Luna’s Dream: Running Free After CCL Surgery!

Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out with a heavy heart to ask for help for my sweet dog, Luna. Just a week ago, she came home limping, and what I hoped was a minor strain has turned out to be something much more serious. After a vet visit and X-rays, we learned that Luna has completely torn her cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) — the canine version of an ACL in humans.

The CCL is a vital ligament that stabilizes the knee joint. When it’s torn, dogs can’t walk or run properly, and over time, the injury causes pain, joint damage, and arthritis. Luna is now unable to bear weight on her leg, and even with pain medications and rest, she’s still hobbling. The only path forward is surgery to reconstruct the ligament, which will allow her to walk — and eventually run — again.

Luna is only 1.5 years old. She’s full of life, love, and endless energy, and this surgery will give her the fighting chance she needs to live a normal, active, and pain-free life. Without it, she faces a life of chronic pain, reduced mobility, and likely further damage to her other leg from overcompensation.

The surgery, including follow-up care and rehabilitation, will cost around $4,000. We will be going to the Westlock Veterinary Center, where the surgery itself is $3,500, and the follow-up X-rays and medications will be another $500. The procedure is extensive, and the recovery will be long and grueling — 8 to 12 weeks of restricted movement, pain management, and physical therapy to rebuild strength and mobility. But I’m ready to walk that road with her every step of the way.

What I’m not ready for is the financial burden. I simply can’t afford this on my own. That’s why I’m asking — with great humility — if you would consider helping us. Even $10 or $20 would mean the world. Every little bit brings us closer to getting Luna the help she needs to walk, run, and play again.

If you’re unable to give right now, sharing this fundraiser with friends and family would also be deeply appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to read Luna’s story, and for any support — big or small — you can offer. From the bottom of my heart (and from Luna’s too), thank you.

With gratitude,

Chelsey Giraldi