Kona to see again!

Many of you have met our sweet Kona girl, gotten a hug or kiss or snuggle from her, and have witnessed her journey. We are asking for others to join us on her journey and reclaim Kona’s quality of life through sight again, thank you for your support!

In January 2022, Kona was diagnosed with canine diabetes after a short run of steroids to treat an aural hematoma injury. We were hopeful that Kona’s diabetes would be temporary since she was young, strong, and healthy. However, diabetes is a life sentence for canines and Labradors are notoriously susceptible to it. This diagnosis was incredibly difficult to accept, esp. since our beloved Lori (Kona’s favorite auntie) also received a cancer diagnosis about the same time. We had to say goodbye to Lori in this life about 6 weeks later.

Within a few months, diabetic cataracts had formed and Kona was losing her vision. 2 years later, Kona’s diabetes is well managed and she is enjoying life close to her people. Her quality of life has greatly diminished though. She has completely lost her vision and is often anxious or confused and developed a frustrating barking habit. Kona loved adventurous hikes, swimming, playing fetch, and being everybody’s best friend. Now, she is not able to go out beyond her home or neighborhood without much stress and difficulty. Kona got diabetes at age 6, and still at age 8, has a lot of life to be lived with her family that love her dearly.

Cataract removal surgery with new artificial lens is a common surgery for dogs with diabetes, and Kona is an excellent candidate because she is younger, strong, healthy and has no other eye problems. We have incredibly skilled canine ophthalmologists in town who can perform surgery this summer so Kona could be swimming and hiking again before the season’s end. The only hurdle is the $5,400 surgery cost.

We felt compelled to reach out to our dog loving community and Kona’s favorite human friends to invite you to help Kona see again through joining in our fundraising efforts for this surgery expense. Every donation to Kona’s cause helps us reach our goal and bring sight and abundant life back to Kona. Thank you for your generosity and compassionate contributions to Kona!