Hi! We are the team of Cerritos Beach Dogs, a non-profit coffee shop and dog rescue located in Cerritos, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

This spring, a member from our team saw a sweet dog limping behind a local homeless man who is known to abuse and hoard animals. Our team member knew immediately that this pup, who we ended up naming Alfie, needed help urgently.

We were able to rescue Alfie after paying the man 200 pesos ($10USD) and bring him into our rescue to help rehabilitate him.

X-rays revealed that Alfie had suffered a serious injury to his right paw long ago that never healed properly. This old injury was causing him to limp and, without surgery, would lead to arthritis and more problems down the road. We thought the surgery would involve re-breaking the bone and inserting a metal plate - but we recently learned Alfie's condition is much more serious than we initially thought.

While visiting the area, an amazing couple from California came to CBD and fell head over heels in love with Alfie. They have two Labs and live a very active lifestyle filled with long mountain hikes - exactly the kind of life Alfie dreams of once he's healed. They were the perfect match for our sweet boy, but understandably worried about his paw condition.

At the end of the day we decided that it would be best for Alfie to be able to go and start his amazing new life in Lake Tahoe and recover from the surgery surrounded by the amazing love and care of his adopters.

Once in Tahoe, Alfie's new family took him to a local veterinarian for evaluation. The diagnosis shocked everyone: Alfie needs carpal arthrodesis - a highly specialized surgery where the damaged cartilage in his wrist joint is removed and the bones are fused together with metal plates and screws.

The vets were incredibly shocked that Alfie isn't in more pain than he is - this is an extremely rare and serious condition. Without this surgery, Alfie will develop severe arthritis and chronic pain at a very young age, preventing him from living the active, joyful life he deserves.

Due to the complexity of this surgery, Alfie has been referred to UC Davis Veterinary Hospital, one of the top veterinary hospitals in the country. The estimated cost is now approximately $8,000 - nearly triple what we originally anticipated.

What the Surgery Involves:

Removal of all damaged cartilage in the carpal (wrist) joint

Bone grafting to encourage fusion

Metal plate and screw stabilization

3-6 months of careful recovery with controlled activity

Physical therapy and follow-up X-rays

The good news is that most dogs who undergo this surgery return to walking, running, and even light agility work with minimal limp. The long-term outlook for pain relief is excellent, and Alfie will finally be able to live pain-free.

How You Can Help:

While Alfie's new family is covering part of the expense, they need our community's help to make this life-changing surgery possible. Every dollar you donate goes directly toward:

Alfie's specialized carpal arthrodesis surgery at UC Davis

Pre and post-operative care

Pain management and recovery support

Physical therapy and rehabilitation

Follow-up X-rays and veterinary visits

Giving Alfie the pain-free, active life he's been waiting for

After everything Alfie has been through - abuse, neglect, living with chronic pain - he deserves to run freely through the mountains of Lake Tahoe with his new family. This surgery will transform his life.

No amount is too small! Please consider donating to help Alfie get the specialized care he needs. Share Alfie's story with your friends and family to help us reach our goal.

Thank you for being part of Alfie's journey from rescue to recovery to his forever home. ❤️