Ivy's Hip Replacement Surgery

Hi, my name is Emilia, and I am the sister of Alyson. My sister was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 3. Now all grown up, she just graduated from Humber College, looking to become an inspiring 3D Artist in the Video Game industry. I couldn't be prouder of my little sister. Last summer she worked full time in a Greenhouse. Her goal was to save up enough money to get her own dog. Her main challenge in life is making connections with others and she was looking to purchase her own golden retriever. She wants to train her dog Ivy to become an emotional support dog to help her with her socialization and connections. I went with my sister to pick up her puppy, after doing months of research for the right breeder and the right dog, with the right character and temperament for the green service animal vest. It was such a happy day for us when Alyson and I picked up little Ivy. I am so proud of her with the job she has been doing so far raising Ivy for the past six months.

However, all that changed at the end of June when Ivy got hurt during a harmless play time with another dog. After several x-rays, I got a call from our father with the heartbreaking news about her puppy. Ivy had genetic hip dysplasia, and her hip sockets did not develop and her walking and playing would soon become very painful for her. It's only Ivy's leg muscles holding her legs in place as her hip sockets did not develop. I watched my sister cry for the next three hours as she held her puppy in her arms. No more running around, no more climbing stairs, no more playing fetch until we talk to a surgeon. We both will never forget that day.

After talking to a surgeon for two hours, getting explanations and options we are left with only two choices. One is to put this beautiful, smart and energetic young puppy with the potential to become a great service dog down, and watch my sisters heart break again. The other, which my family would love to do, is a double full hip replacement. The exciting part of this surgery is that Ivy will regain 95%-98% of her mobility back allowing her to reach her full potential with a full lifespan common to all healthy golden retrievers. The option of doing nothing and medicating the dog for pain is something our family and my sister will not be able to watch as Ivy's hips get worse and arthritis sets in with in the next two to three years cutting her quality of life and lifespan short.

We are looking for help to provide Ivy with the chance to be a great companion and friend to my little sister. The full double hip displacement is budgeted at $26'000. This includes all the pre-operation diagnostics and x-rays, the two operations themselves (each hip done separately six-twelve weeks apart), the medications and the final x-rays and review eight weeks after the surgery. There will be two more appointments for x-rays and checkups totalling about $2000 over the next two years after the surgery, to check for any complications. Ivy's full recovery time will be three to six months depending entirely on Ivy's ability to bounce back. Being a puppy her chances are 90% or better for a 100% successful operation without any complications.

We are hopping to get Ivy an appointment for the first hip surgery in Mid to Late August, with a $10'000 deposit due before the surgery starts. My family has managed to raise about half of the funds needed for the surgery and are now reaching out for help.

Help me save my little sister best friend.