Hi everyone,

I’m fundraising for my sweet 8½-month-old puppy, Sammy, a Samoyed/Old English Sheepdog mix and truly the love of my life. Sammy is my first dog, and he’s extra special to me—I even named him after my favorite childhood stuffed animal (which I still have). If you’ve ever met Sammy, you know he loves everyone. Walks often take forever because he insists on greeting every single person he sees. He is gentle, social, goofy, and the kind of dog who makes people smile just by being himself.

We rescued Sammy from a farm in Bakersfield, where conditions were heartbreaking—crowded kennels, dirty spaces, and dogs left completely neglected. We took him home, treated him immediately for giardia and fleas, and gave him the safe, loving home he deserves. Despite everything, he adjusted to city life beautifully and now lives happily with my boyfriend, his brother Max, and me.

A few months ago, we noticed Sammy walking strangely. It became impossible to ignore how quickly he would slow down due to pain, compared to his healthy littermate Max. Sammy began limping more often, and we knew something was seriously wrong. An orthopedic specialist confirmed our worst fear: Sammy has severe hip dysplasia in both hips. His left hip is especially bad, and he will eventually need two total hip replacements. The initial quote for just one hip was $16,000, which completely shocked us.

We weren’t ready to give up. We spent weeks calling every orthopedic specialist and veterinary hospital we could find. Finally, we found hope at UC Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital, which has an incredible reputation. We drove seven hours to get there, and the experience was night and day—the doctor spent a full hour reviewing X-rays with us, answering questions, and helping us understand Sammy’s situation. We felt cared for for the first time.

The estimate at UC Davis is still $13,000—much higher than what we were originally told over the phone. But we’ve decided to move forward, because: We just want Sammy to live without pain. Right now, Sammy is on pain medication that sedates him and dulls his personality. Without surgery, his condition will continue to deteriorate. The alternative is unthinkable—losing him far too young, at only 8½ months old. Sammy is family. He’s sweet, loving, silly, and he steals my socks daily, but he also stole my heart. He deserves a long, healthy, happy life where he can run and play like his brother.

How You Can Help

We are asking for help with the $13,000 cost of his total hip replacement surgery. Anything—truly anything—helps us get one step closer to relieving his pain and giving him the future he deserves.