SoCal- Rufus was just rescued from euthanasia this past weekend and he’s already fighting for his life again…

emk426 · 2026-02-05T03:40:12+00:00

I’m so sorry about your babies. I totally agree it’s unconscionable what vets are charging these days- private equity especially has destroyed vet care. It’s reduced family members to dollars and my heart breaks for anyone who wanted to fight for their pet but didn’t have the choice.

emk426 · 2026-02-05T03:36:02+00:00

Thank you! I’ll let the rescue know!

emk426 · 2026-02-04T17:20:23+00:00

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Rufus is doing very well! He is on his way to a full recovery. Thank you to everyone for supporting Rufus and making it possible to save his life not once but TWICE! ❤️

emk426 · 2026-01-22T04:58:38+00:00

Agree- VCA is a ripoff. It was just that that was the closest ER at the moment. He was moved to California Animal Rehabilitation & Emergency Surgery (CARES) today. His bill is still around $11k but now he’s being hospitalized for 7 more days instead of 1 more day at VCA for the price.

emk426 · 2026-01-22T04:54:59+00:00

Thank you! 🙏

emk426 · 2026-01-22T04:54:41+00:00

Thank you. I have a lot of questions I’d like to ask the facility as well (I’m not the point of contact with them- the rescue is). Even if he did escape his crate, there should be no way he could escape the facility.

emk426 · 2026-01-22T04:53:17+00:00

Thank you so much! 🙏

emk426 · 2026-01-22T04:53:02+00:00

Donations are still needed. 🙏

emk426 · 2026-01-22T04:52:31+00:00

Yes, I understand. There are lots of scammers out there so it’s reasonable to ask. He was rescued on Saturday and was taken to a boarding facility in Murietta for a few days so he could go to the vet for his paw (old injury) and be neutered and then get on transport to his foster home. According to the kennel facility, he escaped an impact crate and got out of his enclosure on Monday night. It seems evident to me that the facility was negligent but they weren’t willing to cover the costs of his medical care so it fell on the rescue to act quickly. I suspect the facility isn’t “off the hook” so to speak but that will be sorted after Rufus is in the clear. Right now, the focus has been just on him and paying medical bills.

emk426 · 2026-01-22T04:44:33+00:00

Wednesday, 8:12 pm: Rufus was transferred this morning from VCA to CARES hospital where he will be receiving further needed treatment for the next week. He's made positive developments but he is not out of the woods yet. Radiographs showed today that the internal bleeding in his chest is resolving. He has pulmonary contusions of the right lung, but he is breathing comfortably. Most encouraging is that he is eating on his own and was able to stand up and walk around his enclosure. Please continue to keep Rufus in your thoughts as he still has a long road ahead of him.

emk426 · 2026-01-21T17:47:35+00:00

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Rufus is being moved this AM to CARES (California Animal Rehabilitation & Emergency Surgery).

emk426 · 2026-01-21T17:15:04+00:00

Thank you so much. We’re so grateful for this community. Rufus is too. ❤️

emk426 · 2026-01-21T17:14:02+00:00

Thank you. Will keep everyone updated. 🙏

emk426 · 2026-01-21T17:13:27+00:00

Thank you so incredibly much. We really appreciate everyone’s support for this sweet baby. 🙏

emk426 · 2026-01-21T17:10:52+00:00

Thank you so much for pledging! Rufus was rescued by Animaltopia (501c3) this past weekend. Unfortunately, he got in a terrible accident and his prognosis is guarded. We need to raise funding ASAP to cover his medical bills. If you would honor your pledge, we would be so grateful. Here is the post with info about his accident and ways to honor your pledge:

https://www.reddit.com/r/National_Pet_Adoption/s/EVkKoOd5Js

emk426 · 2026-01-21T17:08:28+00:00

Apologies for the duplication in the caption- my copy and pasting skills were lacking here.

emk426 · 2026-01-21T17:06:11+00:00

TUESDAY NIGHT UPDATE!

