Last Update Here: Asking for Donations … puppy in need!
You can follow Gidget's updates on this new page!
Everybody, I'd like you to meet Gidget.
Freakin' adorable, ain't she?
So … she was being a rambunctious puppy on the front porch the other day. You could say she was bouncing off the walls, except there was no wall there, so she fell off the porch. And somehow, in the 18-20 inches to the ground, she managed to stick her right front leg out in such a way that she broke her elbow.
So, now there's a chunk of her elbow joint kind of 'floating' around in her leg (diagram to come soon), and she needs surgery to pin it back into place. The alternative is to leave it as-is, and let the joint develop such severe arthritis that she'll never be able to use the leg again.
Obviously, I'm opting for surgery. However, as it always seems to go, I'm flat-ass fucking broke this month … and the surgery tomorrow will cost between $900 to $1100. I have $223 and some odd change to my name this week, and the vet clinic likes to get all their money before you take your pet home. I've succeeded in talking them into accepting half up front for a surgery on one of my ferrets years ago, but I'm still pretty far short of the $450-550 that would take. 
So, I am uncharacteristically begging for help.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED!! I just picked her up from the vet, and was able to pay the whole bill in full!
Everyone who donates $10 or more will get a hand-stenciled commemorative t-shirt print, featuring Gidget's lovely smiling face (see left), along with whatever other goodies I find to stuff in the flat-rate envelope. (Obviously, this will be after the surgery is definitely paid for, and I have the money to buy blank t-shirts materials. 
Any help anyone can spare is hugely appreciated. Even if you donate less than the cost of a blank t-shirt, I'll still send you one. Consider it interest paid for a big favor! Y'know, I thought about the t-shirt thing, and that could get expensive if a whole pile of people donate $5 each … heh. It'd be a little ironic for me to end up losing money here. SO! Revised offer: I'll send a hand stenciled print instead. (I can get nice archival quality paper a lot cheaper than t-shirts. Heck, I could even sign and number them, so you can eBay 'em if I ever get famous. lol)
OK … I found some xrays of another unfortunate puppy with the exact same injury, along with a diagram of a canine elbow, that I've colored for greater clarity:
On the right is an xray of the same break Gidget has.
The humerus (upper arm bone) has an almost stirrup shaped end, where it meets the lower arm bones (radius & ulna). Basically, the injury involves two breaks: One through the bottom of the 'stirrup' and one through the upper section, breaking off the side of the 'stirrup' on the inside of the elbow.
The xray on the left shows what the surgery involves.
The vet wants to put a screw through the lower break (where the bone is thicker), to hold everything together, and put a pin through the upper break to make sure everything stays properly aligned while the bone heals.
As young as she is, there's a good chance of her recovering with no problems, once everything is put back in place.
And finally, on the right is a line diagram, showing a somewhat clearer view of exactly what area of the bone breaks off.
My vet said it was a fairly common injury in puppies … which I suppose is why I was able to find such similar xrays online, for your entertainment and understanding.
So, again, a thousand thank yous to anyone who can find it in their heart and budget to spare a little for Gidget's surgery.
UPDATE: GIDGET IS HOME!
I just picked her up about 20 minutes ago. She's doing fine … a little to hyper for her own good though. She'll be mostly confined to her kennel for the next month, but the x-rays did look really good!
The donations ended up being about $100 dollars over the actual bill (which was $933 total) … I asked everyone to vote on what I should do with the extra money. The poll here, as you can see, garnered 13 votes for HBPRR and 12 votes for Gidget's follow-up care, and my poll on my Multiply account got one vote for Linda, and 5 for Gidget. So the final total votes are 14 for HBPRR, and 17 for follow-up care (which is a good thing, because I already had to buy her a new, larger kennel … seeing as she'll be mostly confined to it for the next 8 weeks, and her old kennel is barely big enough for her to curl up in anymore … heh ).
What is Homeward Bound Pet Rescue? HBPRR (Homeward Bound Pet Rescue and Referral) is a local private dog shelter run by Linda Cook. My adult dog, Nisby, came from HBPRR. In Nisby's case, Linda had to get her spayed and vaccinated, as well as treating her for parvo, before she could be adopted. I know my adoption fee didn't even come close to covering the vet bills Linda incurred on her behalf. As will most private shelters, Linda always has an outstanding bill at the vet clinic (the same clinic I brought Gidget to: Aurora Animal Clinic, Fairbanks, AK), because she takes care of all the medical needs of the dogs she takes in. So, Linda's vet bill is definitely another good cause for dogs in need.
