I'm Catherine, proud companion of Cooper McIsaac, a very special dog who was abandoned as a puppy in a park in Paris. My husband and I met Cooper the day (the very hour!) he arrived at the animal shelter, in January 2018, and immediately adopted him. Since then, he's dined out in some of the trendiest Parisian spots, graced the pages of the New York Times (we're #20!), hiked all over France, and hosted many dog birthdays and meet-ups thanks to his Instagram community (@parispluschien). In 2021, he moved to the Washington DC area with us, and on Christmas Day 2022, he helped us welcome a baby human, Charlotte McIsaac, to the family.

Last week, Cooper began displaying signs of IVDD (intervertebral disk disease), which commonly affects dogs of his build with a long body and short legs. What began as shoulder and back pain has progressed to severe neurological dysfunction along his spinal cord. He no longer has the use of his hind legs and can't control his bowels. We're keeping him as comfortable as possible with a combination of anti-inflammatory and pain medication, and of course plenty of snuggles and love. I am currently on maternity leave from work and so can offer a great deal of company and support to meet his new needs.

Cooper has seen our local veterinarian twice and will now need to see a neurologist. This upcoming Monday, March 20, he will have an MRI under general anesthesia and head into surgery straight after. The prognosis is good; he will likely be able to walk again and be back to an excellent quality of life after recovery.

I am asking you to help us cover HALF of his surgery and associated medical costs, or $5,000 of a total estimated $10,000.

WHAT YOUR DONATION WOULD HELP US COVER

-Upcoming (March 20) neurologist/hospital visit in Richmond, VA, USA:

Disk surgery ($6,000)

MRI scan ($3,300)

Specialist consultation ($250)

Anesthesia and medication ($250)

Overnight stay/care ($200)

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TOTAL $10,000

Thank you so much for your love and support. We're hopeful Cooper will make a full recovery. We will line up physical therapy and rehabilitation as needed and support him every step of the way.