Crowdsourcing: Annie’s new life

Through the crowdsourcing website GiveForward.com, Patterson was able to raise $1,000 to pay for the 24-hour round-trip to St. Pauls, N.C. to save Annie (previously Snowflake) from being euthanized at a seven-day kill shelter. And now the site is helping save Annie’s life again, attempting to raise $4,500 to pay for medical treatment at the Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for parvovirus.

Patterson was browsing a Siberian Husky Facebook group on Jan. 22 when she came across a picture of Annie, with a caption explaining that she would be euthanized at 5 p.m. the next day. Patterson called the shelter and told them she was on her way. Accompanied by her friend Cheryl Janke, Patterson began the journey to Robeson County Animal Control to save Annie.

“We got there two hours before they were going to euthanize Annie,” Patterson said.

Patterson believes the dog contracted the disease in the shelter. Parvovirus is an extremely contagious and potentially lifethreatening disease that affects a dog’s intestinal tract and white blood cell count.

Annie is in isolation at the MSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital emergency room, and will be released when she is able to eat by herself. She is currently being fed by feeding tube. It costs around $650 a day for Annie to stay at the clinic.

“Unfortunately, money is the issue,” Patterson said. “I couldn’t expect anything from anyone and I’m grateful for the people (who) have contributed what they can. It has been an amazing process this far.”

GiveForward charges a fee of 7.9 percent of donations plus 50 cents per transaction. To avoid these fees, Patterson said that donations can also be given directly to the MSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s Emergency & Critical Care Medicine Services. To donate, call (517) 353-5420 and ask to make a payment toward Annie Patterson-Dikeou.

To learn more about the campaign or to contribute, go to: http://bit.ly/1KoYU5l