Lucky Paw Foundation Newsletter - May 16, 2025

Dear Friends of the Lucky Paw Foundation,


Spring was a special time for our foundation as we have already helped 3 patients AND we finally broke the trend of helping ONLY dogs.  If you don’t know this, the Lucky Paw Foundation was established to help any animal regardless of their species.  Due to pure happenstance, all of our applicants have been dogs needing support.  This spring, everything changed when we had the opportunity to help Bernadette, a lovely little Guinea Pig. 

Every patient’s journey is unique and challenging. Your continued support has been invaluable to us. It has allowed us to be prepared for the worst surprises and given us the opportunity to give the gift of LIFE and to really change lives!  Thank you, and please enjoy their stories. 


Tracy Dulak, Director of the Lucky Paw Foundation

Meet Sadie


Sadie is a 10-year-old, sweet Labrador Retriever.  She has struggled with a very painful elbow that made it difficult for her to exercise.  It was determined that she needed surgery by a specialist to remove a suspected bone fragment that was loose and grinding around in the joint.  At the consult, they performed a CT scan of the region which confirmed the diagnosis, but unfortunately also discovered a lung tumor! Ugh.  Most families are prepared for the $4,000 to fix the elbow, but not an additional $6,500 to save her life.  The specialist did not recommend moving forward with the elbow, without removing the lung tumor. Financially, $10,000 was impossible for her owners.  They were heartbroken. 

Enter the Lucky Paw Foundation.  After consultation with the specialist, it was determined that the lung tumor would definitely become life-threatening, but was most likely benign, meaning if removed, it would cure the problem!  We felt that its accidental discovery was a gift.  We needed to help.  We made up the financial difference to get the job done.  Sadie had her lung tumor removed via a minimally invasive process, then 8 weeks later had her elbow surgery.  She went through each procedure with grace and has made a full and uneventful recovery.  She has her whole active life ahead of her. 

Meet Bo


Bo is an 8-year-old Jack Russel Terrier mix. He’s a really hard worker and always shows off his great attitude.  He developed sudden onset rear end paralysis and could not walk.  His parent’s rushed him down to the neurological center where he had an MRI.  It was confirmed that he had ruptured intervertebral discs in his thoracic spine.  The surgery was more difficult than expected and instead of being $7,000 … it was $9,000. 

After multiple days in the hospital, Bo was sent home to recover.  But, after 2 weeks, he was still having great difficulties.  The neurologist hoped that in time, he would get his ability to walk again. It’s such a terrible tragedy, to put so much into your pet’s care and end up no further off than where you started. It’s even worse when you start running short on your ability to afford additional options.


That’s when the Lucky Paw Foundation met Bo.  We explored the option of physical therapy to improve his chances of making a full recovery.  (If you remember, we already had a great experience with a previous recipient, Sulli).  The owners had to commit to weeks of travel to the physical therapists in Elk Rapids.  Lucky Paw paid for the 5 weeks of therapy.  Bo was all in … working extremely hard running obstacles, and performing balancing exercises, not to mention the under water treadmill work.  Treats helped a LOT.  We are proud to report that after a lot of hard work, Bo has made a full recovery.  He is able to run and walk and can finally get back to his usual activities which are generally showing off and making people smile.   

Meet the Lovely Bernadette


Bernadette is a 20-month-old Hairless Guinea Pig.  She is quite the animated and friendly pig.  She presented with a large lump between her mandibles which was initially diagnosed as a very invasive abscess.  Oftentimes with Guinea Pigs, abscessed teeth can cause a terrible problem.  Infection can work its way into the jaw bone eventually causing a fracture. The infection was removed by the local veterinarian, but there was a concern that BOTH of her lower incisors would need to be removed in order to fully treat the problem. Unfortunately, removing both of these teeth without breaking them is very difficult.  They are about 2 cm long each. Her owner had already spent around $900 for her care and now she needed to spend an additional $1500 at a specialist to give her any hope of survival. 


The Lucky Paw Foundation was excited to help since this procedure usually fixes the problem. But, without treatment she would surely not survive. We helped with a portion of the bill and Bernadette took an exciting trip to southern Michigan for surgery. She did great. She also needed multiple followup appointments with the local vet to complete treatment, which went well. She was back to eating her hay with vigor and her Mom reported that she finally got her bossy squeak back.

Unfortunately a month after treatment, Bernadette unexpectedly passed away.  We were all devastated.  She was such a strong, little spirited pig.  We thought she was out of the woods.


Medicine is never perfectly black and white, there are no guarantees.  Sometimes, despite the very best care, things don’t always go our way. And, even though we lost our treasured Bernadette, we were grateful to have tried.  We believe that EVERY LITTLE LIFE MATTERS, and we will always try when there is a reasonably good chance for success.

Never underestimate the HUMAN ANIMAL BOND.  Animals can have an incredibly POWERFUL positive effect on our lives.

Thank you for your support … YOU give us the opportunity to offer families the CHANCE to save their pet’s life. 


WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT

Please visit our website at: LUCKYPAWFOUNDATION.ORG