Healing Forest Fund
Our sweet Forest Dog is looking for donations to help with the cost of 3 orthopedic surgeries that he requires. Please if there is anything you think you can donate to help our precious Forest have a better quality of life it would be so appreciated.
We adopted this beautiful angel in December 2010 when the twins were just 10 months old. We thought that he would be the perfect dog to grow up with our family. Forest came to us from a "No Kill" rescue organization called Misty Creek. In 2009 we adopted another dog, Divot, from Misty Creek as well. When Forest was born he was left abandoned as a pup and left to survive on his own. Misty Creek rescued him and we were the lucky family that adopted him 3 months later.
Forest has some very significant medical concerns right now. He is facing 3 major orthopedic surgeries so that one day he can lead a pain free life and have a better quality of life. Forest was born with his left hip almost completely out of its socket and likely has been living with this pain since the day he was born. Due to Forests' lack of strength in his hind quarters he tore his cruitiate ligaments in both of his hind knees this summer. Right now his knees are the biggest source of pain for Forest. He can barely walk and at times he drags his hind quarters. When our other dog Sammy was 8 he tore the same ligament in only one of his knees and we opted to NOT proceed with the repair because of his age. BUT Forest is only just 2 years old. Forest is such an integral part of our family and after losing Sammy just a couple months ago the we can't bear the thought of losing another family member. Our family cannot in good conscience let him go on in this kind of pain knowing that there are options that will provide him with an excellent quality of life.
After consultations with several vets it was determined that Forest will require 2 Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy's (TPLO) to repair the damage in his knees and in time a total hip replacement on his left leg.. The cost of the knee surgery ranges from 4200-4500 per knee but after many phone calls I have found a veterinarian that will perform the surgery for 3500.00 per knee. Unfortunately Forest has been ruled out as a candidate for the less expensive surgery called extra capsular repair because of his size, slope of his tibia, bone structure and his activity level. Prognosis for the TPLO is 95% that he will have little to no pain and he will be able to function the same previous to the injury AND this will not be a re-occuring issue with this specific surgery. This reduced price of the surgery that we have been offered includes everything from surgery prep, anesthetic, blood work, x-rays, post operative care, hospital stay following surgery and 3 follow up appointments and pain medication following surgery. Still at 7000.00 this is a cost that is so far out of reach for our family. Please know that we have explored the full range of options for Forest and this is the best option for him. We are shooting for the stars and hope with your love and support we can help heal Forest. I want to be clear that at the end of the day if we fall short of our goal we will still move forward with the surgery for Forest and start with one knee.
Forest is such a nurturing dog and is such a protector of my children. He does not let them out of his sight and his is highly in tune and wise beyond his years for a 2 year old pup. When we said good bye to our dear Sammy, Forest did not leave his side the entire night. My children are in love with Forest and we are in love with him. I cannot imagine my life without him; I can't imagine Tess and Zak growing up without him.
Forest is our family, friend, companion and defender
We are his life, his love, his leaders and his joy
He gives so much, always, unwavering, without ever asking
He will always be faithful and true to the last beat of his heart
I owe it to him to do everything I can to be worthy of such devotion
If you can do anything to help it would be greatly appreciated beyond words.
Thank-you
