“Casey” Seabrook

To make a one time donation, or a monthly donation to Small Paws Rescue, you may use your major credit card securely, at this site. Enjoy our user friendly, secure site to make your credit card donations. 

If you’ve made a past donation by credit card, you may e-mail Louie Bertolino at louieb@smallpawsrescue.org to let him know the amount of your donation. If we already have your credit card on file, please e-mail Louie and let him know the amount of your donation. Or give him a call at 337-324-2466 to make a donation. Louie is in MA. on Eastern Time.

We have added our Text-to-Donate feature! It’s simple and secure. You may use any major credit card as well as Google Pay and PAYPAL! Text the number 53555 and type the letters Bichon in the message area. A secure link will come up with simple instructions. After that, you can text a donation of any amount to Small Paws anytime without filling out your information again! We hope you enjoy the ease and security of Text-to-Donate, to help the Bichons!

“Beno” Scheuneman

“Sydney” Irvin

February 12, 2026

Dear Small Pawsers,

We have two new challenges.

What is a Matching Donation Challenge?

First, Janet Bartos at jpbartos@sbcglobal.net, has issued a challenge for $1500.00! Thank you so much, Janet! I’m praying that someone can match you!

“I will issue a $1500 matching challenge which can be matched all at once or by multiple helpers. This sweet little guy sure looks like he is trying. Hope the docs can get him fixed up, so he can have a wonderful normal life soon!

Love to you all who are on the front lines of this battle to save & protect these precious fluffy gifts from above! 

Janet Bartos”

And Louie Bertolino, (You all know Louie!) One of our Board Members, just got an anonymous call. (Not scary. Just anonymous! They identified themselves to him, but they want to remain anonymous and they have issued a challenge for $3000.00!

All I know is that is that everything up to $3000 will be matched!

We also have to neuter him and he is cryptorchid. Of course he is! This kind of neuter requires an abdominal surgery which of course is more expensive.

So this is where we are for Henry! And if we raise enough for Henry, there are 3 others who need help!

All My Love, Robin

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Thursday Morning, February 12, 2026

Dear Small Pawsers,

As you know, little Henry was HBC (Hit by a Car) in January.

This is another excerpt from the neurologist.

“Henry is a 3-year-old intact male Bichon mix presenting for evaluation of hind end ataxia. He is a rescue

currently under the care of a foster. The rescue organization suspected he was hit by a car prior to his rescue

on January 6th, 2026. The foster reports he exhibits hind end weakness, swaying, and will crisscross his hind

limbs. When playing with the three other dogs in the home, he is often knocked over. He attempts to

posture for urination and defecation but then begins to walk, resulting in a trail of urine and feces, but he is

able to hold his bladder and bowels. At times, his back legs will crisscross and become stuck, at which point

he will tremble. He has also been observed to get his hind foot stuck behind his head while scratching his ear

and will remain in that position. The client reports no signs of pain or vocalization. His activity is not limited;

he jumps on and off the couch. He pulls himself with his front limbs and drags his back end, not using his

hind limbs to push off. He was diagnosed with sediment in his urine upon entering foster care. Previous

radiographs have been taken and are available for review. The rescue plans to have him neutered once the

cause of his ataxia is determined.”

As you can see, Henry really needs these tests.

So far, we have raised $1,850.00. We are not yet 1/3 of the way there, yet of the needed $5,964.53 .

We have three matching donation challenges to help us to get there!

What is a Matching Donation Challenge?

First, from Judy De Angelis at judyadea@gmail.com, we have this challenge for $300.00. Thank you so much again, Judy. I hope that someone can match you.

“Hi Robin,

I will issue a $300 matching challenge for Henry. I didn’t want to forget so I sending this email now. 

Thanks for all your hard work. 

Judy DeAngelis 

Sent from my iPhone”

And from Mary Jo Cox at maryjocox@me.com, we have this Valentine’s Day Challenge for $100.00. Thank you so much Mary Jo! Is there anyone who can match Mary Jo?

“In celebration of Valentine’s Day and all the love Small Paws gives to the many bichons that have crossed in our paths. 

I will issue a $100 challenge to help Henry.

Mary Jo”

And from the world famous Mom to Boris Berger, Deborah Berger at normetski@aol.com. we have this challenge for $100.00. Deborah has been with us over 20 years now. Boris is in heaven now, but he will always remain in our hearts. Thank you, Deborah, and I hope someone can match you!

“Hi Robin. Please issue a $100.00 challenge from me!🌺

Sent from my iPhone”

We can’t order these tests until we can pay for them.

Sadly, I need to let you on that a great rescuer and Foster Mom has gone home to be with Jesus.

It was Rae Steebs from Indiana.

Many of you have attended Bichon Bashes that Rae and her husband Don hosted in Valparaiso, IN.

I got a lovely note from her daughter-in-law last evening, along with this obituary, and I want to share it with all of you.

Rae Steeb’s Obituary

Rae loved her dog and she loved Jesus.

Please join me in praying for the comfort of her husband, Don, her children, her grand children and a host of friends, that she leaves behind.

