Hi everyone,

We wanted to share an update about our sweet girl Luna. For those who who are new here, Luna is a white German Shepherd that I found myself with when she was only 6 weeks old. She was in bad condition, she had worms and other internal issues but was strong and able to recover to 100%, living an amazing life with lots of siblings along the way. She’ll be turning nine years old on November 10 (2025) and if you know her now, you know she’s still the same playful, loving German Shepherd who thinks she's a puppy every single day. Her energy, attitude, and love for life haven’t changed one bit but sadly her back legs have started to tell a different story.

Over the past year, we noticed a gradual decline in her back leg strength and function. After a few vet visits and x-rays earlier this year, we learned that she has significant hip dysplasia. We started her on special dietary food, pain medication, joint supplements, and even physical therapy! Things improved to a degree over the following weeks but soon plateaued and we could tell there was more going on. After meeting with a surgical veterinarian this fall (2025), we discovered that Luna also has a neurological issue in her lower spine called Lumbosacral disease (LS disease). It is a common condition affecting the lower back (lumbar spine) and tailbone (sacrum) in dogs. It causes her back legs to cross or “knuckle” when she moves, which has become more noticeable recently. Untreated, it will continue to worsen and eventually we will have to put her down.

Thankfully, there is a surgical procedure that can relieve pressure on her spinal nerves and help restore strength and comfort to her back legs. According to the surgeon, most dogs experience around an 80% improvement, often returning to the level of mobility they had years earlier. Some dogs do even better, and nearly 95% show positive results after surgery. Because the neurological signs are so distinct, the procedure tends to have reliable outcomes when done correctly. Combined with ongoing care for her hip dysplasia—like supplements, pain medication, and specialized food—this could give Luna several more happy, active years, which is all we really want for her.

The surgery is expected to cost around $8,900. We’re very fortunate to be able to cover it up front, but it’s an unexpected expense while we are in the midst of saving for our wedding early summer (2026). We’re moving forward with the surgery regardless in hopes to improve her quality of life and buy her a few more amazing years, but we wanted to share Luna’s story with our friends and family, both to keep everyone updated and to give people a way to help if they’d like to.

There is absolutely no pressure or expectation to donate. Your support, kind words, and encouragement mean just as much to us. This page is simply a place to share what’s going on and to give anyone who wants to help the chance to do so. Every message, share, or contribution means the world to us.

Thank you for taking the time to read about Luna. She’s been our best friend, our protector, and such a big part of our family. We’re doing everything we can to make sure she gets to enjoy a few more great years filled with love, walks, and playtime.

With love and gratitude,

Jordan & Olivia

(and Luna )