Help Save Iris' Legs & Life

Iris came to us as a rescue. She didn’t get rehomed, though, because she had made an art of peeing in the house. Funny thing: she stopped doing that soon after we adopted her. Points for ingenuity in picking your own parents, Iris! Iris has always been a creative, popping her stuffy-filled face up over a couch suddenly, prancing around with a toy as large as she and bopping others with it to get them to play, or picking up her full water bowl with her mouth to flip it airborn, making her own little rainshower. Iris loves a good time. :) Before her front legs began to fail her, Iris was a one-pup parade. By stomping her feet as she marched around to make each step as loud as possible, she made sure no one ever missed one of her shows. Iris is a sweet, funny, puppylike, reliable, and smart girl. She's learned a lot of skills, including even some silly ones like ringing a 'waiting' bell. Dessert please! And she's very empathetic. After my wife suffered a trauma about 6 years ago, Iris made herself my wife’s support dog and has been a constant source of support and motivation ever since.

Both of Iris' wrists suffer joint disease that can only be stopped with Arthrodesis surgery, and she doesn't have a lot of time. The disease has progressed rapidly and we are trying to maintain her ability to walk by using a combination of caution (no running, etc), stopgap joint injections and pain medications, and leg braces to help protect her wrists. But these are not long-term solutions. Her disease will progress and eventually take away her mobility unless she gets the surgery she needs, soon. The surgery will also restore more normal, safer alignments in her legs and help protect her from injuries that can result from having to adjust how she gets around with two 'bad' legs.

Iris' has suffered in the past too, before she came to us, but also recently, when her best dog friend died suddenly about a year ago, traumatizing all of us. Losing Iris now would be devastating. It would be almost too much to bear, especially for my wife. And for Iris herself, who so clearly hopes for many more years of puppylike antics and hugging on her human momma. Iris' desire to live is strong; you can help give her many more great years . . . .

The total estimate for Iris' need is somewhere around $20,000 to $25,000. We've already spent about $3000 on tests, xrays, medication, and joint treatments to hopefully keep her going until surgery can be accomplished, but the traumatic event that happened 6 or so years ago didn't just harm my wife; it caused me to lose my job, and folks at my age, however well-qualified, just don't seem to hold the interest of potential employers. That means we can no longer afford such big expenses as surgeries. We keep doing all we can. And I know you dog lovers out there have the power and depth of care to help save Iris.

Thank you. Love,

Iris and her parents