Looking for some help for CharlieDog…

[Jennifer Mitol]

So my longtime hiking partner CharlieDog seems to have used up all of his conservative options for dealing with his hip dysplasia, and now it’s time for the orthopedic surgery.  I hope you don’t mind (and please just ignore me if you do…everyone else does!), but I’ve started a GoFundMe campaign to try to help offset the astronomical cost of the hip replacement.

We could do a salvage surgery where they just cut out the ball part of the hip joint, but at his age and his weight the odds of his hiking or running again are not the greatest.  So my vet (who’s not even the surgeon who would take my money….) strongly recommended that we go the hip replacement route.  I have a second opinion with a second surgeon in 2 weeks, but in the meantime I’m trying to see if I can scrounge up enough to help pay for his surgery.  The hip replacement would basically give him his life back – the surgeon said he could run and hike and even backpack again if we did it.

So for those who are interested…please visit my GoFundMe page….and no, there is no Hiking with Dogs A-Z or Learning to Packraft with a Handicapped Dog DVD for sale.  This is just me blatantly fundraising.

Peace,

CharlieDog Needs a New Hip!

[d k]

Jen,

You have been so generous with your knowledge and advice as a physical therapist (and as a knowledgeable backpacker) on this site; I hope that we in this community who have benefited from your presence will help out and give back a little, and help Charlie Dog to get what he needs!

[Casey Bowden]

+1 to what DK said. Glad to help out.

[Jennifer Mitol]

aw, you guys…..

sniff, sniff……..

Charlie is going to be so happy to get back out hiking again!!!!!!!!

[Matthew / BPL]

Contributed and shared with other hiker/dog people I know. :)

[Gary Dunckel]

C’mon, you guys and gals–let’s get those PayPal gifts happening. Go Chuck, go Chuck, go Chuck!

[d k]

Free bump!  ;-)

[Jennifer Mitol]

Wow you guys…I’ve passed $2500!!!!  Well on our way to being able to afford the actual hip replacement!!!

I know I keep saying this, but I am SO moved by everyone’s generosity and kind words!  I am so excited about Charlie being able to go on more backpacking trips with me in the future!!  I just assumed we were finished for good – and he’s only 8 – but thanks to all of you, now we can go together again!!!!!

You guys are amazing!!!!!

[Mercedes Clemens]

Good luck to CharlieDog!! Hoping he’s romping with you on the trail soon!

[Jennifer Mitol]

Just wanted to again thank everyone, and send along an update.  Thanks to SO MUCH GENEROSITY here, Charlie now has more than $3,000 in his surgery fund!  WOO HOO!!!!!

We are meeting with the surgeon on Monday, and ideally scheduling the hip replacement as soon as possible.

Thank you all again, the outpouring of support and well-wishes has just been so amazing I’ve been moved to near tears many, many times in this past 10 days.  You guys simply ROCK!

 

[BlackHatGuy]

There will be no crying in the forums!

[Jennifer Mitol]

Wanted to give everyone an update – Charlie gets his new hip on Thursday!!!!!!

Thanks to all of you Chuckles will be able to get the replacement and be back on the hiking trails by summer!

I’m so nervous, and grateful, and excited…all at the same time…..

Surgery is scheduled for 8a on Thursday.  Fingers crossed!

 

[Ken Thompson]

Best wishes!

[Jennifer Mitol]

They had to give him a lot of drugs in order to take the X-rays today that they needed (very precise for surgical planning)…then they had to REALLY move those hips around even after they knocked him out.  Not so sure he had a very good day….

 

[BlackHatGuy]

Looks like me after a few too many scotches. Except I’m much fatter. And not quite as cute.

[Matthew / BPL]

Speedy recovery Charliedog!

[Mercedes Clemens]

He definitely looks like he needs to sleep it off. ;-)

Very excited for you both!! Here’s to an uneventful surgery and speedy recovery!

[Jennifer Mitol]

And Charlie is home safe and sound!  The surgery went REALLY well, and he’s barely even limping!  I think the hard part is keeping him quiet for the next 2 months.  He REALLY, REALLY wanted to go play in the river behind my house…..

But inside he’s chillaxing and happy being home.  WITHOUT a cone of shame…(yet…)

[d k]

Great news – I was wondering how soon we’d hear from you after the surgery.  Here’s hoping for an uneventful and speedy recovery!

[George F]

Thats great Jen, glad it went well. Keep us posted with pictures and be patient with the recovery time.

[DancingBear]

That’s great!  Get well soon, Charliedog!

[DAN-Y]

Looks bright eyed and bushy tailed :-) He’ll do just fine! You also ;-)

[Jennifer Mitol]

Thanks again everyone for the moral (and financial!) support!  I’m not sure i could have done it without all my BPL peeps cheering me on – my own family was quite aghast at the cost and kept using phrases like “well Jen, he’s…a dog…”

But thanks to all of you guys I get my backpacking buddy back!

 

 

[Bob Moulder]

That’s the best thing about dogs – they’re not drama queens!

Just had major surgery, more than a little sore!, hips all shaved and stitched and looking pretty funky, still a little groggy… whatever, Let’s Play!!! ;^)

 

 

[Jennifer Mitol]

Seriously.  Our walk this morning?  Straight to the garage…to get in the car to go somewhere.  He was not happy when I wouldn’t open the garage door….

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