Help Bear, Our Home’s Happy Helper, Heal from a Costly Fracture

In May 2024, Bear, a hungry German Shepherd/Great Pyrenees mix, wandered into our Texas home, a suspected casualty of Canton’s First Monday puppy mill, where dogs are dumped in the surrounding countryside when they aren’t purchased and can't be placed, or new ones replace the older ones that have outgrown the cute puppy stage.

He is the sweetest gentle giant you’d ever meet, and from day one, he became my shadow, helping with chores, and greeting everyone with a happy lick. He has rescued us just as much as we rescued him.

Now at an estimated age of 2-years-old, he's grown to be a large 115-lb teddy bear. He's the gentle leader of our growing family. Jack, a boxer dumped last October, and two of three pups abandoned at our creek before February’s freeze. (we were able to find a home for one right away) Even our pup Piper adores him!

We’re caring for the pups until they can find homes (shelters in the surrounding area are full) and have set up cameras to try to stop the dumping, but Bear has become a permanent family member, our playful patriarch and glue, and he needs our help now.

Bear’s a compassionate, loyal companion. When I struggled with a meniscus tear, he steadied me up stairs; now, he leans on me.

Gentle with everyone he meets, he’s always ready with kisses, even while in pain. He’s family, and before his injury on Labor Day, his favorite things to do were to cool off in our stock tank and greet guests as our happy welcome wagon. I hate knowing he’s hurt, and we need him back to his playful, strong self.

Why We Need Help

Tragically, Bear suffered a butterfly fracture, that needs a special plate. (Likely from Jack and the pups roughhousing.) I only heard the cry of pain and when I rushed outside, he hurried to my side, on three legs, in obvious distress.

This complex injury requires a special bone plate, unavailable at our local vet. A local Surgical Center offers the best chance for healing, but it demands strict post-op care at an estimated cost of $6,800-$8,000—thousands more than a standard procedure.

We’ve covered Bear and Jack’s neuters, treated the abandoned pups’ mange, and gave them shots due to their unknown history, but this surgery’s cost blindsided us. Bear's larger size requires a custom plate and adds an additional complication to the surgical care required.

Funding Bear's Surgery

The diagnosis, pain meds, and x-rays have already cost over $500, and we’re turning to GoFundMe to raise the additional $7,000 - $8,000 needed to cover Bear’s surgery so he can live a long, happy life with our family.

We’ve started with a goal of $2,200 to build momentum, and every dollar gets us closer to $8,000. If the surgery costs closer to $7,000, any extra funds will support post-op care and follow-up visits.

Your support means the world to us and to Bear, who deserves to run and play again.

Please donate and share to help our home’s happy helper keep wagging! Thank you for being part of our story.