Murphy's Hip
Donation protected
January 1, 2021: Murphy, my rescue dog and great friend
Hip replacement surgery when funds are available.
In August of 2020 I adopted a rescue dog from a rescue and adoption agency in Annapolis, Maryland operated by a wonderful person, Sevil, and her family from Turkey. He is an Anatolian shepherd mix and is approximately two years old. His name is Murphy and was approximately four weeks old when he was rescued in the hills of northern Turkey in November 2019. Wonderful volunteers in the area take it upon themselves to feed as many of the stray animals on a regular basis as they can. In that area there are so many stray and abandoned dogs, it is nearly impossible to care for them all. Heavy snowfall and strong winds sometimes makes it impossible to drive to the dogs to feed them, but they try.
As noted above, at around four weeks of age, Murphy was found with other dogs trying to survive in the deep snow and harsh conditions with other dogs. If help wasn’t there on time, he wasn’t going to be able to survive. He was so small; was shivering and was having a hard time staying on the surface of the snow. A very short video clip we were given by the rescuers taken by flashlight and cell phone shows him in the falling snow lifting one paw off the snow after the other trying to keep his legs from freezing. Ultimately, all of his legs were affected by the cold but, through the efforts of the rescuers, three of them survived just fine without having any problems. Sadly, his rear left hip was not functioning property due to the freezing conditions he endured and, it was discovered that it was also dislocated.
The rescuers in Turkey contacted Sevil in Annapolis discussed how best to proceed with Murphy. Options provided by veterinary staff at the time were to amputate the leg or perform hip replacement surgery. Amputation was ruled out immediately and hip replacement was decided to be the preferred way forward, particularly after what the boy had endured to just get to four weeks of age. After deciding on the hip replacement, the rescuers had to wait until Murphy was at least one year old to allow for the bones to properly develop to be able to handle the surgery. In the meantime, he was flown from Turkey to Sevil in Annapolis and, through the ensuing 11-months of development the rescuers had him on restricted exercise and pain management therapy.
When the time came, the Sevil and colleagues in Annapolis chose to send Murphy back to Turkey for the hip replacement. It was a tough surgery compounded by the fact that the artificial ball to artificial cup (socket) distance turned out to be farther apart than anticipated. The spacing had become greater during his early development. Regardless, the surgery was performed and was deemed a success despite the difficult process of getting the proper spacing between the ball and socket arrangement of the hip. The veterinary orthopedist did explain to the rescuers that there were future risks such as recurrence of the hip displacement or not getting the proper recovery as Murphy moved through adolescence and into adulthood. Reiterating, it was a hard process to bring the hip joint together. He stayed with family members of the Annapolis rescue agency in Turkey through his long recovery and therapy period; all seemed well.
I had been looking for a dog friend to adopt and watched rescueme.org very faithfully. I found Murphy on the site in February 2020 and called Sevil at her Annapolis agency about him. Murphy was just finishing his therapy in Turkey for the hip replacement and was scheduled to fly home to Annapolis in March. COVID-19 was loosed on the world at the same time and all international flights were cancelled and he was not able to come to the States. Sevil and I kept in touch and, in August 2020, flights resumed and I was able to get him. Sevil and her mother picked him up at Dulles Airport on a Thursday and we met the next day in the parking lot of a Hartford, Connecticut shopping center for the introductions. It was love at first sight!
Some of Murphy’s traits that he had or developed since I brought him home include: Being a bed hog, a fussy eater, will first give you a kiss with his cold nose then eventually with a touch of his tongue on your cheek as he warms up to you, loves to run albeit on three legs for the time being, is very patient, is also quite stubborn and, is very loving. He will look at deer and wild turkeys with wonder, not barking, then, when his curiosity is filled, he will move on.
I kept in touch with Sevil about Murphy’s getting used to me and the area, and his health. I can take him into a wooded area behind my house, take him off leash and let him run and can he ever run! Sadly, after eight to 10 weeks he developed a limp in the leg with the new hip. Visits to my local vet and an orthopedist vet in southern Maine revealed that the cup (socket) in the hip had moved and was causing Murphy pain if he put pressure down on it by using his leg. As a result, he carries it off the ground and only touches the ground with it every third or fourth step. The orthopedist examined Murphy and took a number of x-rays which showed the problem and recommended that the hip replacement should be performed again.
Before first hip replacement. Image shows dislocated hip
After first hip replacement surgery. Image shows hip socket implant failed.
I contacted Sevil who in turn contacted an Annapolis-based veterinary orthopedist who, after reviewing the information provided to him by the orthopedist in Maine, agreed that the hip should be replaced again only with a different size as compared to the current one to avoid future complications.
Even with the Annapolis vet agreeing to help us with costs, Murphy’s consultation, the surgery itself, follow-up therapy visits, any necessary medications and my living expenses during his post-operation recovery and therapy puts the costs at approximately $12,000. With your help, we can raise enough funds for his surgery related costs. This Sweet boy went through a lot. We will not choose the easy way out by to amputating his leg – he will have a new hip replacement regardless of how we pay for it. He is a fighter, he will get thru the surgery again and this time better. Will you be able to help this cutie pie to have his hip back so he can run and play again without any pain! Please share with your friends.
Thank you very much for your consideration of donating to Murphy’s surgery.
