Fiume was abandoned on a mountain road in Italy with three brothers. He walked straight toward me then. Today, he can't walk without pain.

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WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

It started between two bends on a road in Calabria. Four white puppies - dirty, covered in ticks, thirsty and hungry, no mother in sight - abandoned on the side of a mountain road at 6 to 8 weeks old.

One of them came directly to me. That was Fiume.

I was supposed to go back to Berlin two days later. I went back home and then came back for him a few months later. What followed was a long journey by train from Cosenza to Paola, Bologna, Bolzano, Munich, and finally Berlin. A puppy discovering train stations, city streets, hotel rooms, and a world that kept getting bigger. He probably saw more of Europe in one week than most dogs see in a lifetime.

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WHAT HIS BODY HAS BEEN HIDING

Since arriving in Berlin, Fiume has faced worms, infections, a months-long bladder infection, and surgical removal of two milk teeth - all before turning 9 months old. And still, through all of it, not one vet caught what was really wrong.

Before the milk teeth surgery, we spotted that something might be off with his knees or hips. While he was going to be under general anaesthesia, we took X-rays. We weren't prepared for what they showed.

Severe bilateral hip dysplasia in both hips. So advanced that every vet we consulted said the same thing: full hip replacement. Two separate surgeries needed as soon as possible. They cannot happen simultaneously as the risks would be too high. The right hip goes first, as it's the most painful side. There needs to be a minimum of 4 weeks between the two operations. During that window, Fiume's life will be one of strict rest - essentially couch potato mode . What makes this especially complex is that Fiume is young, still developing, and has a luxated hip. This isn't a routine procedure but a delicate intervention, followed by months of recovery and physiotherapy. Devastating for any dog. Unthinkable for one not yet a year old.

This had been invisible to the naked eye - through all our vet visits, nobody caught it. All this time, Fiume had been active (running, climbing stairs, playing with other dogs), not showing any signs of discomfort or limping - pushing through real pain, every single day. He never complained. He just kept trying to be a normal dog.

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WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP

Between the different consultations, multiple lab analyses (for urine, stool and blood), medications, veterinary food (for a large growing puppy), and the milk teeth surgery, I've given everything I can and already spent several thousands of euros out of pocket. The hip surgeries are beyond what I can carry alone.

Pet insurance? We do have one but hip dysplasia carries a mandatory 6-month waiting period before claims can be made, and Fiume was diagnosed before that window closed. We are covered for everything else that is not a pre-existing condition or known symptom. This specific condition, at this specific moment, fell exactly outside what any insurance policy could have covered.

Before launching this campaign, I reached out to two emergency animal welfare funds in Berlin. Both responded quickly and with genuine compassion, but they had the same answer: their funds are completely exhausted and they are unable to take on new cases at this time. This campaign is our only remaining option.

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GETTING EVERY OPINION WE COULD

I didn't want to accept surgery as the only answer without being absolutely sure, so I asked everyone I could. I consulted two physiotherapists independently - outside of the veterinary world - to explore whether any alternative could spare Fiume from surgery. Both their conclusions, after reviewing the X-rays, was unambiguous. Here is what one of them wrote me: "The hip no longer looks good at all on the X-rays. There is unfortunately no alternative to surgery anymore. It is of course terrible to have such a damaged hip at this age. I would strongly advise an operation - and you should not delay it too long, as compensatory posture issues in the chest, lumbar spine and shoulders often cause additional pain and limitations." (translated from German)

We got a referral to Prof. Dr. Peter Böttcher from the MKK Leipzig clinic. He is a specialist in orthopaedics, traumatology, and prosthetics and his response to Fiume's file was immediate: he proposed going straight to a surgery appointment, skipping the preliminary consultation entirely. This campaign exists because everyone we've consulted agrees on one thing: this cannot wait.

The surgical plan has now been confirmed by Prof. Dr. Peter Böttcher: the right hip goes first, with a minimum of 4 weeks between the two surgeries. The earliest the second surgery can happen is on April 21st, during the follow-up X-ray appointment - when Fiume is already under anaesthesia to check the first implant - which we will use to operate the second hip at the same time if everything looks good.

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THE FULL (UPDATED) COST BREAKDOWN AND WHY THIS COSTS WHAT IT COSTS

Fair warning: the numbers are brutal.

