New Knees for Karing Khaki
Hi everyone - my name is Katie and this campaign is on behalf of my favorite human - my sister, Stephanie - and her dog, Khaki.
Stephanie says, "Hi! my name is Stephanie, and I am the proud owner of Khaki, an incredible dog who gives so much to so many people and who now needs help.
Khaki is a 7-year-old Black Lab and a certified therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International. She supports patients in hospitals, residents in assisted living homes, college students during exam weeks, and serves as a reading buddy for children learning how to read.
Recently, Khaki tore her cruciate ligaments in her left knee and while waiting for surgery, tore her ligament that holds her patella in place in her right knee. The goal of this campaign is to pay for Khaki's knee surgeries.
She will begin with a TTA surgery in her left knee on December 19. The surgeries will total around $4,500. All proceeds from this campaign will go directly to covering the surgeries, getting Khaki back up and doing what she does best - helping others.
Khaki was literally made to help others. Decendant from pure bred show dogs, Khaki was bred for service work. Due to genetic mutations, male dogs in her litter were born with x-linked gene deficiency in dystrophin, a disease in dogs that mirrors the male human phenotype of muscular myopathy. Breeders donated Khaki's litter to science so a promising new gene replacement therapy could be developed to help people. Khaki is female and thankfully has both copies of her dystrophin gene and thus is normal.
After I adopted Khaki from the lab, we attended obedience classes. She did so well and loved working with people, so we pursued therapy dog training. After being certified as a therapy dog when she was two-years-old, Khaki began volunteering at an assisted living home. She loved the senior residents and they loved her, all 70 pounds of her. During mid terms and finals, she played with the college students at the nearby university. When we moved to Ohio, she and I became certified to work with patients in the gastrointestinal unit. She loved seeing everyone in the hallways during our weekly visits. Now that we are in Connecticut, she visits patients at the local hospital. Khaki has the best job in the world: she can enjoy all of the petting and cooing while putting smiles on faces of those in difficult situations.
Her knee issues have left Khaki in pain and unable to do her work. But through all of this, she always has a smile and tail wag for the neighbors."
Your support means so much to us because it enables this great dog to put joy into the world, one person at a time. We so greatly appreciate any donations and we assure you that as soon as Khaki is out of surgery and rehabilitated, she will be back out there, supporting hospital patients, listening to people talk about their days, and helping students from every grade learn in a stress-free environment.
This holiday season, the best gift we could receive is getting Khaki back up on all four paws. Please know that every little bit helps. Thank you for your help and support!
