Dog Squad

06/01/2026

We don’t know Katie Mae personally, but we do know the incredible people at Battle Buddies and the life-changing work they do for our veterans.

Katie Mae is a service dog trained through Battle Buddies. She was attacked by a bear in her own backyard in Black Mountain, NC, and is currently receiving emergency treatment at VEG.

Service dogs are more than pets. They are partners, protectors, and lifelines for the people who depend on them every single day.

Our hearts are with Katie Mae, her veteran, and everyone who loves her as they navigate this unimaginable situation.

If you are in a position to help, please consider making a donation toward Katie Mae’s medical care. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps ease the burden and allows the focus to remain where it belongs—on her recovery.

Please also keep Katie Mae in your thoughts as she fights to heal. ❤️‍🩹

🚨 **URGENT: Please help our sweet girl, Katie Mae.** 🚨

As an Air Force veteran, Katie Mae isn’t just our family’s Golden Retriever—she is my lifeline and dedicated service dog. Tragically, she was attacked and bitten by a bear right here in Black Mountain and had to be rushed to VEG for life-saving emergency care.

We’ve set up a fundraiser to help cover her critical medical expenses. Any donation, no matter how small, means the absolute world to our family. If you aren't in a position to donate right now, simply sharing this post with your friends would be a massive blessing.

🔗 **The official link to donate is in my bio and below.** Thank you so much for your love, prayers, and support. 🙏🐾

https://battlebuddiescarolinas.org/?form=FUNMFYGJTWK&fundraiser=NVPJJYEF&fbclid=Iwb21leASJcSljbGNrBIlw_WV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHqLjZESwJyM_KgG0hR7IOXU5setggM2oslAGUB0E8UB9mgS1GxWv6TExN43w_aem_oE_TSwkK86CI2F_TQUvW6w&sharingVendor=facebook&utm_id=97757_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1demoo11khly3

DogFundraiser BlackMountainNC VeteranSupport DogsofInstagram

05/31/2026

There’s a new Squad Mentor.

I’ve started this post at least twenty times.

Because how do you explain something that didn’t happen all at once?

How do you explain a dog becoming family?

Not the day they arrive.
Not the day you decide.

But over hundreds of ordinary moments that slowly become impossible to imagine living without.

And honestly, we’re not sure there was ever another ending to this story.

We just spent a really long time pretending there might be.

Because loving a dog and keeping a dog are two very different things.

Love is easy.

Commitment is expensive.
Commitment means saying yes to the future.

To the emergencies.
To the unknowns.

And when that dog weighs 150 lbs and already comes with enough medical baggage to make your wallet spontaneously combust, you don’t make that decision lightly.

He arrived shortly after Hurricane Helene. A giant dog who was terrified of being indoors. A dog who didn’t understand couches. Or televisions.

A dog who slowly, quietly, worked his way into every corner of our lives.

We resisted this harder than you know.

We told ourselves every reason why it wasn’t practical.

Then we took him to Kansas City.

He became the first foster dog we ever brought on a road trip, and somewhere between SC and KC, we realized something we weren’t ready to admit:

We weren’t wondering if someone would adopt him.

We were wondering what our lives would look like without him.

And the answer crushed us.
Because we couldn’t picture it anymore.

He greets children like they’re made of glass. He leans into strangers as if they’ve been friends for years. He has this quiet, steady presence that makes people feel comfortable immediately.

And wherever Yeti goes, joy seems to follow.

He just has this rare way of making every person around him feel a little happier, a little calmer, and a little more loved.

Yeti is truly the best dog.

And the truth is, Yeti was never just passing through.

He was building a life here while we were busy convincing ourselves he wasn’t.

So today, we’re making it official.

Welcome home, Yeti. 🤍

05/30/2026

🧬 Bert’s DNA results are in…

And honestly? The results did not disappoint. 😂

At absolutely no surprise to us, Bert is related to Squad alum Atticus. The relationship is distant, but the fact that they’re related at all has us both laughing and rolling our eyes. Some things just make too much sense.

But here’s where things get interesting…

Bert matched with his mama! 🥹

Her name is Zelda, she’s 7 years old, and she lives in Charlotte, NC. Does anyone recognize her? We would absolutely love to connect with Zelda’s family and see if we can piece together more of Bert’s story and how he ended up where he did.

And that’s not all…

Bert also matched with his daughter, Prax, who lives in Pennsylvania. ❤️

Just look at those eyes. She definitely got her daddy’s soulful expression.

Do any of our followers recognize Prax or know her family? The dog world can be surprisingly small, and we’d love to see if we can connect the dots.

One of our favorite things about running Wisdom Panels on our fosters is uncovering little pieces of their history that would otherwise remain a mystery. Every match tells part of a story.

