About the Campaign
Yin is a senior male Afghan Hound/Shepherd/Husky mix with chronic kidney disease, an active UTI, and a heart murmur that may require further evaluation. His veterinarian has stressed that Yin must be retested soon to see how far the kidney disease has progressed, whether the UTI is clearing, and what the next steps should be. Yin does have Trupanion pet insurance, but it does not cover everything—and some parts of this current medical workup will still fall on Richard.
Yin’s kidney numbers were recently “really bad,” and Richard’s vet at VCA is working up updated testing and estimates now. The immediate plan is to treat and recheck the UTI and kidney values, then determine whether Yin also needs additional diagnostics for the heart murmur (such as ultrasound). This is a moving-target situation: the retesting is what determines how urgent and how extensive the next steps must be.
Yin has been fighting complicated health issues for years. In 2019 he was diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera, an extremely rare form of leukemia where the body produces too many red blood cells, requiring intensive long-term management. Treatments kept him stable for years, but Richard believes the disease and medications likely contributed to Yin’s kidney decline over time. Yin has also dealt with arthritis and significant weight loss related to CKD, and Richard has worked hard to keep him eating and stable on a special diet.
Richard didn’t plan to be the one asking for help. He used to foster for ResQPet and helped fund rescue dogs for years. Yin came from the Lancaster shelter through that rescue network—Richard pulled three dogs at once, and Yin was the “spirited” one many people thought was too much. Richard kept him anyway. He became a failed foster in the best sense: once Yin was safe, he stayed home for good.
Yin is still a trooper—but he needs medical monitoring and treatment to stay comfortable and safe. Donations will help cover Yin’s urgent retesting, treatment, and any vet-recommended diagnostics that insurance does not fully reimburse. All donations are paid only to the veterinarian. Thank you for helping Richard take care of the dog he once rescued—now that he’s the one who needs a hand. Below is part of what Yin needs, in addition there is an ultrasound that needs to be done:
