Luca is a very special dog. He was a rescue off Crow reservation and just the chubbiest little snuggle bug from day one. I knew he would be a great therapy dog and we started training right away.

He got an unprecedented rating on his therapy test when he was just one! His troubles began 9 months later. He started limping on his front left leg and the vet said he'd broken his coronoid process and would need to do surgery ASAP. The Foundation at my workplace paid for the surgery because of how great of a therapy dog he had been over that year.

Luca and I left that job shortly after to start my own practice and Luca started excelling in his physical therapy. I looked forward to him coming back to work with me and erase that sad little face every day I left without him.

He'd gotten through three months of therapy and he started limping on his back right. The PT said he would hopefully be okay, but to check with the vet when his elbow healed to make sure he wouldn't need surgery there too.

Yesterday, he was walking down the stairs to go to the yard and it snapped. He stopped walking on his right leg and his 6:30 am vet visit indicated he had most likely torn his ACL. The estimate is monumental now that my income isn't as regular. We're crushed and trying to get Luca his surgery as soon as possible. Luca is expected to go into surgery on Wednesday, March 11 and will have a long road of recovery.

From the most humble place in my heart, I hope others can find a way to help us support this fantastic dog. He has helped so many through their hardest times and is truly a one-of-a-kind dog. My gratitude couldn't be more profound to those who can spare even the smallest amounts to help us pay for his surgery.