We still have quite a few Squad fosters left to test:
🧬 Bridge
🧬 Mya
🧬 Alfie
🧬 Maverick
🧬 Lucy
🧬 Buster Brown
🧬 Hazel Grace

Who should be next?! 👀

05/30/2026

Everything Bert is in this video… is exactly who Bert is now. 🥹

05/29/2026

⚠️ THIS IS YOUR REMINDER THAT NOT ALL WATER IS SAFE FOR DOGS. ⚠️

As the temperatures climb, we’re going to start seeing more and more photos of dogs swimming in lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams.

There is nothing cuter than a happy dog launching themselves into the water on a hot summer day.

But there is something every dog owner needs to know before they toss that tennis ball.

🚨 Blue-Green Algae can K*LL a dog. 🚨

Not make them a little sick.

Not give them an upset stomach.

K*LL them.

And sometimes it happens frighteningly fast.

The scary thing about Blue-Green Algae (also called Cyanobacteria) is that it doesn’t always look dangerous. Sometimes it looks like harmless pond scum. Sometimes it just looks like stagnant water. Sometimes you don’t notice it at all until your dog is already exposed.

Dogs can be poisoned by:
• Drinking contaminated water
• Swimming in contaminated water
• Licking the water off their fur afterward
• Eating algae along the shoreline

Symptoms can include:
⚠️ Vomiting
⚠️ Excessive drooling
⚠️ Weakness
⚠️ Difficulty walking
⚠️ Seizures
⚠️ Collapse
⚠️ Sudden death

If you think your dog may have been exposed, rinse them immediately with clean water and contact a veterinarian right away. Time matters.

And before anyone thinks, “That doesn’t happen around here…”

⚠️ Blue-Green Algae has already been detected in Lake Hartwell this week. ⚠️

That’s right here in our backyard.

The truth is that most of us don’t think twice before letting our dogs jump into a pond or lake. We see water and assume it’s safe.

Unfortunately, water can be hiding dangers we can’t see.

This isn’t meant to scare you away from adventures with your dog. We want dogs to hike, swim, explore, and live full lives.

We just want you to know what to watch for.

Before your next lake day:
✔️ Check for algae bloom advisories
✔️ Avoid water that looks discolored, foamy, slimy, or smells foul
✔️ Bring fresh drinking water
✔️ Don’t let your dog drink from lakes or ponds
✔️ Rinse your dog after swimming
✔️ When in doubt, skip the swim

A few minutes of caution is worth a lifetime with your dog.

🚨 Blue-Green Algae has already been detected at Lake Hartwell this season. WYFF News 4 recently reported a water hazard alert due to harmful algal blooms:
https://www.wyff4.com/article/lake-hartwell-harmful-algae-bloom-water-hazard-alert/64639917

👇🏼 Check for current advisories here:
• South Carolina: https://des.sc.gov/programs/bureau-water/aquatic-science/harmful-algal-blooms
• North Carolina: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-sciences/ecosystems-branch/algal-blooms

Sources: CDC | SCDHEC | ASPCApro

05/29/2026

There is something deeply unfair about a dog like Buster Brown.

Because when you meet him, all you see is sweetness.

You see the constant tail wag.

You hear the little grumbly moans he makes when he wants you to rub his backside.

You watch him lean into affection with his entire body, desperate to be close to people.

What you don’t immediately see is how much pain he’s been carrying.

Yesterday was Buster Brown’s first appointment at and while he was the best boy, the reality of what his body is fighting became even clearer.

Despite a week of meds, his ears still look terrible. They are inflamed, painful, and so sensitive that even gentle handling is uncomfortable for him. Dr. Stauffer cultured his ears, and we should have results next week so we can determine the next course of treatment.

The small mass on his leg contained mast cells, but thankfully she does not believe it appears to be the bad type. She suspects that much of what we’re seeing is connected to the severe inflammation affecting his entire body.

His skin is inflamed.
His ears are inflamed.
His body is inflamed.

Imagine feeling itchy, uncomfortable, and in pain every single day and never being able to explain it to anyone.

Buster Brown is starting on a strong course of Prednisone in hopes of finally giving him some relief.

Since his last update, one of his teeth simply fell out.

Because the tooth was so diseased and infected that it could no longer stay attached.

Once his body is healthier and the inflammation is under better control, he will need a dental. His leg mass will also be removed while he is under anesthesia.

Sometimes rescue is celebrating a dog finding a forever home.

Sometimes rescue is sitting in an exam room looking at a dog who has clearly been uncomfortable for a very long time and promising him that things are finally going to be different.

Yesterday’s vet bill was $460.70 after rescue discount.