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!!!
You can keep track of Gidget's post-op progress right over here on the Gidget Updates page. I'll probably do 2-3 updates per page, and then create a new one, and link them in series …
… have I said thank you to all of you lately?
2 weeks ago, Mamita and I found a female kitten who was being starved and denied water in a hot cage in our tropical Peruvian desert. We took her in, got her de-wormed from the vet, and have actually been giving her food and water!!!! We will be having her little tubes tied next week,so as to not have more kittens abandoned and tortured,after the de-worming medicine is out of her system.
18th June 2008 at 12:02 pm | permalink |We are poor Peruanos, but PLEASE consider this as OUR contribution!!! Please!
@Pedro: Hey, nobody's obligated to donate! Especially if they're already helping an animal who needs it.
18th June 2008 at 12:43 pm | permalink |yeah,, we would love to help Gidgita, but, it is enough for us to take care of this little kitten. 2 weeks ago she was hungry, thirsty, hot, and full of parasites.. now,,she screams if we dont feed her fresh fish with her kibbies,,shit,,she is so spoiled.
18th June 2008 at 12:57 pm | permalink |Count me in
Such a cute puppy.
18th June 2008 at 2:10 pm | permalink |Donated, also, dugg.
Be sure to digg this and use the digg share feature to send it to all of your friends: http://digg.com/pets_animals/Asking_for_Donations_h_puppy_in_need
18th June 2008 at 2:43 pm | permalink |Thanks, David.
I hadn't even thought of digging it!
18th June 2008 at 2:47 pm | permalink |I love dogs and would like to help but I'm just not in a position to right now. I feel for ya (and the dog), I would be in the same boat if something happened to my dog write now.
18th June 2008 at 3:38 pm | permalink |Digging the story would help quite a bit, if we can get this popular enough on digg then we should really get somewhere.
18th June 2008 at 3:45 pm | permalink |@Rick: No worries.
Hope your dog stays in good shape!
18th June 2008 at 3:46 pm | permalink |Yeah, David is right … if you don't have a Digg account yet, it would only take a couple minutes to set it up. Just click the "digg!" link underneath the counters at the top and bottom of the post.
18th June 2008 at 3:49 pm | permalink |Oops that should have been "right" not "write".
I don't have a digg account but I'd be glad to set one up really quick.
18th June 2008 at 4:16 pm | permalink |Donated $25 and dugg. I really hope you make your goal. And I don't need a t-shirt, but I expect a warm welcome if I ever make to wherever-you-live, Alaska
P.S. My mom's dog jumped off a low wall a few months ago and severed a tendon (the dog version of his ACL or something…) We were stuck with a $2000 surgery bill. Lame! Could dogs learn to be more careful already?
18th June 2008 at 4:33 pm | permalink |@Rick: Thanks!
If we can nudge it anywhere near Digg's front page, I'll have to find a charity to give the left over money to. 
@stellarmouse & Dots: Thanks to both of you! I'm thinking if enough people chip in, I might be able to get a quantity discount on the shirts …
And of course, anyone of you who comes up here will get a very warm welcome. 
re, P.S.: Yeah, I have no freaking idea why/how they do these things. At least Gidget's surgery isn't THAT expensive though … yeeowch!
18th June 2008 at 4:46 pm | permalink |Aside from digging the article, click "share" on digg and send this article to all of your friends on digg.com.
18th June 2008 at 7:02 pm | permalink |I'm all in! I helped heal a beautiful pitbull named Moe today! I was SUCH an awesome doggie! U have a great heart! Keep on doing & keep on spreading your love and your message!!
You have a VOICE! mivox
19th June 2008 at 1:04 am | permalink |Dug Teresa,
19th June 2008 at 1:14 am | permalink |Poor Puppy.
[...] Help Da Puppy [...]
19th June 2008 at 1:23 am | trackback from I dont wanna be a gimp! | UKGimp - UK Based SEO and Web StrategistOne of my aunt and uncle's dogs is called Gidget. She's a black Labrador, though.
