Help Jude Walk Again — Hip Surgery Fundraiser for a Gentle Soul

This is Jude — or “Hey Jude” and “Judy Boy,” as we call him at home. He’s a 7-year-old American Bulldog/Mastiff mix with a mastiff head, big clumsy puppy paws, and the sweetest heart you’ll ever meet. He’s also my emotional support animal and my best friend.

I adopted Jude from a shelter when he was 2 years old after he was rescued from a dog hoarding situation. You would never know he came from such a hard beginning — he loves everyone. He’s calm, gentle, great with kids, and even cats adore him. One of his best friends is a Siamese mix who bumps her head against his every morning. At the park, little kids hand him treats and whisper “sit” or “shake,” and he listens every single time with patience and love.

What Happened

A few weeks ago, Jude dislocated his hip. We rushed him to the vet, and he was sedated so they could try to put it back in place. But due to internal soft tissue damage, it wouldn’t stay in the socket.

We spent over $3,000 and completely maxed out CareCredit trying to fix it without surgery, hoping to spare him from more pain. But it didn’t work.

Since then, his hip has stayed dislocated while we waited for special surgical implants to arrive. He has been living like this for weeks — unable to walk properly, unable to rest without pain — and it breaks my heart.

He Needs Surgery to Live Without Pain

Our vet at Susitna Animal Urgent Care says Jude needs one of the following surgeries:

Surgery Option Cost Estimate

Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO) $2,500–$4,000

Toggle Hip Repair (with implant) $3,000–$4,800

Hip/Leg Amputation (if necessary) $3,300–$4,600

We won’t know which surgery he needs until they begin — but even the lowest-cost option is more than I have left.

Why I’m Asking for Help

I’ve used everything I have trying to help Jude already. I never wanted to ask for help, but now I have to — because without surgery, Jude will either live the rest of his life in pain, or I’ll have to make the decision no pet owner should ever face. Both options break my heart.

He doesn’t understand why he hurts — he still tries to wag his tail, greet the cats, and put his head in my lap. He trusts me completely. I just want to give him the pain-free, happy life he deserves.

Who He Is to Us

Adopted from a hoarding rescue — learned to trust again

Emotional support animal who has helped me through my darkest days

Best friend to our only other dog (who fears other dogs but loves only him)

Gentle with children, patient with cats, kind to everyone he meets

A “certified good boy” who passed advanced dog training

Loved deeply by our family and our community

How You Can Help

If you are able to donate — even $1 — it brings us closer to getting Jude the surgery he needs. If you can’t donate, sharing his story means just as much.

All funds will go directly toward his surgery, medications, and recovery. If any extra is left, it will go to physical therapy or donated to help another animal in need.

Thank you for reading, sharing, donating, caring — and for helping us give Jude a chance to run, sit comfortably, and live without pain again.