Statesman Season for Caring, Firehouse Animal Health Centers donates $10,000 in veterinary care

Three months ago, 11-year-old Lamar Batts was taking his puppy Versace to the bathroom in the middle of the night and dropped him.

Versace, a long-haired Chihuahua mix, broke one of his front paws near his shoulder. Batts’ mother, Caitlin Coker, took Versace to a vet and was told Versace needed a $3,500 operation.

It was not something Coker could afford. She and her three boys had taken in her grandmother, Diana Sneed, and her cousins ​​Jalija, 9, and Seraiyah, 5, in July after their East Austin home burned down.

In November, Coker was able to take Versace and his brother, Chi-Chi, for a checkup and a look at Versace’s leg at the Firehouse Animal Health Center in Round Rock.

The five Firehouse Animal Health Center locations donated $10,000 in veterinary care to star families in Statesman Season for Caring. This year they will look after the two dogs from Coker, as well as the dogs Tookie, Leyla and Venus from the Gaston-Ellis family; Cheryl Selby’s dog, Freddy; the Riveras’ dog, Bella, and cat, Elijah; and Judy Silva’s dog, JJ.

This is the fifth year that Firehouse Animal Health Centers has contributed $10,000 in care to the Statesman Program, which helps featured families nominated by local nonprofits, along with hundreds of other Central Texas families. served by these non-profit organizations.

Inside the program:How to Help Families with the Statesman Season for Caring Program

“We give because pets bring joy to their humans and offer support in difficult times. That’s what draws us to Season for Caring every year,” said Adan Davila, director of Firehouse Belterra Hospital near Dripping Springs.

Coker had a long list of things that worried her about her dogs. For Versace, who is 7 months old, she was worried about her foot, which sometimes makes her limp, as well as a bump on her stomach. On 2-year-old Chi-Chi, she worried about whether he had any lasting effects from parvo, as well as stinky breath. She also wanted to talk about flea prevention.

Dr. Sean Quintana examined both dogs, gave them their routine vaccinations and heartworm prevention, and took x-rays of Versace’s leg.

There was good news all around. Versace’s foot heals on its own and surgery to straighten it is no longer necessary.

“It makes me feel better,” Coker said.

Give now:Donate to Statesman Season for Caring

She said she had originally considered giving Versace to someone who could afford the operation, but she said “no one would take it. In my mind, God says hold him back and help him. “.

She noticed that Versace can now run as fast as Chichi and doesn’t seem to let the leg slow him down. They’ll just need to watch for arthritis in that leg as he gets older and treat it if it happens.

Firehouse will also schedule the sterilization of Versace.

Chi-Chi didn’t need oral care, but Quintana offered some tips on what kind of treats she could give her to help get rid of the funky breath.

They left with flea medicine and new balls from Firehouse.

“Thank you very much everyone,” Coker told the staff after hearing all the good news.

It was a relief for Coker, who is now the primary caregiver for her sons, two cousins ​​and their grandmother.

“I’m only 30 and it’s hard to take care of all six of them,” she said. Meals on Wheels Central Texas, the nonprofit that nominated them to Season for Caring, helped a lot, Coker said.

About the Sneed family:Season for Caring, Diana Sneed: Grandmother rebuilds after house fire

The Sneed family also needs help with rent and utilities; a lawyer to help advise on rebuilding the house; a sofa (preferably red); window blinds and curtains; a washer and dryer; a laptop; and gift cards for HEB, Target and Walmart.

To learn more about the Sneed family or to fulfill an item on their wish list, contact Meals on Wheels Central Texas at 512-476-6325 or mealonwheelscentraltexas.org. Their online wishlist is available on Amazon and Walmart.

Donate to Statesman Season for Caring

Until Christmas, the Sheth family matches up to $500,000 in donations.

Learn more about Season for Caring, read the stories of the featured families, and donate to statesman.com/seasonforcaring. You can also find a coupon and mail a donation to Page 2B.