Roxy was my foster fail from when I worked at a local humane society. She was 7 weeks old and needed to be fostered for 1 week before her spay could be completed. She came home with me and never left. As a humane society staff member, you tend to bring home your work. I have spent my adult years caring for homeless pets, my own, and other people's pets. I have made my life's work to help animals.

Roxy is my 8-year-old good old American shelter dog. She is the most loving, and people-centric dog I have ever met. If she could, she would happily crawl inside of me like Luke Skywalker and a tauntaun. I have been asked if she is a lap dog and the answer is yes. A 63 lb lap dog.

She is a water spirit and when we go to the Indiana Dunes, there is a chorus of children and adults just eating up her vigorous swimming and never-ending chase of balls/frisbees in the water.

Unfortunately, about 2.5 years ago, she started to have medical issues. The first thing to happen was her left hindlimb had a partial CCL tear. We had a TPLO completed a few months after the diagnosis. This was around $4500 with additional care and treatments (not including diagnostic costs such as radiographs, orthopedic consult, etc).

While she was receiving physical therapy post-surgery, I noticed she had two small areas on her flank that were swelling. It turns out they were mast cell tumors (MCT). Since then she has had 10 confirmed MCT removed (she had more suspicious masses removed to be safe). Each time the surgery was around $1000 excluding diagnostics (Fine needle aspirations to confirm MCT, sending off for histopathology). She also started having hemorrhagic gastroenteritis episodes ( think uncontrollable vomiting and blood geyser from her rear) which led her to the ER at least 4 times. Each trip cost around $800.

While Roxy had her issues, we have another dog (Nala) and a cat (Dee). Both are geriatric and had health issues that also needed specialist visits (liver issues, eye issues) and ER visits themselves (allergic reaction, traumatic injury to their eye).

We also had our neighbor tell us that she was going to abandon her dog in a rental since she was evicted. I took the dog in and he was very sick, malnourished, and neglected. He had a severe ear hematoma, ear infection, horrible skin allergies, and never received basic care. He lived his life in a crate that was filled with trash and was only let out on a short lead to go outside. Our veterinarian helped us out immensely, but we needed to provide the necessary veterinary care he needed to get better (vaccinations, medications, neutering). Unfortunately, no one has been interested in adopting him so Sox is still with us today.

In all, Roxy's health issues have probably cost us around $12,000- 15,000. I do everything I can to keep her and the rest of the crew healthy. I put myself into a financial bind with her medical needs, the other pets, and having an extra unexpected dog. I began a debt consolidation program to help with this but it has completely tanked my credit score and I have no credit to be able to bankroll more care as much as I would like to. I love this little dog so much. I would do anything to ensure she has a good quality of life that is pain-free.

A month ago, Roxy fell while playing ball and fully tore her other CCL (right hindlimb). We brought her in for the orthopedic exam and the veterinarian said that arthritis has already begun. To give Roxy the best chance at having a successful outcome she needs another TPLO completed as soon as possible. The estimate was around $4600 for the surgery and treatments to ensure the best possible outcome.

I work around 45 hours a week at a full-time job and picked up a second job of pet sitting to help pay back the debt. Even so, it is not enough to come up with the funds for her surgery.

I hate to ask for help, but we need any help that we can get to pay for her surgery. Please consider donating anything to help us get near her goal. Thank you for spending the time reading this and if you donate anything- thank you so, so much for helping us.

If you would prefer to donate directly to the veterinary clinic- Sportsvet Animal Medical Center in Savoy, IL. Their phone number is two one seven-three five five- one four four two. Just reference Roxy Sweeney and Jennifer Sweeney. Thank you again!

We just received an updated estimate as they do not have the post surgery support. The go fund me goal has been updated. Thank you all again.