Patsy Peaches (AKA "the horse dog") is my beloved Rhodesian Ridgeback cross. I rescued her just under 5 years ago from a monster of a man who had subjected her to years of abuse and neglect. She weighed just 18 kilograms (her normal weight is 32), had a skin infection, was used as a breeding machine, was starved of food and attention, was riddled with fleas, had an ear infection that was so bad it made her entire body stink, was never allowed anywhere other than her small back yard (little to no shelter or warmth from memory), had visible scars and a broken toe that bent up at a strange angle. She couldn't keep food or even water down due to what turned out to be a uterine infection that must have gone untreated for months. She also had no front teeth (worn down to the gums) - most likely caused by years of gnawing on metal out of boredom, according to my vet - and damage to almost all of the others, presumably due to malnourishment and all the vomiting.

A friend of mine had moved in with this guy and didn't even realise there was a dog outside. One day he opened his curtain and got the shock of his life! The guy told my friend that the dog had parvo (parvovirus). My friend told me and I hassled this guy for a week to let me take the dog and have her put down. He refused until I threatened to call the RSPCA. I took her to my vet who realised she had a uterine infection, not parvo, which might be treatable, but not to get my hopes up because she was in such bad shape that she might not even survive the next couple of days.

Aaaaaaaanyway, lots of tears and love and money and surgery and time and kitten food and cuddles and vomits on my bed and giant poos in the middle of the path and stolen loaves of bread (and one birthday cake) and cold wet noses in the backs of my legs and raided bins and heavy bony climbings into my lap later, she is the most loving, healthy, bouncy, joyful, mischievous and FLATULENT dog in the world!

So that's a bit of background so you get an idea of how amazing this girl is and part of the reason why I want the rest of her life to be as comfortable as possible.

On June 21st I took Patsy to the vet because she started limping at the park. The vet said she had either partially or fully torn her crutiate ligament and to keep her as still as possible for a week to see if there was any improvement. The news on our next visit was not good. It was clear that it was totally ruptured.

Because of Patsy's size and age (approximately 14; nobody can tell from her teeth, as they're so damaged), the only promising course of action is Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy (TPLO). This is done by a specialist surgeon and will cost around $5,000. I am single (so no other income) and my part time job in the glamorous world of aged care doesn't exactly keep me in diamond tiaras!

So... if you would like to give a dear old dog a new leash on life (I have to give Rowlf from the Muppets credit for that one), earn my eternal gratitude and buy shares in a boofhead's leg, please, donate away!

Love and thanks,

Patsy Peaches & Alex :)