Gertie's emergency surgery

My name is Lisa and I rescued my dog Gertie 5 years ago from the local city shelter where she sat for months. Gertie has been one of the most amazing dogs, I have ever met. She has a soul that is full of love and compassion for people and places. She has been a very important ambassador to her her breed and to other shelter dogs who sit on death row. Gertie hasn't had the easiest life before me, it was obvious. But because of her huge heart and love for everyone I have tried my best to give her the life she deserved.

Gertie has suffered the past few years with Osteoarthritis and has had trouble walking even though her heart and soul want to keep going. She has had to have a lot of surgeries in her life due to her past and most recently this week at the age of about 11 ( on her farewell tour year) She experienced some tragedy.

Before this Gertie had to have two TPLO surgeries and a plate removal that cost me a 2nd mortgage. This week, she was upstairs separate from the other 2 dogs to have a restful day which turned for the worst. The smoke detector started chirping for a battery change while I was away at work. I came home on my lunch to find Gertie outside on the side walk with blood. I first thought, there had been a disagreement until I went inside and saw that she had pried 2 baby gates off the wall to get away from the alarm. The cost of the surgery was $4593.00, which is a significant financial burden for me due to some life changes that Gertie and I experienced earlier this year that left us to fend for ourselves.

Everyone who meets Gertie has connected with her, she looks at every person as if they are her new best friend. She loves to be social and attend any gathering just to be near people and adorn a fluffy tu-tu. I am heartbroken to see her this way and I am determined to do everything in my power to give her the care she needs until it is time to say good-bye.

I am reaching out to my community and beyond in hopes of raising the funds necessary for Gertie's surgery as I have helped raise funds for so many other dogs I have met and not met due to my passion. Any contribution, no matter how big or small, would be greatly appreciated.

Please consider donating to help Gertie get back on her paws and back to being the loving, companion she is.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Lisa Bockoski