Help Popeye Walk Without Pain Again ❤️
Donation protected
Hi everyone,
We’re Melissa and Colin, and we’re reaching out with full hearts and a lot of hope to ask for help for our sweet golden retriever, Popeye. Popeye just turned one this spring, and for more than six months now, he’s been limping due to a pain in his front left leg. At first, we hoped it was something minor—a sprain or a growing pain—but after months of vet visits, medications, and rest with no real improvement, we finally saw a specialist. That’s when we learned Popeye needs advanced orthopedic surgery to live a pain-free, healthy life.
What’s Going On
Popeye has a growth plate deformity. One of the bones in his front leg is growing faster than the other, pulling his joint out of alignment and causing pain and pressure. If left untreated, it will only get worse—leading to joint damage, arthritis, and chronic pain.
To diagnose and fix it, he’ll need:
• Full diagnostic imaging (x-rays and a CT scan)
• Surgery: likely ulnar shortening or radius lengthening
• Possible elbow arthroscopy depending on the damage
• Ongoing care and physical therapy
The total estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Why This Means So Much to Us
We welcomed our first baby, Teddy, this January, and from the moment we brought him home, Popeye has been his gentle, goofy, and incredibly loving big brother. Popeye picks up all of Teddy’s onsies, socks, teethers and hats just to drop them in front of him with a little cry, greets us every morning/afternoon with a wagging tail and adorable happy whimpers, and tries his very best to keep up with his healthy older golden retriever brother, Skipper. It breaks our hearts to watch him struggle—he limps behind on walks, lays down when he wants to run, and pushes through pain just to be part of the fun. Popeye is more than our dog—he’s a piece of our family. And at just a year old, he deserves to live a full, active life without pain.
How You Can Help
We’ve done everything we can to get answers and explore options, but we unfortunately can’t afford the cost of surgery and recovery on our own—especially as we adjust to life with a new baby. Every single donation, no matter the amount, will go directly to:
• Imaging and diagnostics
• Surgical procedure and anesthesia
• Post-op medications and rehab
Even if you’re not able to donate, sharing this page would mean the world to us. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading Popeye’s story and for supporting him. We’re so grateful for your kindness and help in getting our sweet boy back to the happy, playful life he deserves.
With love and hope, Melissa, Colin, Baby Teddy, Skipper & Popeye
We’re Melissa and Colin, and we’re reaching out with full hearts and a lot of hope to ask for help for our sweet golden retriever, Popeye. Popeye just turned one this spring, and for more than six months now, he’s been limping due to a pain in his front left leg. At first, we hoped it was something minor—a sprain or a growing pain—but after months of vet visits, medications, and rest with no real improvement, we finally saw a specialist. That’s when we learned Popeye needs advanced orthopedic surgery to live a pain-free, healthy life.
What’s Going On
Popeye has a growth plate deformity. One of the bones in his front leg is growing faster than the other, pulling his joint out of alignment and causing pain and pressure. If left untreated, it will only get worse—leading to joint damage, arthritis, and chronic pain.
To diagnose and fix it, he’ll need:
• Full diagnostic imaging (x-rays and a CT scan)
• Surgery: likely ulnar shortening or radius lengthening
• Possible elbow arthroscopy depending on the damage
• Ongoing care and physical therapy
The total estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Why This Means So Much to Us
We welcomed our first baby, Teddy, this January, and from the moment we brought him home, Popeye has been his gentle, goofy, and incredibly loving big brother. Popeye picks up all of Teddy’s onsies, socks, teethers and hats just to drop them in front of him with a little cry, greets us every morning/afternoon with a wagging tail and adorable happy whimpers, and tries his very best to keep up with his healthy older golden retriever brother, Skipper. It breaks our hearts to watch him struggle—he limps behind on walks, lays down when he wants to run, and pushes through pain just to be part of the fun. Popeye is more than our dog—he’s a piece of our family. And at just a year old, he deserves to live a full, active life without pain.
How You Can Help
We’ve done everything we can to get answers and explore options, but we unfortunately can’t afford the cost of surgery and recovery on our own—especially as we adjust to life with a new baby. Every single donation, no matter the amount, will go directly to:
• Imaging and diagnostics
• Surgical procedure and anesthesia
• Post-op medications and rehab
Even if you’re not able to donate, sharing this page would mean the world to us. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading Popeye’s story and for supporting him. We’re so grateful for your kindness and help in getting our sweet boy back to the happy, playful life he deserves.
With love and hope, Melissa, Colin, Baby Teddy, Skipper & Popeye
Co-organizers (2)
Melissa Sullivan
Organizer
Warwick, RI
Colin Sullivan
Co-organizer