When Maggie the bulldog gets her teeth on a stuffed toy, it doesn’t stand a chance.
The three-year-old loves playing with all sorts of stuffed toys whenever she can get her paws on one, according to Nicole Reinelt, assistant manager of the B.C. SPCA Victoria branch.
“She’s cheerful and gregarious, loves everyone she meets and is good with every dog she’s met,” Reinelt said. “She’s very dangerous with a stuffy toy. She loves to rip them apart. She’s just a super easy, happy dog.”
However, the loveable dog now requires extensive medical treatment.
Maggie is originally from the SPCA’s Port Alberni branch, where she was surrendered by her then-owner due to veterinary costs. She came to Victoria earlier this month through the organization’s transfer program and has a “laundry list” of things that need treatment, said Reinelt.
Maggie’s soft palate isn’t formed correctly, making it difficult for her to breathe so she needs surgery to have it corrected. She needs to be spayed and has two hernias that need to be fixed.
Maggie also has a cherry eye in one of her eyes, and an entropion in both of her eyes — problems that have to do with her eyelids being flipped inappropriately.
One of her face folds is so severely infected that it needs to be removed as well.
Many of these problems are common among bulldogs, however, Reinelt said this is the first time they’ve had a dog with all the problems and to the severity in which Maggie has them.
The Victoria SPCA is reaching out in hopes the public will be able to help with some of the cost of Maggie’s surgeries, rehabilitation and recovery, which are expected to cost $10,000.
“It’s a testament to what we do at the SPCA. We really do want to help every animal that we can regardless of what their medical costs are going to be,” said Reinelt, adding this is the most money they’ve ever had to appeal for. “It’s definitely one of the most expensive medical cases we’ve dealt with. Helping her (Maggie) doesn’t just help her, but it helps the next animal who needs a $2,000 surgery. Every bit that we get back from the public really makes a difference.”
Maggie had the soft palate resection in Vancouver earlier this week. After two to three days of recovery, she will then be transferred back to Victoria, where she will have the remainder of her surgeries.
So far, the SPCA has raised $1,000. To donate to Maggie and other animals visit spca.bc.ca/medicalemergency or in person at 3150 Napier Ln.