I will never forget the day I met Aiko... this 45 kilo gorgeous boy was covering in the crate, shaking in fear... after over an hour, I managed to coax him out and he melted into my body.

In that moment, I promised him everything will be ok and I will do anything to make sure I keep my promise.

I visited him often, ensuring we can build his confidence and get him ready to move to a foster home.

Once he was finally in a warm and safe foster home, we noticed something wasn't right....

Aiko started limping and sitting down, refusing to walk. He soon didn't even want to stand...

The x-rays showed our worst nightmare. SEVERE hip dysplasia on both sides.

For anyone who knows about hip dysplasia, you know it is a horrible condition, but especially for a dog so large....... we asked for second and third opinion but the conclusion was the same: he must get hip implants, otherwise we need to euthanise him. The pain he is in is inhumane.

Aiko grew up on the chain, abused and attacked by the loose dogs around him. He was starved and neglected. Now, at almost 2 years old, his life should start and we should euthanise him?!

It raises the question of how much a dog's life is worth, and I (Reka) personally believe there should be no reasonable limit on this, if we can provide a good quality of life for the dog with the medical intervention. Would we euthanise a human for hip issues??

Aiko is an angel. A gentle, trusting sweet young boy.

So here we go. We need to make the impossible happen. The above amount pays for 1 of his hip implant surgeries at the top specialist hospital in Europe + 2 weeks of hospitalization as he is a high risk patient due to the severity of his condition.

I will drive him to Italy and drive him home. He has wonderful foster parents who will support him during his recovery.

But we need help to pay for it. Our love has no limits, but sadly our funding does...

Please, please help us (me) to be able to keep my promise to sweet Aiko. Help us, so we don't have to let him down. Help us keep him alive!

Even the price of 1 coffee will get us closer to our goal!

The surgery is booked with the hospital for the start of December. We told them we don't have the money available yet, and agreed we will cancel the appointment if we don't manage to raise the money :(

Clinica Vezzoni

Please share and make a small donation. Every little bit counts!