Helping Otto (and I) Out


Hey, all. Those of you on Friendfeed have likely heard that while I was away interviewing at NC State, my Otto my basset hound was boarding at the animal hospital, and somehow his mild entropion (a turning in of the eyelids) got severe practically overnight. I just picked him up from the vet, and his eyes are ulcerated. They've scheduled the surgery for tomorrow which was, to say the least, horrifying and unexpected. Someone on FF (Kaia?) suggested CareCredit, which offers financing for medical type stuff, including vets - and happily, they have offered me a small credit line to use on the Ottopuss. Unhappily, it is nowhere near $1500. (Which is less than I thought the surgery for both his poor eyes would be, but is still beyond me by quite a bit).


So another bunch of awesome friendfeeders mentioned I could use tipjar or Paypal from the blog and let the beneficence of the webworld get showered on Otto's snooter. Thanks to Bobbi, there is now a PayPal button on the top left of this blog for the Save The Otto's Eyeballs Fund, for those of you who have a few extra pennies and were wondering where you should toss them.


I feel utterly ridiculous posting this on my librarian blog, but for those of you with pets - or those of you with children who remember how you felt about your pets before the kids came along - he is my sole companion. I lurv him more than anyone except my mom. If you understand and have some spare change, I'll beg on Otto's behalf. See the pic? how can I resist that face?


JMS had a great idea (because I felt like such a skeez asking for help) - whatever is donated to help out the Otto, I will donate an equal amount to the ASPCA (or we can take a vote for charities of choice for animals) once I make that moola back. So you're not just helping Otto, you're helping all of our furry pals. Dear JMS: you are an excellent idea-haver. And I love all of my friends for not thinking I'm ridiculous for getting teary over my pup.

Comments

Bobbi Newman said…
My pets are my babies! I totally understand! I'm so glad you got it to work. Hugs for you and Otto
5:11 PM
Anonymous said…
You're so welcome! I hope that dear sweet dog is better soon. And I just consider it as a way to "pay it forward". An opportunity to help out someone I respect as a professional and a person who happens to love her dog as much as I love mine. Weep away!
5:20 PM
Anonymous said…
Good for you for putting your pride aside for your dear friend (I know how hard that can be -- I'd probably rather walk over hot coals than ask for help). Adam and I love Bassets and I recently found out that my favorite Basset (there's even a picture of him in my book) passed away. I wish I could have done something to help him, but I'm very glad we can do a little something for Otto. What a face!

Hope the interview went well. I have my fingers crossed for you!!! :)
6:38 PM
warmaiden said…
I cannot believe how you guys have come through for me - thank you so much. Just knowing that you all have such big hearts and were willing to help helped me fall asleep last night - with otto all curled up on me.

@Meredith - I'm so sorry to hear about your basset buddy passing! If you need bassetude in your life, Otto can lend it *grin* Again, thanks to all. I am about to post about how lovely my people are :)
9:08 AM
Brandi Tuttle said…
i'd love to bask in the otto love! hugs and pennies to you both!
9:19 AM
Allison said…
Aw, poor Otto moose. That face reminds me of when he was just a wee pup. I am sending a bit of money to your PayPal, from me and my favorite golden retriever Mikey. Please give Otto hugs and kisses.
9:38 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

First Impressions & Customer Service Failures

We all know how important first impressions are, right? It's sort of like how Anne McCaffrey's dragons "impress" on new dragonriders-to-be. (Yes, I'm feeling nostalgic with a new herd of freshmen on campus.) First impressions are essential, particularly when you're talking about freshmen, wet behind the ears, completely disoriented and overwhelmed by being at a state school for their first college experience, and stressed out by trying to find their classrooms and last-minute add/drops on their schedule. I usually don't think of them this way, because I'm not a fundraiser or in the alumni office, but the University at large should also think about the fact that these are the kids we hope will call this university 'home' even after they leave. (That could be my small liberal arts college experience shining through, though.) If nothing else, due to UTC's abysmal retention rates, you'd think the entire university would be bending over back...
Read more

Email Lists: A Dose of Common Sense

Let's chat, folks. I know there are tons of things in LibraryLand we could discuss, but for a moment, let's talk about e-mail lists. I know quite a few people (like Griffey ) who think that email lists are the (outdated) devil. I happen to like receiving things in email because I haven't yet figured how to acceptably integrate feedreaders into my life, and I prefer conversations via e-mail than via the comment section of blogs, whcih I never remember to go back and check after I've left some inflammatory comment. Anyway, we can discuss fuddy-duddies like myself and our love of the e-mail later. We need to chat about lists, though. If you've been on the NEWLIB list lately, you likely know why. Lists are good things, if only to keep yourself updated on conversations/arguments/discussion/resource lists that generally make the rounds when people query via email. Lists are very often archived somewhere for future reference, which is super-useful is you know that someo...
Read more

On the Great Myth of the Librarian Grays

Lately, there's been a lot of discussion (and bitching) about the promised graying/retirement within the library profession that was supposed to open up endless job opportunities for new librarians. The LITA-L email list, a recent American Libraries article , and a post by Peter Brantley calling for an overthrow by the young'uns have all been pretty popular topics of late. January 15, 2004, Rachel Singer Gordon published a piece in Library Journal titled "NextGen: Get Over the "Graying" Profession Hype" . I say again: this was 2004. It would appear no one took the advice, given that today - despite very obvious evidence to the contrary, American Libraries just printed an ill-advised article on recruiting undergrads to the profession , citing the graying of the profession as a reason for folks to sign up for library work. Jessamyn West, in her recent post "show us the numbers re: new librarian jobs" , calls for more than the ever-present empty a...
Read more