🙏 Urgent Appeal 🙏

3 weeks ago Zach suddenly went lame on one of his back legs. A vet visit suggested he'd possibly jarred it being silly. After 2 weeks of anti inflammatory and a further week break, Zach was still showing signs of discomfort so we went back today and he had an Xray to try and find out what was going on. Sadly, Zach has damaged his cruciate ligament and he needs an operation. 😭

Our biggest concern is Zach recovering from an operation such as this here as he's quite lively in his kennel and we're worried he will easily damage his leg further during his healing time which could take several months.

Zach is a 7 year old Staffy x Mastiff and he's a big goofy baby. He's very loving and silly and he behaved impeccably again today, despite being in pain. We muzzled him for safety as it would be very understandable for him to be a bit grumpy but he didn't even grumble once. He was such a good boy.

We are appealing for someone to help us by fostering him after his operation so he's away from kennels and can recuperate in peace. Zach can be dog reactive so he would need to be the only pet in the home.

We know this is such a big ask but if you don't ask.......and we don't know if there is someone who would be able to help us and so we owe it to him to at least try. 🙏

Zach has been with us for a while and we love him dearly and we're going to do the best that we can for him, and any help by way of a donation towards his treatment or offer of a foster would be extremely appreciated. Zach's vet visit today was £642.75 and we're waiting for a quote on his operation which we've been told will be £2,000+

Please share and lets see if we can do this for him. 🙏

Thank you. 💙

UPDATE 18/07/25:

Today, Zach visited West Midlands Veterinary Referrals for a referral consultation.

It’s been confirmed that Zach has a chronic cruciate ligament rupture and he requires TPLO surgery to correct it and get him out of pain. He’s been managing ok with a painkiller and anti-inflammatory medication but this will only get worse without the surgery which he has been booked in for on Monday 28th July.

Sadly we haven’t been able to find anyone who could foster Zach for us after his op but we will hopefully come up with a way here to keep him comfortable and happy while he recovers.

Again, despite a long car journey, Zach was so well behaved. He lay down all the way there and back and not a single grumble when being examined and he said hello to the ladies on reception. He also saw a couple of dogs and didn’t react at all as he can sometimes be a little silly but he was good as gold! He’s been absolutely amazing throughout all of this. 🥰

Zach’s bills so far (xrays and consultation £802) and cost for the op (£2880) is currently at £3,682. While we will ensure that Zach will get all the treatment that he needs, if anyone would like to donate to help us, we’d be so grateful! 🙏

UPDATE 30/07/25:

The good news is that Zach’s op went well. He’s had a very settled night and didn’t need any sedation to keep him calm. He hasn’t eaten yet but that’s to be expected. The plan is if he remains settled and eats, for him to stay at the vets until Friday. This gives us a chance to finish altering his kennel for when he gets back.

The bad news is, pre op X-rays have showed that Zach’s other knee is the same. 😭 We discussed yesterday with the vet the best course of action and it was to continue with the op on the first knee as planned, and then have the second knee done in about 8 weeks.

Zach has got a big recovery ahead of him. We’re still hopeful a suitable foster might come forward but we know it is a huge ask for someone to take on a big dog needing to recover. 🙏

Zach’s veterinary bills are going to be enormous. But he’s our dog, and our responsibility and we owe it to him to give him whatever he needs and to get him fit and well. If Jutta were still with us, no question, Zach would be getting whatever he needed. That is the attitude that we continue with.

If anyone has any fundraising ideas or anything they’d like to do specially for Zach, please do get in touch. 💙

UPDATE 22/09/25:

Tomorrow we will be 8 weeks post op with Zach! 💙 He's doing very well and is raring to go but we still have to be very strict with him as he is still healing and his other knee is also damaged and requires the same surgery but we're slowly getting there!

Next Monday we are travelling back to West Midlands Veterinary Referrals for Zach to have an X-Ray and fingers crossed we'll see he's healing well. 🙏 If the vets are happy, while he is already sedated, he will go straight into surgery for his second knee.

We've updated his fundraising total to include 50% of the donations received from Jacqui & Julie's brave skydive and we're thrilled that that has taken us just over halfway so his first op is now fully covered. 🥰 We'll be looking at more ways to fundraise soon to help cover his second knee. If anyone has any ideas or anything they would like to do for Zach, please do get in touch. 💙

Thanks so much to everyone following Zach's story. He's been such a good boy throughout!

We'll update you again on Monday! 🤞

UPDATE 05/10/25:

Zach is now almost 10 weeks post op for his first knee and he had his second TPLO surgery on his other knee on Monday.

He’s back home at the rescue and is recovering well although he’s been a bit more sore this time round and he’s been a right monkey taking his meds so we’ve had the vet nurse come out to him twice to inject some of his medications that we can’t get into him. The last day or so he’s perked up and is more like the old Zach again. 🥰

Today he had a visit from Jo for some more massage and laser therapy which he thoroughly enjoyed again!

Zach has been such a trooper and we’re all so proud of him. We can’t wait to see him through to the end of this journey and then find him the most amazing home where he can be thoroughly spoiled day and night.

We’re so grateful to have been able to cover Zach’s first op with donations so we just have the second one to go now if anyone would like to donate to help our brave boy. 💙