Support Willie's Journey to Recovery

Help Willie Walk Again: A Loving Rottweiler's Journey

I first met Willie when he was just 4 years old. His owner, a veteran, was hospitalized for a month, and I agreed to care for him during that time. Willie was a sweet boy but had no training and wasn’t neutered—quite the challenge for a 110-pound bundle of muscle and energy. I started training him during his stay with me and discovered how smart and eager he was to learn. When his owner returned, it broke my heart to say goodbye. My cats were relieved, but Willie had already stolen my heart.

Sadly, the next year of Willie’s life was rough. His owner could no longer drive or properly care for him. Willie was confined indoors, often unable to go out, and was left to fend for himself. He wasn’t being fed consistently and relied on an open toilet for water. After his owner passed away, Willie desperately needed a new home.

I didn’t think I could take him in without upsetting my cats, as our first experience hadn’t gone well. Determined to find him a loving home, I took him in temporarily, using his late owner’s empty house as a base. When I first brought him back, Willie was down to just 85 pounds, unexercised, and in poor shape. I began a mission to rehome him but quickly realized no one was willing to take on a 5-year-old, hyper, untrained, and unneutered Rottweiler.

Thanks to an incredible boss, I was able to bring Willie to work with me every day. We started an intensive training regimen, with plenty of exercise and love. After work, I’d take him on long runs to burn off his energy, then drop him back at the empty house for the night. It broke my heart every single time, but I couldn’t bring him home and risk traumatizing my cats again.

After two months of searching for a home and coming up empty-handed, I knew I couldn’t let Willie go through any more heartache. That night, I brought him home for good. While it was a rough transition, with short-term medication needed for the cats, we made it work. Today, Willie is thriving—a healthy, happy, and gentle 110-pound giant who brings so much joy to everyone he meets.

About a year ago, Willie tore his ACL and underwent a $7,000 surgery. Recovery was tough, but he pulled through. Unfortunately, he recently tore his other ACL, and we’re now facing another costly surgery to help him walk again.

We’ll do whatever it takes to give Willie the life he deserves, but coming up with this amount of money again is a challenge. I’ve never been one to ask for help, but anything you can contribute to offset these costs would mean the world to us.

Thank you for helping our sweet boy get back on his feet! ❤️