Duke's Urgent Hip Surgery: Your Kindness Counts

Hi everyone,

We’re reaching out with a heavy heart to ask for help for our beloved rescue puppy, Duke. After adopting him from Northshore Animal League and giving him a second chance at an amazing life, we are now the ones who need a helping hand.

Duke, his newborn siblings, and his mother were rescued from under a house in the South. When found, they were cold, scared, and hungry. What drew me to adopt Duke was his beautiful eyes and a birth defect of his front paw that makes it look like a lobster claw. We knew he would have a difficult time being adopted because of it, and when I met him, I was amazed that despite everything he’s been through, he is the most loving, gentle soul. Duke has brought so much joy into our life, and now it’s our turn to fight for him. He is in terrible pain and has trouble walking, which I thought might be caused by his lobster paw. Unfortunately, the paw is not the problem, and Duke has been diagnosed with a serious hip condition in BOTH hips that will require two surgeries, both of them called FHO, to relieve his pain and give him the chance to live a happy, mobile life. The procedures are estimated to cost around $5,158.00 FOR EACH HIP, not including post-operative care and physical therapy. Unfortunately, Northshore Animal League will not be helping with the cost of Duke’s surgery. We took out an insurance policy for Duke when we adopted him, and they are refusing to cover any of the costs, medicines, or physical therapy that he will need, stating that this was a condition that he was born with. However, this condition was not disclosed to us upon adoption or picked up by any of the medical team at Northshore Animal League.

We have already covered as much as we can through savings for his pain meds, consultations (he’s had three), and x-rays, but we still need help to reach the total. Every dollar brings us closer to giving Duke a pain-free life. Any amount, large or small, is greatly appreciated. If you’re not in a position to donate, please consider sharing this page with others who might be able to help. If you take a good look at these pictures of Duke, I know you will see the sweet, gentle, now BIG puppy he is and, like us, want him to live the happy, pain-free life he so deserves.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, support, and compassion.

With our love and gratitude,

Jennifer, Duke, and family.