View Newsletter As A Webpage

"Casey" Seabrook

To make a one time donation, or a monthly donation to Small Paws Rescue, you may use your major credit card securely, at this site. Enjoy our user friendly, secure site to make your credit card donations. 

If you've made a past donation by credit card, you may e-mail Louie Bertolino at louieb@smallpawsrescue.org to let him know the amount of your donation. If we already have your credit card on file, please e-mail Louie and let him know the amount of your donation. Or give him a call at 337-324-2466 to make a donation. Louie is in MA. on Eastern Time.

We have added our Text-to-Donate feature! It's simple and secure. You may use any major credit card as well as Google Pay and PAYPAL! Text the number 53555 and type the letters Bichon in the message area. A secure link will come up with simple instructions. After that, you can text a donation of any amount to Small Paws anytime without filling out your information again! We hope you enjoy the ease and security of Text-to-Donate, to help the Bichons!

"Beno" Scheuneman

"Sydney" Irvin

Wednesday, October 08, 2025,

Dear Small Pawsers,

Yesterday I told you about 4 new Bichons who came in from the Chicago area. (Not all together.) See below.

It's taking an average of $2,333.00 each to vet them. Please see vet bills below.

We've raise $2250.00, almost enough to vet one of them.

Then this morning, the Austin, Texas shelter asked us to take this little 5 year old female who came in as a stray.

Bichon Alert!

I named her Bella. Look at her beautiful smile almost asking us not to forget her.

Bella is in a shelter that is short on space. We have GOT to get her out by Friday.

So now we still need at least $9000.00 to vet four of them.

We have one Matching Challenge Donation Challenge.

What is a Small Paws® Rescue Matching Donation Challenge?

It's from Janet Bartos at jpbartos@sbcglobal.net. Thank you so much Janet.

"You need us & these furr babies need us also! I will start with a $500 challenge. But hopefully others can match or do more also! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 

Thx for all you & all the volunteers do for these precious furr babies. Love to you all! 🩷💜 Janet"

This is what I was concerned about. One more needing to come in when we haven't raised what is needed for what we have.

But we can't leave little Bella there. We just can't.

It seems that they come in cycles. Right now, Bichons are falling from the skies.

You all know what we don't ask if we don't need help.

We need help.

All My Love, Robin

____________________________________________________________________________________

Late Tuesday Afternoon, October 07, 2025

Dear Small Pawsers,

Year after year, I've watched Veterinary expenses go up, all across the country .

You have too, I'm sure.

And I get it. If a Veterinarian is in business on his own, and has not sold his practice to a large corporation in a corporate acquisition, they still try to keep their prices competitive with the big buys like the VCA's and the Banfield's.

Why Your Vet Bills Are SO High

We have a VERY good relationship with Plainfield Animal Hospital, in Plainfield IL.

Dr. Paul Blasso owns this privately owned clinic just outside of Chicago.

He's always had a heart for rescue.

He HAS rescues in his home and he and his wife treat them as family members.

I'm going to tell you about a night when Dr. Blasso called me. It was late. Near midnight.

He was near tears and this is a strong man. After caring for our rescued Bichons, he has seen his share of suffering.

He had recently adopted a pup, I think it was a Great Dane puppy, who was now at a Chicago Emergency Hospital, getting ready to undergo a serious surgery for a congenital gastro-intestinal issue.

They chances of survival were 50/50.

He called and told me where they were and who the surgeon was. I told him we had used both many times and always gotten the best care. He knew this. But when it's your OWN dog, just about everything you think you knew flies out the window,

Then he asked me for something that only confirmed his heart to me. He asked me to pray with him on the phone for his dog, and I did.

With all that was going on at that Emergency Room, God was there. And we both felt Him.

Thankfully, the surgery was a success and his boy went home with him and is doing well. They still have to have him on a special diet that is pureed, but you do what you have to do for your furry kidlets.

I'm telling you this to tell you that Dr. Blasso is NOT a vet to gouge a client.

I'm going to show you the last vet bill we received from hom. And it does include a 30% rescue discount.

It's for $9,332.09.

We did not raise enough last time for these four, and now we have four more new ones.

This is just for Gabby, Pippen, Sammy, and Waffles.

That's an average of $2,333.02 each.

And now we have four more that just came in.

Wanna SEE???

Rugby came in near Chicago from an owner with stage 4 cancer, who was no longer able to take care of him. Rugby is 9 years old. He hadn't been to the vet for a while and that's understandable. He's safe with us, now.

Bentley came in as a stray to a shelter near Chicago. He is estimated at six years old.

Bentley for SURE has met a Bichon! Happy Boy!

This darling little bundle of cute is our little Dickens. He is 3 years old and only 4 pounds, but he told me he had a cousin who was a Bichon, so I believed him. He is also Crypthorchid. This means he has retained testicles and will need an abdominal surgery in order to be neutered. Of course he does!

Look at that little mug. this is little Oliver. He is estimated at only a year old. He came from a shelter near Chicago. He asked us to please take him too, so we did.

So for these four more it's going to be around $9000.00 based on the cost of the last four.

And before the day is through, we could be asked to take even more in.

We need to be able to vet them, and Dr. Blasso is not only the least expensive vet in the area, he's the most honest and caring.

I know you are trying to help when some of you tell us that we shouldn't be doing so much for each rescued dog.

Our Board feels that we want to maintain our level of excellence when it comes to caring for each and every dog who comes across our thresh hold.

If they need their teeth cleaned, they are going to get dentals.

Dental cleanings prevent other health issues down the road.

And they NEED to be spayed or neutered, to be quarantined away from our Foster's own dog's until we are sure they are free of shelter diseases like distemper and parvo. They NEED to be tested for Heartworm Disease and parasites. They NEED vaccinations for Rabies, Distemper, Parvo, and Lymes disease. They NEED ear infections treated. They NEED to be treated for skin allergies if they have them. They NEED bathed and groomed.

We just can't cut corners on their health care, and you wouldn't want us to.

But we need your help to take this kind of care of them.

It does take a village. It takes OUR village, and we do need you. They need you.

I am here and will issue all Matching Challenge Donation Challenges!

What is a Small Paws® Rescue Matching Donation Challenge?

All My Love, Robin