Stratford girl, 11, raises money to help ill dog
Stratford resident Emily Sue Morgan, left, and her friend Shyanee Knowles stand with Ty, a 4 1/2 year-old pug who suffered a herniated disk earlier this week. Morgan is trying to raise $5,000 to pay for spinal surgery so Ty can walk again.
STRATFORD - When a veterinarian told Emily Sue Morgan this week that her best friend Ty was seriously injured and may need surgery to walk again, the 11-year-old girl's eyes filled with tears.
"I cried the whole time I was at the vet," she said.
Emily didn't stay sad for long though, she almost immediately began an aggressive fund raising campaign to help her best friend to walk again.
She has already pledged any birthday money that she will get later this month and is looking to do chores around area homes and is organizing a car wash to help Ty.
She said earlier in the week when she got home she noticed that Ty, a 4-? year old pug, was dragging his back legs and couldn't really walk.
"He must have hurt himself playing or maybe he fell off the bed, we really don't know," Emily Sue said.
She and her mom took their pet to Pioneer Veterinary clinic, where they diagnosed Ty with a herniated disk in his back. They said physical therapy may help, but a surgical procedure offered at Washington State University is the only way to ensure that he can run and play again. That procedure would cost $5,000 and that is Emily's goal.
She said if she can't raise that much money, she will use the funds for physical therapy, $50 a session, and maybe buy him a little doggie wheelchair so he can still chase the lambs on their property.
Anyone who wants to help can call Pioneer Vet Clinic and donate it to Ty Walker, or come to Basin Feed on Saturday where Emily Sue and Ty will be accepting donations. She said people could also donate by stopping by the Third Avenue Barbershop where she placed a donation jar or visit www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-ty-walk-again-/201917.