19th June 2008 at 1:52 am | permalink |Don't you dare send me anything, use the postage to help Gidget, or buy a chew or something…
19th June 2008 at 1:59 am | permalink |Wow. You folks are all SO wonderful!
Seriously, as misanthropic as this blog may be at times … things like this really reinforce my basic faith in humanity. Thank you all so much!
@Steve: OK, fine. I'll just have to meet up with you for curry again next time I'm in London, and deliver your print in person.
19th June 2008 at 4:17 am | permalink |Here's to hoping she gets better soon.
19th June 2008 at 4:18 am | permalink |@ Alpha: Ditto for me. Save the postage for Gidget. If you insist, then bring mine to London with you.
19th June 2008 at 6:08 am | permalink |Donated 15 bucks.
19th June 2008 at 6:16 am | permalink |I won't need the t-shirt because I've just moved back to Brazil.
I hope the surgery goes well.
Hey Alpha,
I'd love to donate, but it looks like they won't let me do it on paypal for some reason. If you could send me your snail mail address, I'll send you $20 by check.
19th June 2008 at 9:32 am | permalink |…maybe I'll try again after work. It could be that they blocked access to it at my job. =0T
Poor thing
19th June 2008 at 10:51 am | permalink |Donated & there's no need to send anything.
Gonna donate $25 but don't send anything. I will donate under a presumed name to protect my identity since I am wanted in over 5 states ever since I tested positive for G-A-M-E! with the ladies.
19th June 2008 at 11:33 am | permalink |Yeah, get Gidget taken care of before you spend any money on tshirts or anything.
19th June 2008 at 11:37 am | permalink |Wish I could give more, in the middle of a move at the moment. Hope all works out!
19th June 2008 at 12:51 pm | permalink |My little pug just had knee surgery…same exact thing, except my giant rhodesian ridgeback stepped on her leg. So I'll just drink cheap beer this weekend!
19th June 2008 at 1:15 pm | permalink |Oh, and just send me a digital pic after the surgery
I'll put it on my screensaver and make the rest of my bad dogs mad…
19th June 2008 at 1:21 pm | permalink |You got me too, you fucker.
19th June 2008 at 2:05 pm | permalink |@Larry: "Here's to hoping she gets better soon." Definitely.
The vet I talked to this morning, when I brought her in said they're usually up walking on the cast the next day, so she should be doing a lot better soon.
@Becca:
Noted. Overseas delivery coming up.
@Bruno: I won't need the t-shirt…" That's good.
I edited the original post to change the 'thank you gift' to a print anyhow. A pack of nice paper is a LOT cheaper than t-shirts.
@Phil: Thanks! If I do prints, the postage shouldn't be much more than regular first class mail (within the US) … and I'm not doing any of that until after she's all taken care of anyhow. I might just send you something anyway. hehe
@Dean: "Wish I could give more" No worries! It's all hugely appreciated. I wish I didn't have to ask!
@Aaron: "My little pug just had knee surgery…same exact thing" Aww. How's she doing? OK, I hope!
"Oh, and just send me a digital pic after the surgery" I was going to set up a page on the site here with updates on her recovery, for anyone who wants to follow along … so I'll have plenty of pictures.
@Andy: "You got me too, you fucker." lol … I always suspected you were a nice guy.
19th June 2008 at 2:29 pm | permalink |OK, so here's the update:
Last time I checked my PayPal, people had donated $780! Thank you ALL very very much! If the surgery comes in on the low estimate, I can cover it … I'm going to leave donations open until I hear back from the vet later today with the total though. And if I end up collecting more than I need, I'll put up a poll so you can decide what I should do with it.
Gidget is in surgery right now, and hopefully I'll be able to bring her home tonight, but she might be staying at the vets office overnight, so they can monitor her recovery … I'll post another update after I talk to the vet.
Thank thank you all again. And again.
Also, in case you haven't re-read the post, or all of my replies in my last comment:
The t-shirt offer has been changed to a stenciled print of the same design (which I haven't designed yet). I figured I could actually end up almost losing money if I had to buy so many blank shirts … I didn't expect so many people to donate!
So, for all of you "don't send me anything" folks, my materials and postage costs just got a whole lot cheaper, and I will at LEAST send a print to all the US donors … and do hand delivery to everyone I'll be seeing in the UK this October.
19th June 2008 at 2:34 pm | permalink |Holy cow, you guys (that includes gals too
!!
