Help Ottis Walk Again
Donation protected
Meet Ottis, he is our Two year old St. Bernard. He is one of the most playful, rambunctious, sweet, cuddly, 110 pound lap dog you'll ever meet! He loves meeting new people and absolutely adores his family. Sadly our Ottis ruptured his ACL on Christmas Eve and will need a very extensive surgery and then 6 months later have another extensive surgery since both of his back legs have torn ACL's. He is currently hobbling on three legs while trying to avoid putting too much pressure on his hurt leg. His other leg looks like a rubber band and is not steady either.
Ottis is originally from Michigan per the Pet Store where we purchased him from. At the time my family and I lived in North Carolina where my husband was stationed in the US Marines. Ottis was in need of a good home, we didn't realize how much until we brought him home and he couldn't walk. The Pet Store told us it was just stiff legs from the kennel he was in and traveling but we should have known better. At 3 months old Ottis did not walk much or well. He would crawl around the floor to get to his food or come to us to be petted. With much care we tried to strengthen his legs and work with him to walking like a puppy should have. We did do some research on the pet store and we learned, after the fact, from Websites and from a previous employee that the store got its puppies from puppy mills and bad breeders. We are unsure if Ottis actually did come from a puppy mill but his condition now and then tell us he was not very well taken care of as a puppy. We sadly suspect he was kept in a kennel the majority of the time for the first 3 months of his life.
Within the next week or two, Ottis will have his first TPLO surgery which means he will have half of his body shaved, a long incision, his knee reconstructed and a horribly painful recovery time. Ottis, who loves the snow and playing with the kids, will be restricted on movement and he will need help moving while he is recovering. Our only focus right now is to give Ottis the best possible chance at having a happier and healthier life since he is still so young.
As a family we are doing what we can to fund his first surgery and save for his second. My husband works full time as a mechanic, I am a full time mother of two toddlers, and my family and I are scraping everything we have to pay for Ottis's surgery. The money will be used for his surgeries, the helpling harness to take him out to use the restroom and a bed to make him comfortable as possible for his recovery. If you can donate anything to his surgery fund, we would forever be grateful and if there ever comes a time when you are in need I hope that we can return the generosity in any way we can!
Ottis is originally from Michigan per the Pet Store where we purchased him from. At the time my family and I lived in North Carolina where my husband was stationed in the US Marines. Ottis was in need of a good home, we didn't realize how much until we brought him home and he couldn't walk. The Pet Store told us it was just stiff legs from the kennel he was in and traveling but we should have known better. At 3 months old Ottis did not walk much or well. He would crawl around the floor to get to his food or come to us to be petted. With much care we tried to strengthen his legs and work with him to walking like a puppy should have. We did do some research on the pet store and we learned, after the fact, from Websites and from a previous employee that the store got its puppies from puppy mills and bad breeders. We are unsure if Ottis actually did come from a puppy mill but his condition now and then tell us he was not very well taken care of as a puppy. We sadly suspect he was kept in a kennel the majority of the time for the first 3 months of his life.
Within the next week or two, Ottis will have his first TPLO surgery which means he will have half of his body shaved, a long incision, his knee reconstructed and a horribly painful recovery time. Ottis, who loves the snow and playing with the kids, will be restricted on movement and he will need help moving while he is recovering. Our only focus right now is to give Ottis the best possible chance at having a happier and healthier life since he is still so young.
As a family we are doing what we can to fund his first surgery and save for his second. My husband works full time as a mechanic, I am a full time mother of two toddlers, and my family and I are scraping everything we have to pay for Ottis's surgery. The money will be used for his surgeries, the helpling harness to take him out to use the restroom and a bed to make him comfortable as possible for his recovery. If you can donate anything to his surgery fund, we would forever be grateful and if there ever comes a time when you are in need I hope that we can return the generosity in any way we can!
Organizer
Kalee Polichio
Organizer
Denver, CO