Christine Walsh / GoFundMe
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An elderly dog found abandoned in Central Park has become the focus of a community-led rescue effort — and a fast-growing GoFundMe campaign to cover her mounting medical costs.
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The dog, now named Lady, was discovered trembling and alone about a week ago. Christine Walsh, a local resident and animal lover, brought her home after seeing the neglected dog in distress. “She needed someone — and I was there,” Walsh wrote on the GoFundMe page she launched to raise funds for Lady’s care. As of writing, it’s raised close to $8,000.
Lady is estimated to be at least 15 years old and in poor health. While a microchip traced back to Colorado indicates she was born in 2010, it was never registered, leaving no way to locate her previous owners.
Christine Walsh / GoFundMe
Veterinarians have identified a long list of issues: possible dementia, severe arthritis, significant hearing loss, probable benign lymphoma, neurological concerns, and extensive dental damage. After an initial checkup, Lady’s condition worsened — she spiked a 105-degree fever and was rushed to the Animal Medical Center, where she is now being treated for what may have been a stroke.
Despite everything, Walsh says Lady is “fighting.”
Support for the abandoned dog has poured in from neighbors on both sides of Central Park. Just minutes after Walsh took Lady in, another local dog owner, Rashmita “Rashi” Redkar, offered to split the veterinary costs. “Rashi has been a rock and a blessing to both me and Lady,” Walsh wrote.
Medical bills have already reached nearly $13,000, with more expected as Lady requires follow-up care from neurologists and specialists, long-term arthritis treatment, and possibly more testing to monitor her heart and potential lymphoma. A detailed breakdown of expenses has been posted to the campaign page.
As of July 20, Lady was reported to be stable, eating, and slowly regaining balance. “The fever is under control, and we’re seeing signs of resilience,” Walsh shared. “She’s a fighter.”
The GoFundMe campaign aims to raise enough to cover both the current costs and those anticipated in the coming weeks. Contributions — or simply spreading the word — are welcomed by the organizers.
To read more about Lady’s story or to donate, visit the GoFundMe page.
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No vet bill should be 13K. What crooks. Best of luck Lady !
What a clueless comment. Close your account.
A vet’s list of ailments is directly proportional to the perceived amount of funding for care.
The bigger story should always be that adopting a dog is like adopting a child… only without all of the potential subsidies.
Her eyes are very bright, her face is full of light
dog > Homeless/unhoused humans. Why? I love dogs to be clear. But this doesn’t make sense to me and never will.
It’s possible to care about several things at the same time – unhoused humans AND abandoned animals. Compassion is not zero sum.
As someone who has taken in homeless people several times, next time I’ll take in a homeless dog.
The only humane thing to do is to allow this dog to die. What animal owners and Vet-induced guilt are doing to force pets to endure endless medical intervention for the benefit of their owners and their Vets when they have no ability to consent or any awareness of end of life is abuse. Don’t pretend otherwise.
It is poor judgment to spend so much money and inflict so much extra intervention/extra pain upon an already-ill fifteen year old pup. It is so sad, true, that she is in this condition, but keeping her alive for human satisfaction is wrong. Vet treatments are now driven by human standards and modern medical equipment, and many vets are now owned by hedge funds that want to maximize profits by taking advantage of heartbroken owners and poor sick pets. I have owned many pets adopted from the streets, so I know how hard it is to let go, but it is the truly humane thing to do.
My heart goes out to everyone who has supported the dog and I hope she has some time left and get lots of love. What I don’t understand, in view of the circumstances, is why the vet who’s now looking after this innocent soul won’t give her new caretaker a financial discount. Read the NYT article from this week, which mentions that the high cost of vet care has led many people to give up their pets. The shelters are full and animals are being turned away. As of this afternoon, I’m taking my 18 year old cat to the vet for a checkup. I know I’ll be paying at least $600 for all the tests. After my little soul finally goes to heaven, I know I’ll want another cat but fear the cost.
I believe icarinh for her and stabilizing her to a managed comfort level while poor lady overcomes emotional heartbreak and PTSD: when she goes it’s shouldn’t be as a dumped, scared, sick and in pain:
she should go only after receiving the love and care she’s needed: The owner is breaking the law, after dumping her, and if she was suffering should have taken her to humane death with love.
Imagine dumping your 110 year old grandparent etc: in the same condition,what suffering !
You may not be able to cure her, but getting her cared and phisvically stabilized is a kind gesture;
Wow that bill keeps growing fool for thought I know that she s older a lot of health issues but can the Vet lean back with the Bills your giving them ok because you know that the dog s time is coming so ease her pain and let time take it s course ok God’s way please let the Angels that God sent her enjoy it ok but Don’t take everything that they have please have a ❤️❤️❤️❤️. Thank You and God Bless all of you . I’ll be praying for everyone Amen. 🙏🙏🙏😇😇😇❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️