Sweet Rescue Dog Gets Pacemaker In Mission Viejo: How To Help

MISSION VIEJO, CA — A one-year-old pup from Riverside has a new lease on life, after the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center and nonprofit DAWG paid for a lifesaving pacemaker for rescue pup Daisy Duke this January.

Daisy Duke was diagnosed with a third degree atrioventricular (AV) block in her heart, a condition that occurs when electrical impulses from the heart's upper chambers don't travel normally to the lower chambers, causing a slow heart rate, pooling of blood in the heart, and an enlargement of the heart.

Daisy was referred to cardiologist Dr. SeungWoo Jung at Echo Vet Cardio in Tustin. After several more tests, it was confirmed that Daisy would require a pacemaker to save her life.

While the diagnosis and major surgery was the first of its kind for MVAS, a significant discount given by Dr. Jung allowed for the purchase.

"Although still a very large amount, Dr. Jung assured us this surgery would give Daisy Duke a totally normal life," Animal Services Director Brynn Lavison told Patch. "Thankfully, MVAS has an amazing nonprofit — Dedicated Animal Welfare Group — which raises money for situations like this, and the group did not hesitate to pay for her surgery."

Daisy Duke's pacemaker was implanted on Jan. 16, and she is recovering smoothly, Lavison said.

"We are grateful to Dr. Jung and his staff for taking such great care of Daisy Duke, ensuring she will have a bright future — but most of all, we have to thank DAWG and the group's amazing donors for making this possible," she said.

DAWG is now accepting donations towards Daisy Duke’s surgery bill. For more information, or to donate to support her surgery, visit DAWG.org.