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!

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Sheri, this picture is absolutely priceless, especially knowing she is on her way to be healed and loved some more!  God Bless you and your husband for taking Honey in and giving her the love and chance she certainly deserved!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

OMD, I saw this and burst into tears. Again. Happy tears!  I think someone put it exactly right...you, Mike, Dane, Joyce, and DRC  are Honey's angels.  AND Honey is an angel too!  What a happy girl, in spite of it all.  There's a lesson in that smiling doodle face for all of us, for sure.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

These are priceless.

[Robin and Libby Louise]

Now I need a new box of Kleenex!  Be safe and give Honey kisses for me and Libby Louise (who is also following Honey's journey)!  :)

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I am so glad I am not the only one that gets teary every time I read about Honey!  Happy trails and tails!  

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

I'm with you Robin!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Thanks for the update to all of you - you are all so amazing, you deserve medals and flowers and chocolates and parades and more! :-)

[Charlotte and Bo]

ROAD TRIP!!!  The folks on this site never cease to amaze me.  Good luck Honey!

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Everyone is so amazing!  So happy to see Honey on her way to get better!  Thank you everyone!!!  Every time i come to DK I am so honored to be a part of this great network of people ready and willing to help doodles! 

[The Berry Oaks Doodle Ranch]

Honey Update!!

Look under a new discussion for more updates.  Can't add pictures in these replies.  :(

[Janice Jones]

Many, many years ago my mum taught me a poem, and this is the last verse that came to mind today while reading all the comments and thanks given to Sheri, Mike, Dane and Joyce.

Let me to-night look back across the span ' twist dawn and dark, and to my conscience say
"Because of some good act to beast or man -
The world is better that I lived to-day"

I think the world is better that you all live to-day!
My heartfelt thanks and gratitude for all you have done and are still doing to help Honey