Help Kita Walk Again

Hi, my name is Hannah and I am fundraising for my rescue dog, Kita. Kita is a husky mix that has been like a child to me for over six years now. Our last walk together was cut short due to what an X-Ray would later reveal as a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in her left knee. Today, I'm humbly asking for donations to support Kita's surgery and recovery.

A CCL injury in dogs is similar to an ACL injury in humans. The CCL helps to stabilize the knee joint. When this ligament is damaged, the bones in the joint rub against each other, resulting in pain and inflammation. If left untreated, it can lead to arthritis, further joint and soft tissue injuries, and severe disability. To make matters worse, Kita suffered a traumatic femoral fracture before coming into my life and has always favored her right leg. With her left knee unable to bear any weight, she is now suffering lameness in both hind legs and is unable to walk or run without assistance.

Kita’s resilience has never ceased to amaze me. She narrowly escaped euthanasia when she was rescued in rural Texas. Later, during her peak years, she proved to be the best trail dog and pillar of confidence for her adopted sister, Kona. On hikes together I would often refer to her as a mountain goat because, despite the limited range of motion in her right leg, she would look down at me and Kona from the top of rock scrambles and steep trail sections as if to say, “What’s taking you so long?” As Kita has gotten older, we’ve traded big summits for daily 'mental health' walks through local forests. This routine has become an essential part of my day and without Kita to lead the way, it hasn’t been the same.

Kita is scheduled to have TPLO surgery on her left knee on February 21, 2023. The surgeon estimates the surgery will cost 5,200-5,600, not including medications and additional X-Rays throughout the healing process. If all goes well, two months after the surgery she should be able to start working up to short walks in the forest once again and make a full recovery after six.

I know times are tough, and there are so many impactful ways you could use your money. It was not easy for me to accept that I needed to ask for help, but if you have the means, no matter how small the donation, it would mean the world to me, Kita, and Kona. Every dollar will go towards her surgery, medications, and post-op care. I am so grateful for all of the love and support I’ve received already. Thank you for taking the time to read and share our story, your generosity will be sincerely appreciated.