Poor Tato has a CCL rupture and chronic arthritis in his left knee. The costs are quickly adding up, forcing his family to have to make some super tough decisions. Can you help?

In June of 2023, our family (the Moyers) fostered a very pregnant mama dog. Of her 14 pups that survived the birth, ALL found homes by the time they were 8 weeks old.

Chad and Katie adopted Tato. A couple of weeks later, when Pearl lost her original adopter, Chad and Katie stepped in and adopted her too, refusing to allow her back into the foster system. Taking on two puppies is always double trouble, but when they’re half Pyrenees pups…we’ve found the trouble (and cost) to be exponential haha.

Chad and Katie have been AMAZING, inspiring puppy parents. Pearl and Tato are so happy together, and they are absolute, core members of their family.

Over the Fourth of July, Pearl and Tato got to go to their sitter while their family was away on a trip. The pups love to go and play there, but while playing there this time, Tato ruptured his CCL. An enthusiastic foodie, Tato’s weight contributed to his injury.

Chad and Katie feed their pups better than anyone I’ve ever met, but to help him heal, they put Tato on a diet at the vet’s request. He successfully went from 125 lbs down to 115. The family also had him rest as much as possible, per vet recommendations.

Just because it makes me smile - their typical daily diet looks like this:

Breakfast: 3/4 cup kibble, topped off with yogurt/peanut butter/bananas with a bone

Dinner: Rice, chicken, veggies, and broth, plus a dental stick

Snack/enrichment: rawhide chew bone

Unfortunately, at his latest scan, the vet confirmed both chronic arthritis and a ruptured CCL in Tato’s left knee. He did not improve since his injury in July in spite of weight loss and rest, and surgery is now necessary.

Though the family has pet insurance (again, the best pet owners I’ve ever met), the surgery is out of reach.

Tato is so loved and he is in the best home possible for him. He is bonded with his sister Pearl and each of the four Patterson family members, as well as their guinea pig, Cheese! They love Tato and will not let him suffer. Please help if you can - any amount helps. And if you cannot, please share! Thank you so much for helping to keep this family together and to help Tato get the care he needs to heal and be a happy, playful pup again!