Support Chia's Urgent Amputation Surgery

As Chia Yazzleton’s caretakers, we come to our friends, fam, and community to humbly ask for help!

In the wee hours of the morning, our sweet baby broke her leg as it was caught in a jacket and she fell.

In order to have a good life without immense pain and risk of further complications, we’ve made the difficult decision to have her leg amputated. It’s critical the surgery occurs ASAP. It would be negligent of us to not pursue surgery as her wrist bones are floating and she has multiple fractures along her leg bones.

To know us is to know how much we love our shared Chia. Chichi made us a family and has immensely impacted our lives! Yes, we are proud queer dog co-parents. Literally, the love we have for Chia has helped us find our way back together as devoted fam to each other forever and always! Don’t knock the power of gay people and their chihuahuas ;).

Chia came into our lives seven years ago when Jess brought her into Seattle Humane off of a flight with many dogs and puppies from Phoenix, Arizona. She was sick, scared, and the cutest damn puppy we’ve ever seen. We did our best to socialize her (she’s still a feral chihuahua at heart) and have managed her epilepsy with a lifetime commitment to three times a day meds. It’s all worth it because of how much joy we watch her experience every day just being a happy cutie. Chia has taught both of us what it’s like to see reciprocal unconditional love, and how we can be resilient in our healing journey.

Chia loves her cat siblings, a few extremely lucky humans, and toys. This baby bitch loves toys. Her life would be unfair if she could no longer chase after a ball. Ball is life.

You might be asking yourself, but Jess and Claire, you do so much for animals and know so many ppl in the biz. Can’t they help get her surgery done for free? Short answer - not really. Yes, we do have many connections due to Jess’ job and our community presence, but those same people are being asked for help all of the time. We choose to prioritize folks who do not have the generous network of friends and loved ones to help them out. We believe in the relationships we’ve built and people will want to support us! The other issue is the timeliness of getting this done.

All donations will go towards Chia's surgery, or Jess and Claire’s needs. Unfortunately, within days of Chia breaking her leg, Jess found out their grandfather is dying and must also factor in emergency travel costs. Chia's surgery is the priority, but to be fully transparent, being able to pay our rent, and this emergency trip next week are also weighing heavily on us. Living paycheck to paycheck is our life!

If you’ve read this far, then THANK YOU. Please remember we are handy queers and totally open to trades! Need help with basic car troubles? Need to build a raised bed? Want vintage goodies? Dog or cat behavior consult? A week of meal prep and specialty meals for complicated diets? Get at us. We can help in exchange for support of Chia's surgery costs!!!

With so much love and gratitude,

Claire Yazza and Jess Charlton