UPDATE 26/08/2016
Leeoolly’s surgery has taken place!
D-r Nikolov did a resection of the hip joint – so that the worn-out bones don’t touch each other and she can move without all the pain. In a week or two she should start using her leg more often. A fibrosis capsule will form to replace the joint and keep the femur attached to the pelvis, providing support and a more even weight distribution.
Leeoolly now needs to start moving and stop associating the use of this leg with pain – with animals who have not received urgent care for trauma like hers – the memory of pain in the limb can actually be a big issue. Hopefully, in the matter of months, this lovely lady will be able to move freely, and continue to do so for many years to come – as long as she stays in shape and keeps the weight down.
Update 24/08/2016
Dear donors,
the funds needed for both surgeries have been raised!
We thank you very much, please read the text below,
THERE ARE NEW CIRCUMSTANCES:
Just now, following this post about Lotte, we were contacted by Mrs Susann Langkait, who has been a friend to our dogs many years now, adopter, donor and great helper.
Some of you probably remember Moritz – a drathaar with a similar condition to Lotte’s, but also with bad nerve damages and permanent pains. Here Moritz was destined for an amputation, but with Susann’s help, he went to Germany, to be treated in one of the most renown orthopedic clinics in Europe. After surgeries, physiotherapy and long months of hard work, Moritz made an amazing recovery, to the extent that he now runs like the wind with Susann – in Canada.
The truth is we were skeptical back then. We even had a thought that money is wasted on a hopeless case. But Moritz’ results were really something impossible in our environment, they were hard to believe.
Today Susann is offering the same support to Lotte. A treatment that costs thousands, in a place where the chances to save her leg are real.
But at the same time – the funds for her amputation have been raised.
Donated – by you.
We think that having a chance to keep her leg and a kind person who would really see to her best recovery, it would be a sin for Lotte not to take this opportunity.
But as these are specific donations (for Lotte and Leeoolly), not general donations for the shelter, WE ASK THE PEOPLE WHO DONATED FOR LOTTE AND DO NOT WANT THEIR DONATION TO BE USED FOR OTHER DOGS IN NEED, to send us a short e-mail on office[at]arsofia.com, so we can send their donation back.
In case that we don’t receive a letter from you by the end of the week (till 28.08), we will redirect your donation for the shelter clinic. Currently, we have 16 dogs for stationary treatment, we take in outside patients brought by people every day, and of course – we care for the shelter dogs, many of whom have illnesses.
Once again, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts on behalf of the two good girls. We hope we’re not unnerving you with this new situation, but this is a true opportunity for Lotte, she wouldn’t have this chance here, and this is really a great expense.
Kindest regards, the humans at ARS
P.S. Leeoolly’s surgery will take place by the end of the week, keep your fingers crossed! We will write more about Lotte when we have an idea about her journey to the German clinic.
Original post. A CRY FOR HELP: The legs of Lotte and Leeoolly
Dear friends, we turn to you on behalf of two sweet girls in trouble – Lotte and Leeoolly, who need urgen orthopedic surgeries for their bad injuries. Please, if you can – spare a moment of your time to get to know them – they have no one else to turn to for the help they need so badly today…
We introduce you to Lotte, a Bobtail mix; and Leeoolly a German Shepherd mix, yours truly:
Lotte
This lovely creature is under a year old, and she already spent at least half of it in horrible pain – because of a badly damaged leg. She was found abandoned on a remote bus stop – limping, shaking, confused and full of parasites.
Lotte’s x-rays showed an old fracture in the wrist. Left to heal without medical help, and in the time of active growth, the old trauma has damaged the leg irreversibly all the way up to the elbow, causing strong, permanent pains to our gentle giant.
To be released from the pain, Lotte needs an amputation of the damaged limb, and that is including the elbow and scapula, as there are arthritic changes to the elbow joint – there is no way to even leave a bit for future prosthetics.
The price for her surgery is BGN200.
There is no way the shelter can spare these for one single dog at this time.
According to Lotte’s orthopedician this surgery is the only way she will be pain-free.
Leeoolly
This clever girl came to us from Liulin district, after a close encounter with an automobile. The damaged hair on her neck and her gentle, frightful approach to people tells us she is just out of a chained life.
Leeoolly was hit in the back, both legs are damaged, but one of them – more severely. The femur head is broken beyond repair. In cases like this there are many options, but even the cheapest – resection of the femur joint – is out of our reach.
The surgery Leeoolly needs, costs between 250 and 350BGN (the exact amount will be clear once the surgery is performed). The doctor wants to remove the femur head permanently, with the idea that a fibrosis tissue will form and the dog will be able to use the leg pain-free in the future.
If that is done – Leeoolly will not be able to become a ballerina, she will limp a little all her life. But she will be walking painlessly, keep her leg, even run! As long as the surgery takes place.
Help
Can you help them? Even by little – there are many of us here – if only 5% of the people who will read this, decide to make a small donation – the girls will get rid of the pain and make their first steps to a new life.
Fibank
37 Dragan Tzankov blvd, Sofia, BGSWIFT: FINVBGSF
IBAN BGN: BG07FINV91501215999954
IBAN EUR: BG50FINV91501215999956
BENEFICIARY: A R Sofia Foundation
ADDRESS: 23 James Bourchier blvd, Sofia, BG
We thank the people who will not pass them by.
Your help means everything to Lotte and Leeoolly, kind Humans.
