My mom needs reconstructive surgeries

“Rescue does not mean damaged. It means they have been let down by humans.” 

My mom has been a rescuer for my whole life. She loves animals. She raised me to love animals.

Unfortunately, on Saturday, August 31, 2025, at around 9 AM, she was attacked by my rescue dog, Ophelia.

I've had this dog since she was about 5 months old (adopted her in July 2023).

A few months ago, I had to move back into my mom's house where 4 dogs already live. Ophelia and one of my mom's dogs were playing on the couch until Ophelia pushed the other dog's boundaries, and they began fighting. The second I saw the aggression, I went to break them up but was pulled away by my boyfriend as those dogs are a lot larger than me.

We called my parents into the room, and they broke up the dogs, but unfortunately, my mom was injured by my dog in the process. When she grabbed Ophelia, Ophelia turned around and went at her.

She had one surgery on 9/9 with her second scheduled on 9/30.

I had to surrender Ophelia to animal control. So we are also mourning the loss of my baby and absolute best friend. I loved that dog more than anything, but it's not the first time this has happened, and I didn't know what else to do.

My mom is a bartender and will be out of work for over a month. My stepdad is a truck driver, and I work in retail. We are in no way well off and never ever ask for help. But we will be paying this off for the rest of our lives without some kind of help. We do not have insurance, and I don't know what to do. I'm only 20, my mom is my everything. I'm putting all the money I make into this, but that's not a lot, and I just want her to be okay again. She's so wonderful; she doesn't deserve to worry about this. She's already so upset about losing Ophelia, I don't want her to have to worry about anything.