Hi everyone,

This is Shea, our one-year-old pitbull Corso mix with a huge personality and an even bigger heart. She is the kind of dog who believes every person she meets is a friend and that every day should involve a little adventure, a lot of love, and as many belly rubs as possible.

At just a year old, Shea should be running, playing, and living her best chaotic puppy life.

Instead, we recently learned that Shea has torn the cranial cruciate ligament in both of her knees, which means she now needs TPLO surgery on each knee in order to walk and move comfortably again.

During imaging, we also discovered that Shea has severe hip dysplasia with subluxated hips, meaning her hip joints do not sit properly in the socket. Because of this, stabilizing her knees is incredibly important to give her the best chance at a comfortable and active life moving forward.

We met with an orthopedic surgeon last Friday to confirm the diagnosis and discuss the plan for surgery. That visit alone was close to $1,000, and it helped us understand the full scope of what Shea needs to get back on her feet.

TPLO surgery is considered the gold standard procedure for cruciate ligament injuries in large dogs and has an excellent success rate. The goal is simple: give Shea the chance to move through life without constant pain and allow her to be the young, energetic dog she is meant to be.

Because both knees are affected, the cost of surgery and recovery care is approximately $16,000, with each knee costing around $8,000.

I work in the veterinary field and have always tried to do the responsible things when it comes to caring for our animals. We carry insurance and plan ahead for emergencies, but sometimes life still hands you something bigger than you expected.

Shea is still just a baby. She should be running through fields, chasing toys, and living the joyful life every young dog deserves.

A few friends encouraged us to create this fundraiser to help with the cost of her surgeries. If you feel moved to help Shea on her journey back to running and playing again, we are incredibly grateful. Sharing her story also means more than you know.

Thank you for taking the time to read about Shea and for supporting her path back to a healthy, happy life.

With gratitude,

Shea’s family