Teddy Bear and his Torn ACL

Hello everyone! My name is Sheena and I am raising funding for an ACL surgery for my amazing pup Teddy Bear.

This past weekend was unexpectedly stressful as our sweet boy Teddy Bear tore his other ACL and needs another surgery.

It was a typical Saturday night and Sir Theodore 'Teddy Bear' Ruxbin Roosevelt the Bestest had his dinner and then happily scampered into his backyard to keep an eye on the coyotes and add his voice to the neighborhood Dog Watch. I always wash up from his dinner and feed the kittens before joining him outside for some fresh air. This time when I went out he was laying down instead of checking the perimeter of his yard like usual. It wasn't the most odd thing to see, but when he tried to get up and struggled to not put any of his weight on his back leg my stomach sank. I realized he wasn't favoring his right leg, the one he had surgery on for a torn ACL 8 months ago that he is almost completely healed from. No, he was strong on his right leg, it was the left and he wouldn't put any weight on it.

To be honest, since we just went through this journey, I suspected then that I knew what the vet would say. I had been warned that nearly 60% of dogs that tear one ACL end up tearing the other in the year or two after the first injury. This is a result of putting more strain on the 'good leg' while the first leg heals. With Teddy being 70 pounds, 9 years old and a mix of two breeds that protect and serve, his likelihood of a second tear was high.

That is exactly what happened.

Last summer I began saving for this rainy day but, as some of you may already know, I was let go from my job 6 months ago and am still juggling side hustles as I seek more stable and lucrative employment. All of my savings has been drained to keep us all afloat over this winter. Our family is doing the Dance of Credit Cards to make ends meet these days. Teddy's pet insurance only covers so much. I'm just not financially prepared for an expense like this at this time.

We have already done the initial rounds of bloodwork, pain meds and scans. He is a very healthy boy and all signs point to this surgery being straightforward and successful. It is a clean tear and the arthritis that accompanies these kinds of injuries is minimal. He is resting comfortably at home this week as we prepare for surgery Monday 3/11/24. I should be able to have him home for my birthday on 3/14. Now I just have to figure out how to pay for it!

The funding i'm aiming to raise here will go exclusively towards Teddy's surgery and accompanying costs such as x-rays, pain and anti-inflammatory meds and check ups with his veterinarian. I will post surgery and recovery updates here.

I was reminded by my community over the weekend that Teddy has a lot of family and friends out there who love him dearly and may want to and be able to help or support him in some way. Truly, any little bit helps; if you have it in your heart to help get this boy through his surgery and safely on his way towards recovery we both will be endlessly grateful! And if not, no stress! Words of support and encouragement are deeply welcome and I will absolutely read every single message of love to our Bear. <3

Thank you!

Sheena Leigh