Help me and Eno get through his surgery

As some of you already know, Eno is my wonderful Landseer Newfoundland, who I have been training since he was 12 weeks old to be my mobility assistance dog. I have been disabled for more than 30 years, and about 10 years ago I started losing the use of my legs. I started looking for a dog I could train as a mobility assistance dog, who would be able to help with my stability when moving around and help keep me from falling. It has been a very long, difficult search for the right dog. Eno is the sixth dog I started working with, and I have had really bad luck. Eno seemed to be my proverbial pot at the end of the rainbow. He is smart, trainable, funny, a bit stubborn and, until a couple of months ago, strong and healthy. Then one day he started limping on his right front leg. I hoped it was just a strain, or a cracked nail, but he kept limping I took him to an orthopedic specialist, a very qualified specialist in Vermont. He had stopped limping by the time we saw Dr. Schulz, and he said the joints in his leg felt OK at that time, so I could watch him and hopefully he would stay sound. I left there thinking we were OK, and I could keep working with my boy. But several days later, he was limping again. I spoke to Dr. Schultz, and he said Eno needs X rays and arthroscopic surgery to explore the joint and, hopefully, find a problem that can be fixed; His surgery was scheduled for the first date I could get, which is October 18. Until then, I have to watch my boy limp and dread the news that is coming.

This has been devastating for both of us. Eno and I have worked together for almost 2 years, since he was 12 weeks old, and he showed so much potential. I've worked with two trainers, who said he showed great promise. He has gone everywhere I have, and I have gotten so many positive comments on his behavior. He is more than a pet, he's a working dog, and he really loves to work. I knew that joint problems are an issue with Newfoundlands, as they are for more giant breeds, so I bought him from an experienced breeder who had tested the sire and dam's joints before breeding. I was careful not to let him grow too fast, and kept him slender. But there's something wrong in his elbow, and it's very unlikely that that leg will ever be sound enough for him to do his job. It's so hard now for both of us, when I leave the house and don't take him with me. I feel like I've lost a limb. I won't even know until after his surgery if he will be in pain for the rest of his life. I can't explain to him that he's done nothing wrong. Eno has such an effervescent, joyful temperament, and that's still there, but he's confused and he knows I'm sad. The stress has sent my pain level of the charts and I'm not sleeping much. I'm a mess.

Financially, i am really struggling. I love on disability, and I don't have credit. I've already spent more than $2,000 on Eno's vet expenses above and beyond the help I already got from some of Eno's friends. The surgery will cost about $5,500 but, thank dog, my wonderful aunt is going to cover what Eno's pet insurance doesn't cover. But there are a number of things I can't afford to do right now that would make getting through this surger so much less awful for me. The orthopedic vet is in upstate Vermont, about 2 1/2 hours from me, and Eno needs to be there at 8 AM. It's incredibly difficult for me to drive 5 hours in one day, so I am really hoping to board my two other dogs, drive up the night before and stay in a motel overnight. It would also be great to have to option of staying over the next night if Eno isn't feeling up to a long drive home. It would also be much easier if I could rent a car to get up there - I need to have some work don't on my car, and just can't afford to right now. It would also be good to have Eno's stomach tacked, a procedure called a gastropexy. at the same time as this surgery. This procedure will help protect Eno from bloat, a condition which kills a lot of large breed dogs. His insurance won't cover the gastropexy - don't ask me why - which will add a little over $800 to the bill

People have been so generous, and I try not to stick my hand out, but I'm asking now. I know a lot of you love my fuzzy cow from the stories I tell on Facebook, and I'm sure his antics will continue, even if he has to walk on three legs to wreak havoc. I am hoping you will all chip in a bit to help make this horrible nightmare a little less horrible. I will figure out how much I need and will shut this fundraiser down when there is aenough money to cover these things. I thank you all in advance.