A loose Rottweiler attacked my dog!

Hey all - 

Unfortunately on 10/17/18 while I was walking my dog, Demian, we were both attacked by a loose Rottweiler. The other dog came out of the alley all of the sudden, and while I tried to hide Demian and I, the dog saw us before we could escape. It charged us, and immediately began biting my dog in the shoulder. I tried to shove it off, but the rottie was so powerful and large it just knocked me to the ground. It continued biting my dog, and because I fell, I let go off my leash. Demian bolted, and the rottie chased after him. They went into traffic and disappeared together down a residential street. I lost sight of them both and began running around the neighborhood for 15 minutes looking for them. I got a tip from a postal worker that she saw him headed in the direction of my apartment. I found him sitting patiently at my back door.

I took him to the vet and they informed me that he needs surgery, which he is going in for tomorrow, 10/18. The visit today was $350 by itself, and they estimate the surgery will cost $650, depending. It looks like it is going to be around $1k then, and it will all be going on my credit cards because I cannot afford to pay it any other way.

Anyone who has met me knows I am obsessed with my dog and completely devoted to him. Anyone who has met my dog knows he feels the same about me. We've been in each others' lives for four years, and he has really transformed my whole life. This whole experience has been almost unspeakably terrifying. Running around my neighborhood wondering if I was going to see my dog disemboweled on a corner, or lying in the street after being hit, was horrible. Seeing how deep the puncture wounds are on his back as I clean them is horrible. Seeing my Extremely Good Boy in pain and scared is horrible.

Dealing with a huge vet bill on top of all of this is also horrible. And it is the one thing that you - my friends, acquaintances, and strangers - can help me with. If you could please lift this weight of worrying about how to pay for this surgery, the medications, and everything else about this freak accident, I will be eternally grateful. I know my spud will be too once he recovers. Thank you. 

Soledad M.