Help Clover Walk Again

My niece, Katherine Michele Angelilli and her husband Jake, are desperate to be able to afford the surgery that will help their 6-month-old Golden Retriever Clover, walk again without pain.

Given the loss of our own 2 Labrador Retrievers when our house in Idaho burned on December 23, 2020, and the grief we still feel, as Kate’s aunt, I am determined to spare her and her family the agony of Clover’s deterioration into a life of pain or worse. I undertake this GoFundMe in honor and memory of our beloved Laci and Jackson.

Currently, Kate and her family must carry Clover outside to do her business, and pretty much everything else. Sadly, they can no longer take her on the daily walks they all enjoy. And Clover’s pain is stealing her happy, playful personality.

While Kate’s family has always included multiple cats, Clover is their first pup, and they fell head over heels in love with her. Clover has had a wonderful start! She loved Puppy Kindergarten, especially because Kate and Jake made sure she had “100 new experiences in 100 days”, as recommended by their trainer. Along the way, they posted photos of Clover on Facebook. It was a little like “Where’s Waldo” as we saw her on a beach, in the woods, going to the dog park, playing with her teenage human brothers and their friends, and exploring her world.

When Clover’s recent lameness didn’t subside, Kate took her to their vet, Jason Coggeshall, DVM, at Ludwigs Corner Veterinary Hospital in Chester Springs, PA. who did a thorough exam and x-rays. It isn’t good news. Clover was found to have Bilateral Osteochondrosis, which is detailed in the veterinary report. A brief summary of this report explains Clover’s condition:

Osteochondrosis occurs commonly in the shoulders of large breed dogs. It begins with a failure of cartilage to form bone in the humeral head. Subsequently, normal activity may cause fissures in the cartilage, eventually forming a cartilage flap. This flap causes pain and dysfunction.

Medical management, i.e. treating Clover with medication alone, is not recommended, as progressive arthritis will form and will lead to a “sub-optimal outcome for long-term function.” The vet recommends arthroscopic removal of the flap followed by one of several reparative techniques to address the abnormal cartilage.

We are told that Clover’s Osteochondrosis could be due to heredity or possibly an injury caused by rambunctious play with her German Shepherd pal, Crimson.

According to their vet, Dr. Jason Coggeshall, Clover will continue to deteriorate over time, rather than heal. She will need surgery on both shoulders. These surgeries are far beyond Kate’s ability to pay, as it is estimated to be $5,000 just for the first one. The last two years have been a difficult time for Kate’s family, due to health issues among other things, and made worse by the pandemic which has drastically limited their income.

In the meantime, Clover’s pain is being managed with Gabapentin and CBD oil, while we seek the funding that will allow her to heal.

Our pets are our hearts. A donation in any amount, large or small, will be greatly appreciated by Clover’s family, my husband, Fritz Stafford, and I, and Kate’s mother, Terry Swan Noxel. Please remember: small amounts add up to large amounts when we all pitch in.

Please help if you can.