This sweet girl is Quinn. She is a 14-month-old German Shepherd who came home only a couple of weeks ago. She was specially picked to be trained as my service dog. I have a progressive genetic disease that affects my brain and ability to move. I carefully evaluated dozens of dogs to fill the job, and she checked every box. She is the most sweet, loving, confident, and smart dog. She is the perfect girl and loves to work.

Unfortunately, only 10 days after she came home, we ended up in the U of I vet ER because she was in a lot of pain. It was determined that she has severe hip dysplasia in both her hips. Basically, the socket her hips sit in wasn't made correctly. It's too shallow and uneven, making her hips unable to handle force correctly. She was just unlucky and born like this. At only 14 months, she already has severe arthritis in both hips and is in a lot of pain. She was sent home on pain meds, but we were told that it is only a stop-gap measure. She needs a total hip replacement on both sides. A surgery to replace her defective hip with an artificial hip. A surgery that will cost $16,000 to do both sides. Without it, the pain will eventually be unmanageable and we would have to say goodbye. She will never work again because of this congenital anomaly. But that is the least of my worries right now. I just want her to be pain-free and have a happy life. Because that's what I committed to when she came home, no matter what.

I spoke with the shelter she came from, and they informed me that she would be euthanized if I returned her because they can't afford her care. Which I just can't let happen. She is an amazing dog who deserves so much more than what she got. She is so happy and full of life. If she gets this surgery, she can have a normal life. I refuse to let it end here. So here I am, asking, no. Begging for help. Her pet insurance hasn't kicked in yet, so they won't cover the cost. And I just don't have $16,000 as I just graduated college and haven't secured a stable job yet. I need all your help to save her. To give her the help she needs. To give her an opportunity at a normal life. She was dealt just a bad hand in life. Found as a stray, owners never claiming her despite a collar. Now diagnosed with congenital hip dysplasia probably due to poor backyard breeding from someone who didn't know how to screen out the disease. Now she has to deal with the consequences. Which just isn't fair. She deserves a second chance at a happy, pain-free life. Can you help me give her that? Every little bit helps. Even just sharing. $1 towards her care can help make the difference between her living a pain-free life, or having to let her go. Please, help me love her and get the care she needs. Because only one month in, I already love her more than life itself, and I just can't let her go without a fight. Thank you for anything you can offer. ❤️