Update: Stratford girl raises money for injured pet
Emily Sue Morgan holds the leash of her dog Ty with her mother Kristin looking on. Ty was temporarily paralyzed after an unknown injury while staying with a friend about a month ago. He is now walking again thanks to the $1,000 Emily raised for physical therapy sessions.
MOSES LAKE - Emily Sue Morgan said she has a generous community and the Columbia Basin Herald to thank for her best friend's ability to walk again.
When her dog Ty was injured in early July while staying with a friend, she took him to Pioneer Veterinary Clinic and learned he had a herniated disk and would need either surgery or immediate physical therapy to walk again.
"I cried the whole time I was at the vet," she said in an interview with the Columbia Basin Herald on July 10.
Ty could not walk or use the bathroom on his own. When Emily and her mom Kristin first brought Ty to the newspaper, he was wearing a diaper and could not stand on his own.
Emily said she set up a website for Ty and asked for an article detailing the need for the community's help.
After the article appeared in July 11 edition of the Columbia Basin Herald, Morgan said donations began to flood in.
"I was like 'oh my gosh, we are really doing this,'" she said when she saw the first donations appear on her screen. Within a couple of days Emily raised more than $1,000, almost entirely from people who read about it in the CBH, she said.
She also hosted a car wash, placed donations jars in local businesses and donated her birthday money for Ty's recovery.
Emily used those funds on four-hour physical therapy sessions and said Ty is now walking, even trotting around. While not quite back to his old self, Emily said she is hopeful with continued therapy.
"I would trade anything to make him the way that he was. Even my phone," the 12-year-old fundraiser said.
Emily said that Ty cannot sleep in her bed like he used to, because of the fear that he would fall or jump off, but she goes to bed two or three hours early just so he can lie with her before she falls asleep.
She is optimistic about his full recovery and wanted to thank the community members who helped when she needed them.
"I want to thank everyone who found a way to donate, it really means a lot," she said.
Her mom Kristin said they have enough money for many more therapy sessions and do not need any more money at this time.
She agreed with her daughter's comments and thanked the CBH and the community for helping.