of his heart worm disease, are now being treated in hopes to lighten the filtering load on his kidneys. He will receive ivermectin, as well as, continue on his current doxycycline that will help this and also treat his tick borne illness.
• "Ticks...I ain't got no ticks," is the tune Harley is singing these days. Whew - what a battle.
• He is receiving a second powerful antibiotic...a type of penicillin to treat the lepto as well as his teeth.
• He has been de-wormed :)
• Harley's digestive tract is working great and he is able to wait for his trips outside to do his business!
• The single biggest concern continues to be Harley's creatinine level. While nearly half what it was...it remains dangerously high and this is a critical aspect of his care plan. The goal of course to get that number down to a level, if possible, that is manageable and safe. This necessitates at this time his ongoing hospitalization to ensure his kidneys have the support they need.

Visiting with Harley and watching his videos and pictures it is beyond obvious that he is thriving emotionally and that car rides, wind in his face, toys, treats, good food, soft bedding, warm surroundings, loving fans, and a nation that cares for him is making a difference in this boys life, and we have made enormous progress in healing his spirit!

Yet he remains fragile and weak from a physical standpoint. So our mission continues as does Harley's need for your emotional and financial support. This is no short journey he is on, BUT every day now is a day of freedom from horrific conditions and one worth living and we all need to join in the virtual Harley group hug and recognize the difference we are truly making!

Thank you from the bottom of our paws!

Care is costly, even with great veterinary teams that support our cause...and long term care will be necessary even once Harley moves to foster - we continue to be optimistic that this will happen soon. If you are moved to give and join Harley's battle we invite you to consider a flat or recurring donation in any amount.

http://www.retrieveafriend.org/donate

P.S. Harley loves his mail and we are delivering and reading his mail to him each and every day. So if you would like to send something - please feel free to send cards, letters of encouragement, and gifts to Harley at:

TSBR
Attn: Harley
415 E. Sherman Dr. Ste A-1
Denton, TX 76209

We promise to make sure he gets every single one!

Now go make it a great day!

 — at Rickords Animal Hospital.