If you’d like to help us continue giving Buster Brown the medical care he deserves, we would be incredibly grateful.

🤍 Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/DogSquadSC

🤍 PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/JYLN6JDMDY4KW

🤍 Credit/debit: https://www.clover.com/pay-widgets/228df2c8-c989-4c4c-8ee1-c43a1acfb3c8

05/28/2026

‼️ WE ARE DESPERATE FOR YOUR HELP RIGHT NOW. 🚨

I honestly don’t know a better way to say it.

Somehow, in the middle of everything, we overlooked what we still owed for Bert’s hospitalization. That is completely on us — not VEG.

When Bert came into rescue with a shattered femur from a gunshot wound, everything moved fast. We were trying to keep him alive while also balancing Lucy’s critical care and Betty’s emergency care. We immediately put down $5,000 at VEG and shifted our focus to getting Bert transferred to Fetch for surgery.

And somewhere in the chaos… we failed to realize there was still a balance remaining at VEG. 😩

We are embarrassed even writing this.

We pride ourselves on never leaving veterinary bills hanging. But right now, we are drowning.

Bert’s hospitalization at VEG alone totaled $11,294.47 before rescue discount. Here’s what we’ve paid so far for Bert alone:

VEG: $5,000
Fetch: $7,103.09
Fetch: $510.85

🚨 But we still owe VEG $3,470.85. 🚨

That is what we desperately need help raising right now to clear this balance.

In the last 90 days alone, Dog Squad has spent $49,387 on veterinary care. The first part of the year was unusually slow… but these past three months have absolutely gutted us.

We cannot continue doing this without your help.

Bert’s first round of heartworm treatment is scheduled for June 12th, which will add another estimated $1,612.56–$1,900.56 in medical expenses.

Every donation — no matter how small — truly matters right now. If everyone reading this gave even a few dollars, it would make an enormous difference.

And if you aren’t in a place to donate right now, you can make a significant impact by simply sharing this post. 🙏🏼

All donations are tax-deductible.

❤️‍🩹 Venmo: DogSquadSC (under the “charities” tab)
https://www.venmo.com/u/DogSquadSC

❤️‍🩹 PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/JYLN6JDMDY4KW

❤️‍🩹 Credit/debit: https://www.clover.com/pay-widgets/228df2c8-c989-4c4c-8ee1-c43a1acfb3c8

Thank you for continuing to stand beside us, even during the hard moments like this one.

05/28/2026

We had 3 foster vet appointments yesterday at and another today for Buster Brown. These bills add up quickly, and honestly, we are begging for help to keep Dog Squad afloat right now. 😩

👉🏼Lucy: $264.15
Lucy had her glucose curve test yesterday. She stayed at the vet all day so they could monitor how her glucose rises and falls throughout the day. Unfortunately, her glucose never really came down. Her lowest reading was still around 350.

For diabetic dogs, insulin should gradually lower their blood sugar throughout the day, with their lowest numbers typically occurring before their next meal. After overnight fasting overnight, her glucose reading was 452. It’s baffling because on the outside, Lucy is doing SO much better. Her personality is shining through. She’s spunky, playful, obsessed with her ball, and acting like she finally feels good again. But her blood sugar is still far too high.

At this time, her doctors are holding off on adjusting her insulin until Riverside consults with Dr. Dunn, Lucy’s internal medicine specialist at Fetch, to determine the safest next steps.

👉🏼Hazel Grace: $177.37
Hazel Grace also stopped by Riverside yesterday after developing explosive diarrhea. Given all the recent rain, they tested for giardia and ran a f***l panel. While we wait for results, she’ll be on GI prescription food and probiotics to help keep her comfortable.

👉🏼Bert: $350.56
Bert established care yesterday and was the BEST boy. He let the staff poke and prod him without complaint and soaked up all the love and attention. He’s being dewormed again due to ongoing hookworms. Bert is scheduled to begin heartworm treatment on June 12th.

And today, Buster Brown heads to Riverside Vet for a thorough examination. We don’t have that bill yet, but we will share it as soon as we receive it.

‼️ We need your help. Every single donation helps us continue saying yes to dogs who need medical care, treatment, and a safe place to land. 🙏🏼

All donations are tax-deductible, and no amount is too small to make an impact.

❤️‍🩹 Venmo: DogSquadSC (under the “charities” tab)
https://www.venmo.com/u/DogSquadSC

❤️‍🩹 PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/JYLN6JDMDY4KW

❤️‍🩹 Credit/debit: https://www.clover.com/pay-widgets/228df2c8-c989-4c4c-8ee1-c43a1acfb3c8

05/27/2026

Part 2 on Education of the Great Pyrenees.