HONEY UPDATE! - DRC NEEDS "DOODLE TRAIN" HELP IN OHIO

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

HONEY NEEDS TO HITCH A RIDE TO CLEVELAND!

CAN YOU HELP?

HONEY'S  STORY

As many of you know, sweet Honey, a beautiful 1 year old Labradoodle came into our program a few months ago in Seattle, WA when she was just 10 months old. Her owners were considering putting her down because Honey was injured and in desperate need of, what we were told by vets in Seattle, was surgery to repair 2 torn and ruptured ACLs also known as CCLs Cranial Cruciate Ligaments.

SEE "MEET HONEY!" FOR MORE BACKGROUND

After consultation with Honey's vets in WA and viewing initial x-rays, our incredible vet Dr. Rachel Anderson of Animal Medical Center in Indianapolis, IN offered to perform the surgery to repair Honey's torn ACLs for less than half the normal costs of this extensive and expensive surgery......

http://www.amcindy.com/

......And so sweet Honey came into the DRC Rescue Program and was flown from Seattle to our volunteer, the amazing Sheri Clement in OH. Sheri and her husband Mike graciously offered to see Honey through her surgery and recovery and so many of you generously donated to DRC for Honey's treatment. Thanks to all of you, we were able to raise the funds to cover the costs of Honey's surgery and pre and post surgical care.

UPDATE

Upon arrival in IN and after close pre-surgical examination by Dr. Rachel, further testing and new x-rays revealed that our sweet Honey girl's knees are actually quite stable and what Honey really needs is a much more extensive and sadly yes, much more expensive surgery called  Tibial Tuberosity Advancement or (TTA) which can only be performed by a skilled orthopedic specialist. The costs of this type of surgery are as much as 3 times the costs of typical ACL repair surgery- money that DRC does not have to spend and couldn't hope to raise within the necessary time period.

Of course second and third opinions were obtained from several orthopedic veterinary specialists throughout the country. All unanimously agreed that TTA surgery is the best option for our sweet Honey girl. Specialists also agreed that this surgery should not be performed until Honey is a minimum of 1 year of age and her bone plates have officially closed.

So our Miss Honey has been hanging with the Clements over the last few months and enjoying life with doodle sisters Lucy and Annabelle, awaiting her first birthday and a plan.

THANK GOODNESS FOR DR. BEAM AND ALVARADO VETERINARY CLINIC IN TEXAS!

One of the first vets that we contacted for a second opinion and evaluation of Honey's situation was Dr. Kevin Beam of Alvarado Veterinary Clinic in Texas...And I can't even begin to tell you how much we love Dr. Beam!

Dr. Beam is one of  the top orthopedic specialists in the US and we are proud to call him our friend. 

http://alvaradoveterinaryclinic.com/

Dr. Beam has been helping DRC with Texas doodles for many years and is also doodle-dad to Cypress formerly "Gilbert", one of our 8  "Little Explorer Puppies" from 2011.

CYPRESS AT HOME WITH THE BEAMS

Knowing our dilemma, and always willing to help DRC in any way that he can, Dr. Beam has offered to perform Honey's surgery for a fraction of the cost! He has also offered to provide Honey with the very BEST post surgical care for the week to 10 days immediately following her surgery at no additional cost to DRC.

THANK YOU DR. BEAM!

We are in the process of trying to arrange Honey's transport to Dallas, Texas but we need your help.

THE NEED-ATTENTION OHIO DOODLERS!

Honey is being fostered in the Cincinnati area with Sheri and Mike. Unfortunately, our only feasible option for a quick, direct commercial airline flight for Honey is United Airlines and their Pet Safe Program. United has temperature controlled cargo holds and their fleet of planes have holds that have been outfitted with noise-reduction and temperature controlling insulation to specifically accommodate safe, comfortable, reliable live animal transport. An attendant actually climbs down into the hold every hour to check on live animals during the flight.

There are two problems with this in regards to Honey's situation that complicate matters even more. 

1. Cincinnati is not considered a "hub" for United or most commercial airlines and there are no direct flights to Dallas or even flights with one stop out of Cincinnati.

2. Honey needs to fly in an extra-large crate that smaller jets cannot accommodate in cargo. Therefore, choices of specific flights even out of Cleveland are limited.

One thing is certain. Honey needs to get to Cleveland in order to get to Texas for her surgery and that will involve some very special volunteers who are willing to drive and possibly house Honey for an overnight in the process.

Please let us know if you are able to help in Ohio! Email us at: [e-mail]

Or call us @ 917-439-6403.

We so appreciate your willingness to help DRC and Honey, and we appreciate your patience as we try to coordinate these efforts in both Ohio and in Texas.

On behalf of DRC and Honey, we thank you for your help!

[The Berry Oaks Doodle Ranch]

For those following Honey's Journey through life you can help. DRC has a meassage for everyone:

From Jacqueline Yorke, Director DRC:

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE DONATED TO THE HONEY POT! - We had to increase our goal amount and extend our fundraiser due to the additional expenses of this more intensive and expensive surgery. http://www.youcaring.com/nonprofits/the-honey-pot-/56681

[The Berry Oaks Doodle Ranch]

June 25, 2013/12:57PM

We are 20 miles north of Louisville, KY for a break. Honey is comfortable, doing well and is enjoying watching all the big trucks pass us. We departed Sheri and Mke's at 10:00 AM this morning and as we expected, it was tearful for all of us. I felt so bad taking her away and I had to keep reminding myself it is for her own good now and later in life. Here are a few pictures:

[Ellen aka BeauBeau's Mom]

loved the pics!  Thanks for sharing them.  Please give a kiss to Honey from us.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Thanks for sharing the pictures, they are awesome!  This is such an incredible and wonderful journey for Honey and the outcome will be the best!  Tears everytime I read anything on Honey and all the wonderful people helping to make her journey a success!  All of you are Angels:)

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

The updates are great but I don't see them signed "Honey's Angels".  You are WONDERFUL!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Amen, Marnie!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank you for updating us. Blessings to you and prayers for a safe journey. She is so sweet looking. 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Whew, this morning was not an easy morning, but we will once again now try and find a new normal around here.  Dane was a wonderful person, which we all already knew anyway,  (he is retired Army, Mike is Retired Air Force)!  Honey warmed up to him right away and she seemed perfectly happy in the little nest he had set up in the backseat of the truck.  As you can see she was all smiling and happy and her tail was wagging when they drove off.  He had to make his first detour before he ever even got out of Ohio as there was a big accident this morning on the road he should have left our town on.  So he had to backtrack a little.   I am so gratful I did not have to put her on another airplane and that she will have a personal escort to the clinic in Texas.  I cannot thank everyone enough for all the support you have given to us while she was here, to everyone who has contributed to her surgery fund, and to Dane for making this amazing drive to get her to Texas, to Joyce for holding down the fort at home,  and for Dr. Beam and his staff for seeing that she gets the surgery and after care she needs.  I cannot wait for a few months down the road when she is in her new home and running pain free the way a doodle is meant to be!  Hugs to you all!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sheri, nobody would or could have done what you and Mike did for Honey. Every good thing that happens to her from here on out, her whole wonderful, happy, painfree life, she owes primarily to you. I hope that thought makes today easier for you. :-) 

[Robin and Libby Louise]

Ditto!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Ditto. The selflessness that surrounds this entire story amazes me.  Whenever I seem to doubt things in life (given some of the awful things that happen), situations like these really, truly restore my faith in people. There are good, WONDERFUL, people out there! 

[F, Calla & Luca]

So true.