July 2024

“I would not have stayed sober if I left treatment to get Dice. For that, I will always be grateful to Dogs Matter and their team of angels.” 

~Stephanie, Dice’s Guardian

In 2019, Sephanie was in a very dark place. Her nephew, who was like a son, was shot and killed. This led Stephanie on a downward spiral with a life-threatening addiction. 

On her birthday, Christmas Eve 2019, she was so lonely that she decided to adopt a dog through a shelter, hoping to find purpose in her life. And, she found Dice, the perfect companion for her. Dice became Stephanie’s number one. Their relationship gave her motivation to get sober and healthy. When Stephanie decided to receive treatment for her addiction, she had nowhere to place Dice, so ended up leaving her with an old roommate, who made Dice live outside. 

For several months, Dice was neglected and most likely abused. She ended up with severe injuries. Upon finding out how Dice was being treated, Stephanie was going to leave treatment. But, right beforehand, a friend tells Stephanie about Dogs Matter. Within 48 hours, our team finds Dice the perfect foster home. This was just hours before a dangerous artic storm hit Dallas. Our team Dallas Pets Alive! and the foster immediately picked up Dice and took her to our vet partner, Mazie’s Mission, where we found out the devastating news of her injuries. 

Without the needed surgeries, Dice would have lived an excruciating painful life with limited mobility, which no dog should have to endure. Dice’s surgeries were estimated to cost $10,000. 

Dice, a brave and resilient pup had severe injuries to her hips and knee. Dice welcomed the new year in search of a temporary home and thorough healing. However, after visiting the vet for an examination, we learned just how badly this poor girl has been suffering. This exam uncovered significant injuries to her hips and knee, evident in her vocalized pain and discomfort. Dice's chronic Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) rupture in her left knee required prompt attention. The extent of Dice's condition called for a TPLO surgery (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) on January 30th. This complex procedure aims to restore stability and mobility by altering the angle of the tibia, thereby reducing stress on the injured ligament. However, the diagnosis revealed more challenges ahead.

In addition to her knee injury, Dice also suffers from left hip dysplasia, a condition that developed from gradual weight-shifting over time. To address this, she required an additional procedure called Femoral Head Ostectomy. These interventions are essential to improve her quality of life but came at a significant cost.

Dice's journey has been filled with ups and downs. Through it all, Dice has remained resilient, embracing the care and hope provided by the dedicated team at Dogs Matter and Dallas Pets Alive. The immense love and compassion shown towards Dice have been inspiring and she is worth EVERY penny. Dogs Matter is continuing support to cover the cost of essential medical treatment and aftercare.