Help Honey Heal After Devastating Dog Attack

Help Honey Heal After a Devastating Dog Attack

Dear generous donor,

My name is Shelby Brage, and I’m fundraising for my sweet, beautiful dog, Honey Brage (née Bones-Jones), who was seriously injured in a violent dog attack on May 28th, 2025, while we were hiking Bald Knob Trail in Moultonborough, NH.

Honey suffered a severe jaw fracture (left caudal mandibular fracture) and has been in intense, worsening pain ever since. Her condition has deteriorated due to a combination of reinjury, delays in appropriate care, and medical mismanagement. She also developed contact dermatitis over what appears to be an infected bite wound, compounding her pain and risk of further complications.

After a heartbreaking and exhausting week of emergency vet visits, surgical consultations, and escalating symptoms, Honey is finally receiving urgent surgery today, June 6th. I'm asking for your help to cover the cost of her surgery and recovery.

Honey’s Medical Journey

May 28: Following the attack, Honey was rushed to an emergency vet. The vet confirmed a jaw fracture and referred her for surgical evaluation.

May 29–31: A surgical consultation offered no imaging, antibiotics, or appropriate pain regimen, recommending “conservative management,” but soon after returning home Honey’s jaw kept misaligning, causing extreme pain and distress. She required a return emergency visit to immobilize her jaw and was referred again for surgical re-evaluation.

June 1–3: I brought Honey back home to Brooklyn to continue her care in a familiar environment, but her condition rapidly deteriorated. She began trembling, panting, and vocalizing in pain, refused food, and was unable to rest. Administering her pain medication also seemed to aggravate her injury. At the height of her most severe symptomatic episode, she became hot to the touch and struggled to pant due to the tape muzzle. Fearing for her safety, I rushed her back to the ER, where they stabilized her and confirmed what had become clear: Honey urgently needed to be seen by a specialist.

June 4: A second surgical opinion offered no hands-on exam. We were told the fracture couldn’t be properly assessed without imaging; however this hospital only offered CT scans, ringing in at $3000! Consultation with a veterinary dentist / oral surgeon was suggested. Furthermore, we were advised not to remove or replace her soiled muzzle under any circumstances.

June 5: Finally, a veterinary dentist and oral surgeon examined Honey. They removed the muzzle and discovered severe dermatitis and suspected bite wound infection, along with clear signs of worsening trauma: jaw shifting, crepitus, and Honey audibly chewing on the fracture site. She had never been offered antibiotics. The surgeon confirmed that surgery is not only necessary, but urgent, and scheduled it for June 6th—today.

Why We’re Asking for Help

This has been an emotionally and financially overwhelming crisis. Honey has been evaluated at three emergency hospitals across two states, with multiple medications, diagnostic challenges, and now urgent surgery.

Unfortunately, the owner of the aggressive German Shepherd initially took responsibility, covering the first ER visit and surgical consultation, but has since cut off all communication, leaving me alone to make impossible decisions about Honey’s care.

The estimated cost of her surgery is $8,115–$10,641.72. In order to secure this life-saving care, I had to take out a high interest loan—with a 20% interest rate. I’ve already spent $1,705.84 on emergency and specialist consultations alone. This brings the total cost to approximately $14,343 so far, and that number is likely to continue to grow with follow-up care and medications.

I’m doing everything I can, but I can't do this alone.

Meet Honey

I adopted Honey from the Baldwin Park Animal Shelter in Los Angeles, CA, in August 2017. She was just a year old—bright orange, obviously adventurous, yet small as can be (plus or minus 10 lbs!) She has been my sidekick through the better part of my twenties and now into my thirties. Honey has lived many lives: a ranch dog, a beach dog, a snow dog, and now a city dog. She’s not just my dog—she’s my baby, my sister, my wife—and the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

She impresses the masses by rolling over on command, running the roads of Brooklyn like a lab, and hiking tall mountains with her big-dog friends.

Honey is loving, gentle, and—true to her name—sweet beyond words. Even now, in pain and terror, wrapped in tight bandages and confined to a sharp plastic cone, she gives me kisses through her muzzle and is trusting of every compassionate vet who sees the brave, beautiful, and resilient spirit inside her. She deserves the chance to heal, to live another 9 years without pain and unnecessary suffering, and return to the joyful, active life she knew before this trauma.

How You Can Help

Any contribution—no matter the amount—will go directly to Honey’s surgery and related medical expenses. If you're unable to donate, please consider sharing this campaign with others who may be able to help.

Honey is in surgery today, June 6th, so your support is urgently needed.

Thank you for reading, caring, and helping Honey get the treatment she needs and the life she deserves.

Humbly, and with love, hope, and gratitude,

Shelby & Honey