Hello friends! My name is Boris, a 25-year-old phlebotomist from New Jersey. I, along with my partner Michelle, a 25-year-old home health aide and certified medication aide at a nursing home, have recently been noticing worsening symptoms of hip dysplasia in Mako, our now 3-year-old Blue Nose Pitbull. Our worst fear has recently been confirmed by our veterinarian.

I rescued Mako when he was just 3 months old from a breeder who was breeding dogs for illegal dog fights. Over our time caring for Mako, he has been the sweetest, most loving, most gentle being I have ever known and come to love. He has really turned our lives around completely since we have come to know and love him.

We are currently pregnant, as well as I just had surgery on my shoulder to repair a labral tear, and will be out of work, making Michelle our sole breadwinner and provider for the time being, working long hours at the nursing home, while currently 17 weeks pregnant. We are expecting baby in February of 2026, which we are very excited about, but it’s also stressful due to the impact this will have on our finances and our ability to help our gentle Mako the Pitbull, knowing all the treatment he will soon require and go through.

We are saddened to see him in pain, limping for hours or days after chasing a ball for 5 minutes, struggling to lift his bottom off of the ground from a seated or lying position. We really need to do something to help and stop his pain, and his future holds surgery at very least, which is expensive.

We would be extremely grateful for any help that you can provide, no matter the amount, to help take Mako’s pain away and allow him to continue to be the crazy, jumpy, happy, gentle boy he is meant to be. Thanks in advance to everyone.