Vito and I had the privilege of adopting a beautiful one-year-old miniature dachshund from the Yonkers Animal Shelter in July 2024. She instantly changed our lives.

She originally had the name Pepper, but it was quickly changed to Pippa because of her princess-like attitude and the way she strutted her stuff!

In February 2025, we received a devastating phone call that broke our hearts: she had been stepped on by another dog at doggy daycare and was unable to move her back legs. We immediately rushed her to the emergency room at the vet hospital, and it was determined that she needed immediate spinal surgery. These last couple of months, Pippa has been recovering and progressing well from the surgery.

However, this past Saturday night, our lives were shaken once again. Pippa lost complete feeling and movement in her hind legs. One moment she was walking outside, and the next she was whimpering and shaking, in pain and with fear.

Before we knew it, we were repeating our worst nightmare - Pippa needed to undergo a second emergency surgery Sunday morning, on her lower spinal cord.

This beautiful and loving dog has been through so much, and she is not even two years old.

We are asking for help from our friends and family to give her a third chance at a happy and healthy life.

The medical cost for a surgery like this is between $10,000 and $12,000, and that is not including post-op appointments and PT. Any amount would help us cover her extraordinary expenses and support next steps in her recovery.

We appreciate everyone who has reached out to us, checking in on us, and especially on her health status and next steps.

Those who have met her quickly realize her charm and loving personality.

Thank you all so much

With love,

Alexa and Vito