Story
<p>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">UPDATE! Vigil & Louis story in Local paper!</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong><span style="color: #008000;">Thank you if you are donating after reading about Louis and Vigil in the Surrey Advertiser. Please add a note saying thats where you heard about him. </span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><strong><span style="color: #000080;">Every penny goes to the Charity & all the work put in by the Trustees, dog walkers or helpers is <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: navy; font-size: 11.5pt;">done totally voluntarily.</span></strong></span></strong>
<p> </p>
<p><strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Louis </span></span>had surgery!<span style="color: #000000;"> </span> </span></span> <span style="color: #333399;">The surgery went well but t</span><span style="color: #333399;">he surgeon had never seen an elbow joint so bad. It turns out that Louis right elbow has no cartilage at all. All 3 bones that should have cartilage to protect the bones has gone. He also has degenerative disease in both elbows and it is likely that Louis will always be lame on his right leg. Karen (Louis surgeon) scraped away at the bones in the hope to use bone cartilage where Louis had none. We now have a 12-16 week recovery period before we can hope to see any change. Becasue of the state of his right elbow Karen stated that sometime he will need more surgery and she detailed 2 optons. A new surgery that isn't done at RVC where the weight baring bones are turned round ect. This is still a new operation and the outcomes are still being collected it is not known how long this will last and it has only been performed on older dogs so far. OR a total elbow replacement where 1 in 10 don't succeed. The recovery time is on going as once the elbow is in place it is hoped that the bone will grow in to the new joint. At the moment we are concentrating on making Louis comfortable now he's home BUT we are also thinking about his future and about raising more money for whichever operation that Louis will have to have, so when the time comes the donations will support which ever desision is made.</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #333399;">So we are not yet stopping the car boot sales or mad sponsored events infact I think there will be more!</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #333399;">If you have an idea for anything that may raise money please let me know, we will do or try most anything if we can get donations for this lovely dog.</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #333399;">So donations are received with much thanks!</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #333399;">Plesae read below to see how tis all started!</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>I am trying to raise money for <span style="color: #006400;">Vigil German Shepherd Dog</span> <span style="color: #006400;">Rescue</span> and in particular a dog who was put into our care.</strong><br /><br /><strong>His name is <span style="color: #0000ff;">Louis</span> and at 10 months old his family gave him up to rescue. He didn't do anything wrong apart from have a medical condition called Elbow dysplasia. This happens when the ball and socket of the elbow don't quite fit right and this then effects the bones and cartilage which makes him limp and be in pain. His owners couldn't afford the operations, medication and 12-16 week rehab he would have to have so to <span style="color: #006400;">Vigil GSD Rescue</span> he came.</strong></p>
<p><strong>He came home with me so I could foster him, as we don't like pups going into kennels, if we can help it and here he has cats and 3 Shepherd girls to play with and play he does! His bestest friend ever is Kassie a girl that came into <span style="color: #006400;">Vigil</span> about 3 years ago when she was just 5 months old they are the best of friends and would play chase all day long apart from <span style="color: #0000ff;">Louis</span> soon starts limping and I have to put a stop to their galavanting!</strong></p>
<p><strong>£5000 is the estimate we have put on getting this boy as fit as we possibly can, this entails the operation to both elbows, the rehab, possibly hydrotherapy and all the medication before and after the op and being a small charity rescue just outside Guildford in Surrey, we are by no means loaded with cash. So this seemed to be the perfect place to come, so I can do things and hope that people can see how mad some of us are and what we are prepared to do for the dogs that come into rescue because they are not wanted by others.</strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ee82ee;">'Louis Fund'</span> is an account we have opened to support Louis operations and to get him back on his feet. Once he is better we will carry on collecting, car booting, going to fetes and fund raising in shops as in honour of the fabulous chap <span style="color: #ee82ee;">'Louis Fund'</span> will be used for any dogs that come into <span style="color: #006400;">Vigil</span> that need veterinary care. That way they can be out of pain and on the road to recovery with out having to wait. </strong></p>
<p><strong>I'm so lucky to have 2 of the most fabulous ambassadors of the breed imaginable in <span style="color: #0000ff;">Louis</span> and Zara my GSD eldest girl. Zara carries the collection boes for <span style="color: #0000ff;">Louis</span> collections and is fantastic at this! They are just the greatest and are just so happy to be around people and are the best with even the tiniest tot who because they both have longish hair and <span style="color: #0000ff;">Louis</span> looks like a Teddy Bear are firm hits with the kids and neither mind having huge hugs from kiddies!</strong></p>
<p><strong>Even the smallest donation will be so appreciated so please give whatever you can? </strong></p>
<p><strong>Thank you so much, from all at Vigil, myself, Louis and all the dogs that come after him.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</strong></p>
<p><strong>So please dig deep and donate now.</strong></p>
</span><strong><span style="color: #333399;"><span style="color: #008000;">(Please note we are also collecting plastic Milk Bottle tops for recycling. We have to collect thousands but every penny counts and if all Friends of Louis & Vigil help, not only do we help Louis and dogs like him but also we are doing our bit for the environment. Thank you and your support is so appreciated.) </span></span></strong></p>