Wash is in urgent need of support for his medical care due to what we believe is a brown recluse spider bite. His foot swelled three times its normal size, becoming red, inflamed, and causing him unbearable pain, leaving him unable to stand. After multiple nights in the ER, the wound turned severely necrotic, requiring further emergency treatment.

Now, after $9,000 in medical bills, Wash requires ongoing daily care and bandage changes. Due to the unlawful hostile takeover of Shenandoah Shepherd Rescue (SSR), the choice or quality of his care is no longer decided upon by the leader of the organization that originally promised to protect him in such situations.

Legally, Wash remains a foster dog of SSR, which means the rescue should be covering his medical bills. Historically, SSR has supported long-term fosters like Wash, providing care to senior and medical-needs dogs. This was a core mission of the rescue—spending tens of thousands of dollars to give these dogs a chance for full recovery and a loving home. Many dogs were successfully rehabilitated through these efforts.

However, SSR is now under new leadership, and legal proceedings are ongoing to contest what is believed to be an unlawful takeover. The current leadership gained control through the theft of organization passwords and access to SSR’s $450,000 savings account. In the process, the founder and former director, who is fostering Wash, was left personally responsible for over $50,000 in SSR debt and the care of multiple dogs the rescue has refused to intake—despite having collected funds for these dogs.

Wash needs urgent help.

While the legal battle continues, Wash’s medical needs cannot wait. His foster, who brought the case against the current board, refuses to let him suffer simply because she no longer has control over the rescue’s funds. She is currently paying for his care out of pocket, and these expenses are quickly piling up due to the severity of his condition.

Wash remains a foster dog of SSR, even though he is not adoptable due to his age and aggression. Before the takeover, it was common for SSR to continue supporting long-term foster dogs, even those in "permanent" foster homes. The rescue would cover their expenses, and Wash should be no different. But with no current support from SSR, Wash’s foster needs your help to ensure he receives the care he deserves. There is no current statement from the rescue since the takeover detailing the amount of funds they will spend to treat this dog or any dog in their care. He should not suffer or potentially be euthanized due to new management and rules being changed. He is still an SSR dog and we are ensuring that his medical needs are met are he is treated like an SSR dog would have been prior to the unlawful takeover.

https://linktr.ee/whatthefund?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=74a5f495-1919-437a-bd04-0a6310a76b01

His latest estimate is $16,000-$18,000 and still gathering the documents needed for here (charges aren't posted, $10,000 deposit was made) I will post bills as I receive them- the ones posted so far have already been paid in full by Jennifer (~ $4600).

Update from Jen: This new estimate includes a ten day hospitalization, multiple surgeries and sedation, cultures, a wound vac + more. He requires intensive care and cannot be treated as outpatient.