Up to $860 now.
You're all amazingly wonderful!
19th June 2008 at 2:37 pm | permalink |My dog Zeke and I just donated $30 to the cause. Your site puts a smile on my face just about every time I read it so we're more than happy to help out.
19th June 2008 at 3:32 pm | permalink |By the way…you don't need to send me anything.:)
19th June 2008 at 3:35 pm | permalink |@Badsanta: Thanks you and Zeke.
19th June 2008 at 4:39 pm | permalink |Update from the vet!
They just got out of surgery a little while ago, and he said it took a while to get everything cleaned out and lined back up, but he's very happy with the post-op x-ray. She'll be staying at the clinic overnight (gawd, I hope that's not going to cost a couple hundred more … *sigh*), and I'll be picking her up around 10am tomorrow.
Didn't get the final total on the bill yet … I'm guessing, since it looks like they spent THREE HOURS in surgery (assuming they started on time at 1:30), it's going to be on the high side of the estimate though.
But thanks to all you wonderful, generous people, it'll be taken care of.
19th June 2008 at 4:43 pm | permalink |I'm unemployed right now, but if I happen to scrounge up some extra cash, I'm in. I did thumbs up in in StumbleUpon, and I posted it on my FaceBook.
My cat recently got diagnosed with a brain tumor, but we can't afford the 1000's of dollars for an MRI and certainly not the 20,000$ for surgery and chemo and what not… so I definitely feel for your puppy! I hope she heals well!
19th June 2008 at 4:49 pm | permalink |@Larkin: Aww. Best wishes to your cat. Hope the tumor either grows really slowly, or at least doesn't cause him/her any pain.
I've put down a couple of ferrets because of tumors. Not that they were inoperable, but that they had a very high chance of recurrence, so I just kept them comfortable for as long as I could, and put them down as soon as they were in apparent pain. Sometimes that's just the kindest thing to do.
Don't worry about sending anything for Gidget. Spend it on treats and toys for your cat. Spoil him/her rotten until the end!
19th June 2008 at 5:06 pm | permalink |I tossed you some spare cash to your GIDGET fund I hope your dog get better. Pets are cool. I find your blog most Entertaining . Check me out some time maxxstiles.com I have some interesting tidbits
19th June 2008 at 5:08 pm | permalink |Awesome. I'm glad I could be a small part of this. Definitely get some pics up whenever you can, I'd love to see how she's doing.
19th June 2008 at 5:31 pm | permalink |Donated $20, don't need anything, etc.
One question: wth is "mivox"?
19th June 2008 at 8:08 pm | permalink |@David: Yup, I'll start putting pics up tomorrow, when I pick her up.
@Zayne: "mivox" is my better known internet alterego.
Basically, I do webdesign for small businesses, and I didn't really want this site openly associated with my business name … for obvious reasons. hehehe
19th June 2008 at 10:42 pm | permalink |@max: Glad you like tha blog.
I'll check yours out tomorrow, after I pick Gidget up from the vet!
19th June 2008 at 10:43 pm | permalink |After you get the bill, etc, let us know how much more you need, if anything. I should be able to donate a little more on wednesday or so.
20th June 2008 at 2:08 am | permalink |<<<<<<<I'll put up a poll so you can decide what I should do with it.
Donate it to McCain.
20th June 2008 at 5:16 am | permalink |I figure $20 is worth it for a cute puppy and a wonderful woman. I hope it is of use.
I don't want a shirt or anything. Just keep me entertained with your rants. I never thought I'd come across a woman that thought the exact same way as I. You are a girlfriend role model to me, I hope one day to find someone like you on my side of the continent!
20th June 2008 at 8:10 am | permalink |I hope this isn't a scam… Enjoy the 20 bucks I dropped in your paypal.
20th June 2008 at 9:03 am | permalink |@pmac: Um. That would be a resounding "FUCK NO", but thanks for the suggestion.
@Dave A: lol … thank you.
@Dave: No, it's not a scam. I forgot to bring my camera to work with me, or I would already have set up a new page here with pictures of Gidget with her bandages on.
I was actually hoping she'd get a plaster cast, or at least a white bandage (the outside is bright green, with a print on it), because I was going to write "THANK YOU EVERYONE" on the cast, and take a picture of it to post here.
20th June 2008 at 1:03 pm | permalink |