All My Love, Robin

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday Morning February 11, 2026

Dear Small Pawsers,

First of all, welcome to all of our newest readers of the Small Paws® Rescue Newsletter!

Secondly, thank you all so much for your prayers, cards, phone calls and kind messages, last month when our Reagan Pressnall, my own personal 15 1/2 year old Bichon, went to heaven. It meant so very much to Dale and I. Thank you!

I tried to give everyone a rest after the Holidays in regard to Fundraising.

I know that January is a hard month for some of us.

But Henry was hit by a car in January. He is only 3 years old. He has most of his life in front of him. And he’s going to change the life forever, of someone, as soon as we get him put back together.

Henry has weakness in his back end, especially the left side.

One of his back legs ADR. (Actual Veterinary medical term. Acronym for “Ain’t Doin’ Right”.)

Long time Volunteers, Kirk and Vicki Taylor, sprung Henry from a shelter near Dallas.

He was brought there by a Good Sam after they say him get clipped by the car.

At first, he looks really good, especially after wrestling with a 4,000 pound monster with wheels.

Click on the video and listen as Vicki and Kirk talk about the way Henry is walking.

This is what the Neurologist at VCA Dallas Animal Specialty Hospital said about our boy. (Henry, not Kirk.)

ASSESSMENT:

1. Ambulatory mild paraparetic T3-L3 myelopathy with mild cranial lumbar pain – r/o intervertebral

disc herniation vs. inflammatory/infectious vs. neoplasia vs. prior trauma vs. other

2. Cryptorchidism

MEDICATION

1. Gabapentin recommended dosage – 50mg by mouth every 8-12 hours for pain management.

Nerve pain medication that is safe for long term use. May cause sedation or wobbliness.

DISCUSSION

Henry was presented to VCA Dallas Neurology for an abnormal gait int he pelvic limbs since being rescued in

January 2026. On evaluation today, Henry was strongly ambulatory with mild degree of weakness and

incoordination in his pelvic limbs, which was more noticeable in the left pelvic limb. His

proprioception/awareness response was decreased in the left pelvic limb. He was mostly comfortable as he

walked, but he was painful with firm pressure over the cranial lumbar spine. His exam findings are consistent

with a spinal cord lesion in his thoracolumbar spine (T3-L3 myelopathy).

As discussed, potential underlying causes for Henry ’s neurological symptoms include:

– Intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) – disc herniation causing spinal cord compression

– Previous non-compressive spinal cord trauma

– Infectious disorders such as discospondylitis

– Inflammatory disorders such as myelitis/meningitis

– Neoplasia (tumor/cancer) of the spinal cord

To investigate further, advanced imaging (MRI) of Henry’s back would be recommended. MRI is performed

under general anesthesia which carries an inherent risk. Pre-anesthetic testing (i.e. bloodwork) will help

assess for concurrent disease that may affect anesthesia or change our diagnostic/treatment plan.

Depending on the MRI results, we may collect a sample of spinal fluid (which is also done while your pet is

under anesthesia). Treatment options and prognosis is dependent on the results of the MRI +/- spinal fluid.

We will send a cost estimate for the MRI +/- spinal fluid for your information – please call us to schedule if

you are interested in moving forward. We discussed that since Henry’s quality of life and day-to-day activities

are not majorly impacted at this time, the MRI may not change the recommendations for Henry. However,

the MRI can still provide us with useful information regarding Henry’s spinal cord.

Since Henry was painful on palpation of his cranial lumbar spine, gabapentin is recommended to help keep

him comfortable (see above recommended dose).

ACTIVITY RESTRICTION:

Henry should not be allowed to play or jump on and off of furniture, and stairs should be avoided. You may

walk him outside on a harness and leash for a short period (5-10 minutes) several times per day to allow the

opportunity to urinate/defecate only. At all other times, Henry should be kept rested and calm. A chest

harness should be used in place of a neck collar.

VCA Dallas Animal Specialty Hospital

17727 Dallas Parkway Suite 150

Dallas, TX 75287

(972) 267-8300

animaldiagnosticclinic-dallas.com

Client: Rescue Small Paws Rescue (128607) • Henry (74894) • Canine (Bichon Mix) • White • Male, Intact • 3y 1m (06-Jan-2023) • 4.80 kg

Referred by: Briana Arroyo at City Vet – Preston Forest • Provider: Stephanie Chang, DVM • Document date: 10-Feb-2026

Page 1 of 5

And this is the estimate. You guys better sit down. (I’m glad I was when I saw it.)

It’s from $5,186.55 – 5,964.53 (GULP)

I know this is a lot. But as it stands right now, he is not adoptable.

We don’t place dogs when we know something is wrong.

We do everything we can for them, before they go to their forever home.

Why? Because it’s just the right thing to do, both for them, and for their new owners.

I’m hoping we can do this for little Henry, as well.

I’m here and will issue all matching donation challenges.

What is a Matching Donation Challenge?

Thank you for loving these Bichons. They may not be perfect, but man, monkey, or mouse, they are OURS!

All My Love, Robin