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His front leg was so swollen he couldn’t stand or walk. Instead, he would roll his little body to his food dish just to eat. Radiographs showed the swelling wasn’t from a break—his leg was filled with infection. Despite antibiotics and pain management, the leg ruptured within days, leading to months of complications, including repeated bouts of sepsis as infection spread into the bone and joint.

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For months, an entire village rallied around Wilder—our shelter vet, vet tech, manager, and board members all took turns fostering him to ensure he received constant care, treatment, and love.

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Now at 6 months old, Wilder is still the spunky fighter he’s always been. But his leg never regained muscle, and the damage left his elbow joint thickened and arthritic. He walks with a limp and lives with chronic pain.

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A board-certified orthopedic surgeon has recommended a specialized elbow-fusion surgery to relieve his pain and stabilize his leg. Amputation isn’t an option due to scarring on his other joints. This procedure—including arthroscopy and fusion—will give him the best chance at a pain-free, active life. The cost is $7,500.