Hip replacement surgery when funds are available.
In August of 2020 I adopted a rescue dog from a rescue and adoption agency in Annapolis, Maryland operated by a wonderful person, Sevil, and her family from Turkey. He is an Anatolian shepherd mix and is approximately two years old. His name is Murphy and was approximately four weeks old when he was rescued in the hills of northern Turkey in November 2019. Wonderful volunteers in the area take it upon themselves to feed as many of the stray animals on a regular basis as they can. In that area there are so many stray and abandoned dogs, it is nearly impossible to care for them all. Heavy snowfall and strong winds sometimes makes it impossible to drive to the dogs to feed them, but they try.
As noted above, at around four weeks of age, Murphy was found with other dogs trying to survive in the deep snow and harsh conditions with other dogs. If help wasn’t there on time, he wasn’t going to be able to survive. He was so small; was shivering and was having a hard time staying on the surface of the snow. A very short video clip we were given by the rescuers taken by flashlight and cell phone shows him in the falling snow lifting one paw off the snow after the other trying to keep his legs from freezing. Ultimately, all of his legs were affected by the cold but, through the efforts of the rescuers, three of them survived just fine without having any problems. Sadly, his rear left hip was not functioning property due to the freezing conditions he endured and, it was discovered that it was also dislocated.
The rescuers in Turkey contacted Sevil in Annapolis discussed how best to proceed with Murphy. Options provided by veterinary staff at the time were to amputate the leg or perform hip replacement surgery. Amputation was ruled out immediately and hip replacement was decided to be the preferred way forward, particularly after what the boy had endured to just get to four weeks of age. After deciding on the hip replacement, the rescuers had to wait until Murphy was at least one year old to allow for the bones to properly develop to be able to handle the surgery. In the meantime, he was flown from Turkey to Sevil in Annapolis and, through the ensuing 11-months of development the rescuers had him on restricted exercise and pain management therapy.
When the time came, the Sevil and colleagues in Annapolis chose to send Murphy back to Turkey for the hip replacement. It was a tough surgery compounded by the fact that the artificial ball to artificial cup (socket) distance turned out to be farther apart than anticipated. The spacing had become greater during his early development. Regardless, the surgery was performed and was deemed a success despite the difficult process of getting the proper spacing between the ball and socket arrangement of the hip. The veterinary orthopedist did explain to the rescuers that there were future risks such as recurrence of the hip displacement or not getting the proper recovery as Murphy moved through adolescence and into adulthood. Reiterating, it was a hard process to bring the hip joint together. He stayed with family members of the Annapolis rescue agency in Turkey through his long recovery and therapy period; all seemed well.
I had been looking for a dog friend to adopt and watched rescueme.org very faithfully. I found Murphy on the site in February 2020 and called Sevil at her Annapolis agency about him. Murphy was just finishing his therapy in Turkey for the hip replacement and was scheduled to fly home to Annapolis in March. COVID-19 was loosed on the world at the same time and all international flights were cancelled and he was not able to come to the States. Sevil and I kept in touch and, in August 2020, flights resumed and I was able to get him. Sevil and her mother picked him up at Dulles Airport on a Thursday and we met the next day in the parking lot of a Hartford, Connecticut shopping center for the introductions. It was love at first sight!
Some of Murphy’s traits that he had or developed since I brought him home include: Being a bed hog, a fussy eater, will first give you a kiss with his cold nose then eventually with a touch of his tongue on your cheek as he warms up to you, loves to run albeit on three legs for the time being, is very patient, is also quite stubborn and, is very loving. He will look at deer and wild turkeys with wonder, not barking, then, when his curiosity is filled, he will move on.
I kept in touch with Sevil about Murphy’s getting used to me and the area, and his health. I can take him into a wooded area behind my house, take him off leash and let him run and can he ever run! Sadly, after eight to 10 weeks he developed a limp in the leg with the new hip. Visits to my local vet and an orthopedist vet in southern Maine revealed that the cup (socket) in the hip had moved and was causing Murphy pain if he put pressure down on it by using his leg. As a result, he carries it off the ground and only touches the ground with it every third or fourth step. The orthopedist examined Murphy and took a number of x-rays which showed the problem and recommended that the hip replacement should be performed again.
Before first hip replacement. Image shows dislocated hip
After first hip replacement surgery. Image shows hip socket implant failed.
I contacted Sevil who in turn contacted an Annapolis-based veterinary orthopedist who, after reviewing the information provided to him by the orthopedist in Maine, agreed that the hip should be replaced again only with a different size as compared to the current one to avoid future complications.
Even with the Annapolis vet agreeing to help us with costs, Murphy’s consultation, the surgery itself, follow-up therapy visits, any necessary medications and my living expenses during his post-operation recovery and therapy puts the costs at approximately $12,000. With your help, we can raise enough funds for his surgery related costs. This Sweet boy went through a lot. We will not choose the easy way out by to amputating his leg – he will have a new hip replacement regardless of how we pay for it. He is a fighter, he will get thru the surgery again and this time better. Will you be able to help this cutie pie to have his hip back so he can run and play again without any pain! Please share with your friends.
Thank you very much for your consideration of donating to Murphy’s surgery.
Organizer
Tony Smith
Organizer
Barred Islands, ME
