Help Nala Walk Again

Knowing Allison is knowing Nala. They're a package, and have always been for longer than I've even known her. Allison rescued Nala from a puppy mill ten years ago, along with Nala's brother, after the owners of the mill killed all of the other dogs, not knowing two survived. Vets were sure that she wouldn't live past a few months and told Allison to just love her and make her comfortable for the rest of her short life.

A decade later, she not only still lives, but she acts as though she's still a puppy. Going on hikes, walks in the park, and chasing down her spiky balls. She demands attention, love, and head-rubs every day, and she always eats her food too quickly, no matter how much you put in her bowl. Little as she is, Nala has even chased off burglars and fought with another dog to protect her humans. 

She isn't that big of a dog, having been a runt at birth, but she has a big personality- one that has consoled Allison through the worst times of her life. From what she's told me, Nala was by her side after her move away from her friends at 15, and licked away tears after her first heartbreak. She was her protector when she moved miles away from home alone for college, and her best friend when she felt lonely. If you ever get the chance to hear the very personal story about the day Allison saved her, you'll hear of a teenage girl learning about redemption, unconditional love, and being saved herself.

As much as Allison rescued Nala, little Nala rescued Allison. 

This past Saturday, August 25th, she hurt her leg while playing and a few days later we learned that her hip was displaced. The vet gave two options that would allow her to continue to be the loyal friend that I've come to know her as.

These are total hip replacement, which is the better option, as it would give the best chance of restoring total function, with a complete cessation of pain; and a procedure called FHO, which would allow her to live with reduced pain, but with pain nonetheless (which also would mean keeping her on pain medicine indefinitely) The cost of the total replacement is supposed to be $4,000-5,000 depending on where we go. The preliminary estimate I got today for the cheaper FHO procedure is $2,600. She has to have one of these options if she's to ever walk again, and to also protect a now exposed artery. The surgery is essentially a matter of life or death for her.

With the artery being exposed, the timer is already ticking down as the blood pressure is high and causing bruises to form. We only have a few days to get this done or she may not make it.

We've been through a lot together these past four years, and Nala has come to mean a lot to me too. Winning her cautious approval, then affection, was a prerequisite to dating Allie. Once you are in her inner circle of trust, you become her human. It's been hard watching this incredibly active little dog struggle to limp even a few feet at a time. We aren't ready to lose this dog. I'm not ready to see Allie go through that. Not yet. Not like this. Help me save Nala!