TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Imagine the heartbreak of watching your beloved pet struggle for breath. Now, imagine finding a solution that not only alleviates their suffering but also extends their precious lives – even for just a little while longer.

This is the reality for many pet owners thanks to homemade oxygen crates, a lifesaving and creative innovation that has garnered attention and gratitude from pet owners around the world. Suzanne Weiler a native of Traverse City, the pioneer behind this initiative, has been a beacon of hope for many pet owners over the past 12 years.

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An initial story written about Weiler’s beloved Maltese Basil and his struggle with congestive heart failure back in 2012 by Pet Friends Magazine led Weiler to be inundated with emails and requests on how to build the crates. In 2015, in an update, Weiller wrote about the many people who have contacted her over the years and how the crates prolonged the lives of their pets.

Global pleas for pet comfort pour in: desperation and love unite pet owners worldwide.

Weiler noted in her update the incredible correspondence with pet owners that she had received and forwarded many additional letters to Michigan News Source from people who had sick dogs, cats, bunnies and even birds. Weiler said, “These people are desperate to provide comfort for their beloved pets. Some pet owners are more verbal about their desperation than others, but all are faced with pet diagnoses that are terminal.”

These pet owners who have contacted Weiler have come from all over the world including the U.S., Turkey, South America, Singapore, Asia, Afghanistan and many other countries. Weiler commented, “Regardless of where the pet owner is from, one thing has been consistent: the love and desperation to provide for their pet.”

Navigating pet care: sharing personal experiences and offering empathy.

Weiler said about her communications with the pet owners, “Since I am not a veterinarian, I am careful not to prescribe but only to share what I did for our pet. Many people are reaching out for an answer; I remind pet owners that the oxygen tent might be a treatment, but is not a cure. Even though I don’t have the answer I can provide empathy for their situation, the feeling of helplessness, wanting to do SOMETHING to help your beloved pet, yet realizing the inevitability of the diagnosis.”

Catching up with Weiler on her journey.

Fast forward to today, when we caught up with Weiler to discuss the incredible journey she has experienced since the first article was published.

Question: How much contact do you get now from pet owners concerning the oxygen crates? In the average month, how many people contact you and where are they from?

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Weiler: I changed my email a year ago, so I haven’t gotten any recently, but prior to that, I was getting about 2-4 requests per month from all over the world. When the first article was published, I got 3-4 weekly. Some inquirers lived in such remote areas that there were no veterinarians.

Weiler’s new email address, which she has generously provided, is now suzmark22@yahoo.com.

Question: The article that you wrote in 2015 has had over 20,000 views. What do you think about that?

Weiler: Wonderful! Our Basil left us too soon, so helping to provide information to other caring pet owners helps his loss. The article highlighted many ways that pet owners were caring for their critical special needs pets; good examples to have available. Just because a creature develops a condition doesn’t mean he/she should be put to sleep. Increasingly we are seeing creatures in wheelchairs, with artificial legs/wings/beaks/etc. I have been following one dog born deaf, how the rescue organization provided training, how he learned, his abilities, and how he is growing! Now I’m following the family who adopted the dog, whose name is Echo, and he lives in Michigan! We need to keep those positive examples visible.

Question: What kind of questions do pet owners ask you when they contact you?

Weiler: They want to know how/where to get oxygen, how much to provide. That is the main concern since I provide them with a series of photos on how to make the O2 crate. Sometimes I can feel the love and pain of the pet owner. Their concern, strength in not wanting to give up, desperation, willingness to think outside the box to save their furry family member. Occasionally, I have had to help them face the inevitable, that their beloved pet has an incurable condition, and even an oxygen crate cannot change that. In a case like this, I become a hand holder with the same experience.

I was most blessed with a vet who supported my efforts and provided a prescription for oxygen. He was interested in my efforts, gave feedback, and supported me. When I got to the oxygen company, they told me I was not their first customer getting O2 for their dog! They were most helpful in giving me tips about how to keep the oxygen contained in the crate while still allowing for air exchange. How much to administer was based on the size of the crate and weight of the dog. There is a formula for that. How long to leave him in the crate at any given time. And to never leave him unattended! Some of this is individualized, and I cannot help with that.

We put the crate in the living room, so I could monitor him as I went about daily living. In the evening, he was with us watching TV. We started with 10-15 minutes at a time, and as he became more comfortable with that new environment, we increased it to 1 – 11⁄2 hours at a time. He did not sleep all night in the crate since I would not be able to monitor him. He did okay while resting.

A lifeline for pets: the story of oxygen crates.

Weiler’s oxygen crates and her support of pet owners dealing with heartbreaking diagnoses, have not only saved countless pet lives but have also created a supportive community of pet owners dedicated to providing the best care possible for their furry friends. Her tireless efforts and compassionate guidance continue to inspire and assist pet owners worldwide, ensuring that every pet has a fighting chance for a better, healthier life.