Hip replacement surgery for dogs is genuinely, ridiculously expensive. I want to be fully transparent with you about where every euro goes - and why this is the path we have to take. I looked into every alternative before accepting this. Euthanasia is the very last option I would ever consider for a puppy this young. I refuse to let Fiume live in chronic pain, and I refuse to give up on him.

Both hips are in catastrophic condition. The surgeon confirmed the window to act is at most 8–12 weeks (ideally much sooner), depending on Fiume's current tolerance and quality of life. Unfortunately, Fiume's condition has visibly deteriorated over the last few weeks - it is now clear he is in pain, dragging himself to move, sitting down mid-street after a couple of minutes of walking, and needs a painkiller every day. The first surgery happened on March 20th and Fiume already has a new right hip. For the follow-up X-ray appointment (and possible second surgery), the date is April 21st.

The itemized cost breakdown below is based on the official written quote and first invoice I received from the clinic. The final cost per surgery is confirmed at pickup as it varies depending on the procedure, any complications, length of hospital stay, and medication used.

Total: €19,844-22,794.

Our milestones:

Payment is due at pickup after each surgery. I've applied to the clinic's financial partner BFS for an instalment plan - this allows up to 4 payments at no extra cost. This means your donations directly unlock each step of Fiume's treatment. Here is the confirmed invoice from the clinic and their financial partner (received on March 29th):

Fiume is being treated by a specialist in orthopaedic surgery and prosthetics at a private clinic - not a general practice. The implants used in canine total hip replacement are precision-engineered components. Two separate surgeries means two rounds of anaesthesia, two inpatient stays, two post-op recoveries. The physiotherapy required to rebuild full muscle function after joint replacement surgery is intensive, not a few casual sessions.

Why don't you go to a less expensive country?

He needs a stroller, and every step of the journey requires an elevator or someone willing to help - a risk I'm not willing to take, especially post-surgery when any wrong movement could compromise his recovery. I did contact a clinic in Poland where staff could speak English - the surgeon reviewed the X-rays and wanted to discuss possible options, but I'm still waiting for his call. When your dog is deteriorating in front of you and every specialist says act now, you don't have weeks to spend researching clinics abroad and waiting for people to get back to you. Two surgeries abroad means at minimum two round trips, accommodation while waiting for discharge, and all follow-up appointments - travel costs would quickly cancel out any savings. And post-surgery recovery means weeks of strict rest. Fiume won't be going anywhere for months after each operation. Planning treatment far away, with constant back and forth, makes no sense for a dog who needs stillness to heal. When your dog is deteriorating in front of you and every specialist says act now, you don't have weeks to spend researching clinics abroad.

Isn't there a less expensive surgical alternative? There is a less expensive option called a Femoral Head and Neck Ostectomy (FHO) - essentially removing the femoral head rather than replacing it - at around €2,000 per hip. Here is why I chose not to take it: FHO reduces pain by eliminating bone-on-bone contact, but it does not restore normal, pain-free joint function. Instead of a working joint, scar tissue forms - and over time, that tissue tightens, and progressively restricts movement. Lifelong physiotherapy is required just to slow that process. More critically, if an FHO later needs to be converted to a full hip replacement, the complication rate increases significantly. This isn't a cheaper first step you can upgrade later, it's a choice that can't be undone. The total hip replacement is the only option that offers a genuine return to normal, pain-free, unrestricted movement, with no long-term surprises. Fiume is 9 months old. He deserves the full chance.

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WHO FIUME IS

Despite everything - the pain, the vet visits, the enforced rest, the restrictions - Fiume has not lost his spirit. Not once.

He was abandoned on a roadside, separated from his brothers, brought across three countries to a life he never chose - and made entirely his own. He greets every human with a wagging tail. He is gentle with every animal he meets. He just wants to play, get cuddles, discover, and eat. Everyone who meets him says the same thing: he is the sweetest soul.

He can't run right now. He can't use stairs. He can't play with other dogs. He can barely walk. He's on daily pain management. But if you saw him, you wouldn't know because he's still trying. His tail still wags through all of it.

He was abandoned once already. He deserves the full chance.

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HOW YOUR DONATION HELPS

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Help us replace Fiume's hips and give him the life he's already fighting for. I chose him on a mountain road. Now I'm asking you to choose him too.

Follow Fiume's adventures (and root for his recovery) on Instagram @iamfiume & TikTok @i_am_fiume