Lucas

About the Campaign

Puppy Hernia!

Lucas is a 4-month-old Dachshund puppy who weighs about 9 pounds and needs inguinal hernia surgery. An inguinal hernia happens when tissue slips through a weak spot in the lower abdominal wall near the groin. In puppies, it can worsen as they grow and can become dangerous if intestine becomes trapped. Lucas’s vet says surgery is needed so he can heal properly and live a normal puppy life.

Honey Hughes took Lucas in after hearing something no animal lover can ignore: the people who had him said they might abandon him because he needed surgery. Honey drove two hours to pick him up and got him to the vet within days to find out what was going on.

Honey has fostered and helped animals for years, but this case hit her hard. Lucas is still a baby, and even in older photos he already had the bulge, suggesting he may have been born with it. The breeder didn’t provide a clear history, only that Lucas “had a bulge,” and Honey wasn’t willing to gamble with his safety.

The costs are the obstacle. Honey works as a veterinary assistant and only gets limited discounts. She also works one day a week at a vaccine clinic, but that doesn’t cover surgery. At home, she and her fiancé Michael (31) are raising two young children. They are covering bills month to month, and recent expenses have piled up, including a car accident that forced them to get another vehicle and an unexpected tax bill.

Right now, Lucas needs the surgery and the medications and follow-up care that come with recovery. Honey is leaning toward keeping Lucas, but whether he stays with her or is adopted out, the goal is the same: get him repaired while he’s young so he can grow up healthy and strong.

Donations will help cover Lucas’s inguinal hernia surgery, medications, and recovery care. All donations are paid only to the veterinarian. Estimate below, click to enlarge: