Supporting Dottie & her journey:

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Why does Dottie have a medical fund? 

Dottie is not just any dog; she's a little fighter with a big, sassy spirit! Continuing to navigate life despite her complex health issues and spreading as much joy as she can while she goes about it! 

Dottie's resilience is matched by the love, support and care she receives from her doggy community. Her journey has inspired supporters who recognize just how special she is, alongside her dedicated medical team who help keep her strong and comfortable. Dottie has become a bean-shaped beacon of hope for other dogs in need and their owners. We share her medical journey in the hopes it will help other dogs like her.

What kind of care and support does Dottie need?

We have made no secret of the fact that Dottie needs a lot of medical care to ensure that she is living her happiest and pain-free life for as long as is possible. Her extensive medical needs and medications are funded by her loving family, insurance and any small earnings from her social media endeavours. However, the reality is that Dottie's medical expenses vastly exceed that of a usual dog of her age.  While Dot is insured (we highly encourage considering this for your pets!) the unique and extensive nature of her care means her insurance does not cover many medical expenses, especially when it comes to engaging international specialists, advanced diagnostics and ongoing treatments. For example, the specialist we consult for Dottie's Chiari-like Malformation (CM) and Syringomyelia (SM) expertise is based in Miami, USA and no equivalent locally. The international specialist also identified issues that were previously misdiagnosed or entirely overlooked.

By having her own dedicated medical fund and social media efforts, we ensure Dottie never has to wait for urgent or life-saving treatments or improvements to her overall well-being. Supporting Dottie directly contributes to her continued access to essential medical care and a happy, fulfilling life. Your generosity plays a vital role in making sure Dottie receives the comprehensive care she needs to thrive.

Dottie's medical fund assists with expenses such as:

• Pain medications and other ongoing life-long medications required for Dottie.
• Vet or specialist consults (both in New Zealand and overseas via Zoom).
• Physiotherapy/Hydrotherapy and laser/massage sessions.
• Any specialist equipment Dottie requires for daily life (ie. custom ramps)
• Her annual MRI scans to check her conditions have not progressed and/or the specialists time reviewing these scans.
• Regular blood tests and any other diagnostics she requires.
• Medical trips for Dottie.
• Surgery costs for Dottie.
• Anything else that she needs to upkeep her health and/or access urgent medical assistance.

How can I help Dottie?

Please check out Dottie's social media and give her a follow! Remember that you can support Dottie simply by spreading the word about her and her medical journey. Every post you like, share, or comment on, helps contribute by ensuring Dottie's story continues to inspire, and new followers are made aware of her!

We also have some Dottie "merch", projects and products available from time to time noted below We also advertise fund-raisers "by Dottie" with those proceeds being donated to the New Zealand Chihuahua Rescue Trust to help rescue dogs in need. All proceeds from the Redbubble account are donated directly to the Rescue. Any small payments from collaborations or merchandise are added to her medical fund to support her care or (where stated) donated to the registered New Zealand Charity, Chihuahua Rescue Trust, to assist toy breed dogs throughout the country.