My heart is breaking writing this, but I have to try.

This is Lance, my 10 year old German Shepherd Akita mix. I have had him since he was 1 year old. He has lived such a long, happy, and honestly shockingly healthy life. He is my big sweet boy, my shadow, my comfort, my home.

Yesterday afternoon we went on a long walk in the park, just like we always do. It was me, my boyfriend Alex, and even our cat Sora riding along in his backpack. Lance was happy, energized, and completely himself.

When we got home, he did what he always does, excitedly trying to prance up the stairs. But this time, my big clumsy sweetheart tripped and fell down a couple of steps. It didn’t seem like much at first. It took him a few tries, but he made it up.

By 9pm everything changed.

He could no longer stand on his own.

Trying to go outside to potty turned into both of us in tears. He was crying and making the most heartbreaking sounds I have ever heard in my life. I have never seen him like that.

Once we got back inside, I gave him gabapentin and trazodone to help with the pain and calm him down. I laid on the floor with him for hours, holding him, telling him over and over that he was going to be okay.

He eventually fell asleep. I did too.

When I woke up, he hadn’t moved. Not even a little. That is not my Lance.

He didn’t come when I fed him. He didn’t come when I grabbed his leash. He can’t stand. Even when he tries, he just can’t.

My sweet angel is in so much pain.

This morning I did what any pet parent would do. I got him to the hospital. We live on the third floor with no elevator, so I had to make a sling out of a sheet just to get him downstairs.

The vet believes it may be a hip or pelvis fracture, but we need imaging to know for sure.

Lance is 10 years old and 77 pounds. He is strong, but right now he is hurting.

The cost for sedation, x rays, radiology review, medication, and care is already over 2500 dollars.

I have reached out to programs that may be able to help, but there are not many that we qualify for, and time is not on our side.

Like so many people right now, I am doing my best just to stay on my feet. This is not something I have prepared for, and I am completely overwhelmed.

I know asking for help can feel uncomfortable or even embarrassing, but I love him too much not to try.

I am not ready to make a decision about his life without answers.

If you are able to donate, share, or even just send love, it would mean everything to me. Truly. Every single bit helps us get closer to understanding what is happening and what we can do for him.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping me try to show up for him the way he has always shown up for me.