Cecil 2009

Cecil is a six-year old male wire who was released to rescue after being left alone chained-up in a garage for days at a time. Seems his people were getting a divorce and Cecil was caught in the middle and essentially abandoned.

After shaving down his thick, dirty mats, he was treated for skin sores and an ear infection due both to the filthy condition he was in and malnourishment. He was soon on the road to recovery, but one thing has hindered him from fully enjoying his new life. It seems that Cecil has cataracts. They are advanced enough that he is left with merely 10% of his vision.

Cecil deserves better! He's a wonderfully sweet little wire who is going to make a wonderful companion for some family, but we would like for him regain the confidence that having his eyesight will restore to him.

Cecil needs surgery to correct the advanced cataracts that affects both of his eyes, the surgery is estimated at roughly $3000. Please help us restore his eyesight and indeed, the light into his life.

September 22 Update:

We posted Cecil’s plight on our website and Facebook page in early July. The generosity of American Fox Terrier Rescue (AFTR) supporters for Cecil was as big as their hearts and soon we had enough money to give Cecil back his sight. Two of the first faces he saw after years of blindness were those of his foster family (and what a wonderful moment that must have been!!!) who’d asked for AFTR’s help. Within days of his surgery, his eye pressure spiked to alarming levels. It was determined to save the sight that he’d just regained, he would need to undergo glaucoma surgery.

Thanks to the support of AFTR, Fox Terrier Network, the Fox Terrier Club and his soon-to-be family, the decision to fund his second surgery was made in less than 30 minutes. Post surgery, his recovery was uneventful and soon it was time to meet his new family. His foster Mom wrote "it was love at first sight. I've never seen Cecil behave like that ... it was like he was saying "I've been waiting for you for so long!" and it made it so easy for us (foster mom and dad, Melissa and Steve) to say goodbye because it was so clear that Cecil wanted to be with them." And here’s that moment he met his new Mom… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wynj7L2Dtw

August 4 Update:

Click on any photo to view a larger image

Cecil had his first follow up appointment with his eye surgeon today. It went beautifully! She said he is healing really well and that everything looks great in his eye. His pressure in both eyes is still a bit on the low side, but she said it was okay considering he's only a week out of surgery.

I can tell you that in the past two days Cecil has really come to it--his vision has really improved this week and he can see everything. The doctor said it will refine itself over the next week too. Just Sunday, I had him outside on the leash and a bicyclist went by and he carefully and quietly studied them riding all the way down the street and when they turned the corner, he looked up at me as if to say "Wow! Cool! What in the world was that?"

It's so amazing to watch him regain his confidence. For instance, when I put the food bowl down he just runs right up to it, whereas before he almost had to search for it. He's really enjoying things now--but he really wishes we would take that silly cone off his head!

July 23 Update:

Thank you for your continuing interest and generous donations for Cecil's surgery. Your messages of support have been so kind and encouraging. And we have loved hearing about the Foxies that you love.

Cecil successfully completed treatment for the inflammation of his eyes which was needed before retinal testing. The retinal tests indicate that, as suspected, there is no vision in his right eye due to a detached retina. The left eye is still a candidate for surgery and the veterinary eye specialist feels that he will recover between 75% - 100% of the vision in his left eye.

With the successful completion of prelimary treatment and testing, Cecil's surgery has been scheduled for July 27! We humans are a bit nervous however Cecil has handled all his preliminary medical care so easily that we are confident he will do well.

Cecil as he was found, tied up in the garage	You can see how bad his skin was in this picture
All cleaned up	Can you help me?