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!

[Janice Jones]

I would be delighted to donate to DRC in Honey's honor. How would I do that? My navigation skills on the Doodlekisses site are awful :-)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you Janice. Here is a link for DRC Donations. 

[Janice Jones]

Thanks Karen. Donating on DRC was easy.....even for me :-) Thank you to all the people involved in helping Honey. I feel she was sent to teach us all a lesson in faith and hope.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you, Janice. 

[The Berry Oaks Doodle Ranch]

Thank you, Janice.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

OMD!  Doodle lovers are the best!  Honey is absolutely adorable and I am so happy for all the people involved who are making her life better!

[a.k.a. Rodney]

I am So happy to help in such a small & simple way by donating in Honeys honor to DRC...But the really heavy lifters out there are the ones offering their time, their home, their services. Great job, Well done to you all!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Rodney!

[The Berry Oaks Doodle Ranch]

Thank you, Rodney.

[The Berry Oaks Doodle Ranch]

The final preparations for Honey's transport to Dr. Beam in Texas is complete.  I departed our home near Savannah, GA this morning at 5:40 AM.  My route was north on I-95 into SC then northwest on I-26 across SC into NC where I picked up I-40 west.  This brought me through Ashville, NC, the Smokey Mountains, Knoxville, TN, more mountains then into Lexington, KY where I picked up US Route 68 ending in Maysville, KY for an overnight stay.  This is about 45 minutes from Honey's home.  It was a good ride.  Total time: 11 hours 50 minutes (including several brief stops).  Total distance: 670 miles.

Tomorrow morning around 9 AM I will meet Honey's foster family for what I am sure will be a sad time for them.  They have done an awesome job caring for her over these past few months and her departure will leave an emptiness in their home, not only for them, but for their two Doodles who have gotten close to Honey.  Thank you Sheri and Mike.

Honey, your chariot awaiteth:

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Complete with her knight in shining armor. :-)

Thank you, Dane. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

You have not only a great heart but incredible stamina.