My name is Knox, and I’m asking for help for my dog, Harley Quinn.

Harley Quinn is my 7-year-old Cane Corso / American Bulldog — my best friend, my shadow, my baby, and truly my whole world.

I’ve had her since she was just 8 weeks old. She was part of an accidental litter when her daddy hopped a fence just weeks before her mama’s spay appointment. Her mom had severe complications with the puppies and lost several… but Harley survived. From the very beginning, she has been my little miracle.

I still remember the day I met her. All the puppies came tumbling out of their crate in chaos… except Harley. She waddled straight up to me with her chunky little belly and coffee-breath puppy kisses… and started chewing on my Timberland boots like she had already decided I belonged to her.

She chose me that day. And I chose her right back.

Harley grew into the biggest baby you’ll ever meet. She doesn’t realize how big she is — she just wants to climb into your lap, give kisses, and be close to the people she loves. She adores long scenic car rides, hiking adventures, beach walks (no swimming — absolutely not), her kitty siblings, and greeting every human guest like they are her long-lost best friend.

She especially loves waterfalls. The sound, the mist, the view — she just sits and watches them like they’re magic.

But now… my sweet girl can barely climb the stairs.

Harley has been diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis, a complete CCL rupture in her left knee, and a tear in her right knee — meaning both knees will need surgical repair. Her joints are already slipping, and her pain is progressing quickly.

Everyday things most dogs do without thinking have become heartbreaking struggles for her.

She can’t get into the car anymore without help.

She bunny hops down the stairs because using her back legs hurts too much.

She struggles to climb into bed to cuddle with me.

Standing up from lying down is painful.

Some days she cries.

Her walk has changed.

She has started losing muscle in her left leg because it hurts too much to use it.

Before pain medication, she was constantly limping. Now, even with medication and arthritis injections, she still lives in pain. And this isn’t living… not for a dog who still has so much energy, so much joy, and so much love left to give.

She still begs to play tug of war.

She still gets excited when I grab my keys.

She still wants to run, explore, and live fully… her body just won’t let her.

Without surgery, her condition will continue to deteriorate until pain management no longer works at all.

The recommended treatment is TTA cruciate ligament surgery on both knees — starting with the worst one. The cost is $7,500 per knee. While she is under anesthesia, the vet also recommends removing a large skin tag on her leg and a benign tumor on her head that bleeds frequently, adding another $600.

Surgery is needed as soon as possible. But I can’t even afford the deposit required to schedule it.

I work full time as a landscape contractor and stay late whenever I can just to bring home more money for Harley. I’ve been selling anything I own that I can part with. I just received the surgical quote and am now organizing bake sales in my small town with help from friends and others in my community.

I am doing everything I can.

Harley is more than a dog to me.

As someone who can’t have children, she is my baby.

She has been my constant through the hardest years of my life.

She has kept me grounded when nothing else could.

She is, without exaggeration, one of the biggest reasons I am still here today.

Watching her live in this much pain is breaking my heart.

All I want is to give her the chance to run again. To jump into the car on her own. To walk beside me on the beach. To sit and watch waterfalls like they’re magic. To grow old comfortably, without constant pain stealing the joy from her life.

She deserves that.

Right now, I am hoping to raise $8,500 to cover her first surgery and immediate medical needs so we can get her out of pain as quickly as possible. Once the first knee is repaired, we will begin preparing for the second.

If you can donate — even a little — it would mean everything to us.

If you can’t donate, sharing this page helps more than you know.

Thank you for reading her story.

Thank you for caring about my miracle girl.

Thank you for helping Harley Quinn walk, play, and live again.

With all my gratitude and love ❤️