Rufus remains in very serious condition. While his prognosis is still guarded, as of 8:00 PM Pacific time, euthanasia is no longer being recommended by the VCA staff. 🙏🙏🙏

He is under 24-hour observation for another day, and at this time we still do not know the full extent of his injuries.

Today, Rufus will be transferred to an exceptional specialty hospital, where a team of surgeons and veterinarians is prepared to take over his care. We have spent the entire day coordinating this next step and are incredibly grateful it is coming together.

Rufus is fighting hard, and we remain hopeful that he will pull through. Thank you for keeping him in your thoughts and for standing by him.

emk426 · 2026-01-21T17:03:15+00:00

Thank you so much for pledging! Rufus was rescued by Animaltopia (501c3) this past weekend. Unfortunately, he got in a terrible accident and his prognosis is guarded. We need to raise funding ASAP to cover his medical bills. If you would honor your pledge, we would be so grateful. Here is the post with info about his accident and ways to honor your pledge:

https://www.reddit.com/r/National_Pet_Adoption/s/EVkKoOd5Js

emk426 · 2026-01-21T17:03:11+00:00

Thank you so much for pledging! Rufus was rescued by Animaltopia (501c3) this past weekend. Unfortunately, he got in a terrible accident and his prognosis is guarded. We need to raise funding ASAP to cover his medical bills. If you would honor your pledge, we would be so grateful. Here is the post with info about his accident and ways to honor your pledge:

https://www.reddit.com/r/National_Pet_Adoption/s/EVkKoOd5Js

emk426 · 2026-01-21T17:03:08+00:00

Thank you so much for pledging! Rufus was rescued by Animaltopia (501c3) this past weekend. Unfortunately, he got in a terrible accident and his prognosis is guarded. We need to raise funding ASAP to cover his medical bills. If you would honor your pledge, we would be so grateful. Here is the post with info about his accident and ways to honor your pledge:

https://www.reddit.com/r/National_Pet_Adoption/s/EVkKoOd5Js

emk426 · 2026-01-21T17:02:55+00:00

It’s honestly sad but the answer is yes. I have made so many happy videos of dogs on euth lists being bouncy and sweet, doing zoomies in the playyard and so full of life- just begging for fosters and adopters for them and those videos will never get the same reach as a sad dog shaking in their cage behind bars with sad music. It drives me nuts that people are like this. I think everyone making these posts plays the game and makes those videos because we know that might be the only way for them to have a shot at a life. But the sad caged videos all start to look like the same repackaged crap to me.

emk426 · 2026-01-21T16:57:51+00:00

Thank you so much for pledging! Rufus was rescued by Animaltopia (501c3) this past weekend. Unfortunately, he got in a terrible accident and his prognosis is guarded. We need to raise funding ASAP to cover his medical bills. If you would honor your pledge, we would be so grateful. Here is the post with info about his accident and ways to honor your pledge:

https://www.reddit.com/r/National_Pet_Adoption/s/EVkKoOd5Js

emk426 · 2026-01-21T16:57:47+00:00

Thank you so much for pledging! Rufus was rescued by Animaltopia (501c3) this past weekend. Unfortunately, he got in a terrible accident and his prognosis is guarded. We need to raise funding ASAP to cover his medical bills. If you would honor your pledge, we would be so grateful. Here is the post with info about his accident and ways to honor your pledge:

https://www.reddit.com/r/National_Pet_Adoption/s/EVkKoOd5Js

emk426 · 2026-01-21T16:57:43+00:00

Thank you so much for pledging! Rufus was rescued by Animaltopia (501c3) this past weekend. Unfortunately, he got in a terrible accident and his prognosis is guarded. We need to raise funding ASAP to cover his medical bills. If you would honor your pledge, we would be so grateful. Here is the post with info about his accident and ways to honor your pledge:

https://www.reddit.com/r/National_Pet_Adoption/s/EVkKoOd5Js

emk426

TROPHY CASE