Ellie's CCL Surgery

My name is Delaney, and I'm fundraising on behalf of Brooke Winn and her beloved service dog, Ellie. Ellie was diagnosed with a ruptured CCL (cranial cruciate ligament) this week. Treatment for this injury consists of surgery followed by 6-8 weeks of recuperation. Ellie provides important service and is a loyal, loving friend. Brooke and Ellie are currently in a residential facility, and this surgery is costly. We are hoping to raise the funds necessary to proceed with her surgery immediately so she can get back to helping Brooke with daily tasks.

Currently, Ellie's mobility is limited. She is favoring her back right leg and is clearly in pain. Ellie's temperament is generally patient and calm- but she is in distress. This surgery is needed immediately, but will obviously pose a large financial burden. Please consider donating if you are able. Brooke and Ellie both work so hard and it would mean the world to alleviate this financial burden for them.

Read below for a message from Brooke about her journey with Ellie:

When I was 17, I rescued Ellie as an 8 month old puppy from the Kankakee County Humane Foundation in Saint Anne, IL as she was found as a stray in a local area. Her estimated birthday is in August of 2018 and she is now 5 years old! Even since I got her, she has been the most relaxed, loyal, well-behaved, comforting, and loving dog I have ever met. I’ve been told by many people that she is “the best dog they have ever met”. And I am so extremely grateful to have found her and have her come into my life. She has been by my side through absolutely everything. Because of how well Ellie helped me in combination with my PTSD symptoms I was facing, I trained her to do tasks like interrupt intense nightmares I was experiencing at night as well as interrupt panic attack for tactile stimulation to ground me back to present moment. This is why Ellie has come with me to the several residential treatment facilities I have been to over the years since I turned 19. I currently just spent my 22nd birthday in a residential facility on the 19th of December and I am still here and have been for the last three months. Which means I have not been working. While I have enough money to cover the basic necessities for Ellie, I was not prepared for these unforeseen circumstances. As you see, Ellie started limping one day while I was at treatment a couple weeks ago. I immediately called the vet, and got her in the next day for a check up, and $700 later she was diagnosed with a cruciate ligament rupture, or ACL damage in her knee. After getting a referral to an orthopedic surgeon, I was given an estimate that far exceeded my emergency budget. Ellie has quite literally saved my life, many, many times. Thank you for considering supporting us.