Please help little Olive receive critically needed heart surgery to survive.Like Tiny Tim in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol who won’t survive to see another Christmas unless the Cratchit family can afford his critically needed medical treatment, little Olive won’t survive unless she undergoes immediate heart surgery.

When one of our tenderhearted volunteers found Olive abandoned, she could not resist helping her. We were able to take her under our wing since our volunteer could provide a foster home until Olive can find her forever home. Unfortunately her routine vet check, that we provide for all our rescues, revealed Olive is suffering from heart troubles.

A consult with Cardiologist Dr. Houston from VCA Emergency in Mission Valley, determined that Olive needs immediate corrective heart surgery in order to survive. So today, on Christmas Eve, little 6.5 pound, 8 week old Olive will undergo heart surgery by Dr. Mike Serdy at the Pet Emergency Specialty Center in La Mesa. Dr. Serdy has already given Olive one Christmas present by agreeing to cut his normal fee in half to help save her life.

Please help us help little Olive so that she can live to see another Christmas. If you hold warm little Olive on your lap you can feel her heart fluttering. But when you look into her eyes and she tries to lick your nose, you realize that Olive has no idea how dire her circumstances are.

Olive’s cardiology consult, surgery and post-operative care will total $3,000. Olive sends puppy kisses to all her supporters, and sends special kisses to Margaret for donating $500, which paid for Olive’s cardiologist visit yesterday! Thank you Margaret, and everyone. Even the smallest donation will help Olive get well!

Donate now to help little Olive

UPDATE: 12.24.09: 2:00 pm – Olive is out of surgery and recovering! Her surgery went well and we expect her to return to her foster home in time to stream live on ustream.com at 1:00 pm PST on Sunday! UPDATE: 12.25.09: 2:00 pm – Olive may have to spend another night in the emergency hospital to control her pain. Her medical bills are now reaching $4,000. Please help Olive if you can, every little bit helps!