Please Help Louis Vuitton (the dog, not the bag)

Hi, my name is Becky, and I am fundraising for Louis Vuitton (the dog, not the bag) and his fur mama, Patti House.

Today, Louis Vuitton, Versace (Louis's brother), and Shadow (the rescue Lab) got out of Patti's backyard while she was working by opening a gate that is normally impossible for the dogs to open (she still can't figure out that one out). When she realized they were out, she quickly got in her car to look for them and heard a loud car horn blow on Desoto County's busiest street, Goodman Road. She drove quickly up to Goodman and saw Louis and Versace coming across two lanes of traffic towards her... Versace was walking, but precious Louis did his best while dragging his useless legs behind him to get to Patti. Patti quickly took both dogs to the vet, and thankfully, Versace was shaken but ok; however, Louis was not.

Louis has a broken right femur, and the left side of his pelvis is broken in multiple places. Plus, his left femur is severely dislocated from the hip joint and displaced by several inches. They believe his bowels and bladder will be fine, and he can feel his feet, so he isn’t paralyzed. Thankfully, there does not appear to be a spinal injury.

Patti's vet contacted several orthopedic trauma surgeons, and the consensus is that although Louis requires extensive surgery followed by lengthy rehab, the prognosis is good (if in the hands of skillful surgeons). Louis is only four years old and should have 10+ years ahead of him. However, the surgery will require a lot of internal hardware (plates, pins, etc.), making it extraordinarily expensive.

Memphis Vet specialists said $4500-5000 per break for a total of $15,000+. Another vet said he could do it, but he is so backed up right now and, therefore, cannot do the surgery in a timely manner. Another vet said they could patch it for cheaper, but it would be unlikely that Louis would fully recover. Finally, Mississippi State said a minimum of $10-$12,000. The one consensus by all was that Mississippi State was an excellent choice.

Patti briefly considered putting him down, but because Louis's prognosis for a quality life is good, she instead is trying to figure out how to pay for this. She knows it is a stupid amount of money, but she also knows she would always feel guilt and remorse if she didn’t try to help him. After praying and crying most of the day, she decided to go with Mississippi State for the surgery. She is hopeful that MSU will be on the low end of their estimate and that their estimated amount includes all the necessary rehab. She was approved for a small amount with CareCredit (basically a credit card for medical), but it won't begin to cover the expenses.

Several of her friends suggested a GoFundMe, which she hates the idea of, but I know I am always willing to help a doggy (or kitty) mama out with expenses, even if it is just a small amount. I believe that many of Patti's friends will want to help, too. Your donation does not have to be much. If a lot of folks pitch in, small donations add up quickly. We also understand that times are hard right now, and if you cannot donate, don't feel bad; Patti doesn't want anyone to put themselves in a financial bind or feel obligated to help.

Also, GoFundMe takes out a percentage on both ends, so if you would prefer to donate via PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App, all the money will go straight to Patti for the vet bills at Mississippi State.

Finally, keep Louis, Versace, Shadow, and the House family in your thoughts and prayers. Thankfully, Louis Vuitton (the dog, not the bag) has been tough and brave through all of this and has not been suffering. And, if you feel so inclined, it would be great if you could share the GoFundMe on your Facebook wall.