Lilly’s New Chapter: Flip’s Farm Forever 🐾
When Lilly first arrived at Flip’s Farm, she and her sister Katie were thought to have swimmer syndrome. They couldn’t walk, their limbs were splayed out like little frog legs, and they seemed stuck in that early-crawl stage. But we quickly learned it was something more complicated—and far more serious.
After many vet visits, scans, and consultations with specialists, we finally got a confirmed diagnosis: Multiple Epiphyseal Dysplasia, a rare and painful genetic disorder that affects the development of the growth plates in the bones. It explained everything—their stunted mobility, their fragile limbs, and the constant struggle to do what other puppies do without a second thought.
It’s the same condition that took Katie from us far too soon. Her case was heartbreakingly severe. She was missing bones entirely, her body was growing in painful, unnatural ways, and there was no path forward that didn’t involve suffering. So we made the impossible call to help her over the rainbow bridge—giving her the love and dignity every dog deserves, right to the end.
Lilly’s symptoms are milder—but the condition is still terminal. Her bones aren’t growing correctly. Some are misaligned, others are missing. As she gets bigger, it’s already leading to arthritis, stiffness, and discomfort. We’ve put together a care plan that includes daily medication, stretching, massage, cold laser therapy, and now—hopefully—hydrotherapy again. (The first time was a bust, but we think she’s ready to try again.) We’re constantly adjusting her routine to find the right balance—not too much to cause pain, but enough to keep her moving.
And through it all? She wags. She wiggles. She plays. She chases Pumpkin. She zooms when she feels good and rests when she doesn’t. She’s teaching all of us what resilience looks like in the form of a plush toy come to life.
So now, we’ve made a big decision—one we didn’t take lightly.
Lilly is officially becoming the first permanent resident of Flip’s Farm.
Flip’s Farm isn’t a sanctuary—we’re a stop on the road for dogs who need healing before they find their forever homes. But Lily is different. She needs around-the-clock care, consistent therapy, and someone willing to make the hardest call when the pain inevitably becomes too much. And I just can’t ask anyone else to take that on.
I love this dog more than the moon. Her cartoonishly cute face, her squishy body, her brave little spirit—they’ve melted my heart and the hearts of everyone on our team. And thanks to that team (shoutout to Kelly and our amazing caregivers), we’re now in a place where we can care for her together.
Lilyl may not live a full-length dog life, but she’s going to live a full life. From puppuccinos and sun naps to movie nights and muddy adventures with Pumpkin, we’ll make sure every day feels like home. She won’t be a pet in the traditional sense—but she will be family.
Thank you for following her journey, for cheering her on, and for loving her alongside us. And thank you, Katie, for teaching us how to be strong enough for your sister when she needed us most.
With love,
– Rocky
