Please help out a friend in need! I expect that anyone who's had the pleasure of meeting or knowing this radiant gem of a human will agree with me when I say that Hailey Jones is one of the most selfless and compassionate people I've ever known. Hailey is always the first person to push her own needs aside and help out others in any way she can - and her kindness doesn't stop at humans.

In 2013, a family who had been out for a walk together spotted what looked like an incredibly neglected canine looking down at them from a second-story window in Waterbury, CT. After the family made a call for help, a young and emaciated female dog (later named Ruca) was rescued from the abandoned apartment. Another friend of mine (Michelle Cohen Kowalski) volunteered to take care of the rescued dog at her home, along with several other adopted dogs she owned at the time. Ruca wasn't exactly accepted into the pack by Michelle's dogs, and it was decided after a few scuffles that it would be best for a new home to be found for Ruca.

Hailey adopted Ruca and welcomed her into her home on July 6th, 2013. Throughout the past 11 years while being in Hailey's care, Ruca was transformed from a fearful and starving bag of bones into the playful and loving snuggle bug that we know her to be now.

Due to a recent injury, Ruca is currently unable to be her active and playful self until she can undergo surgery to repair a torn ACL. Hailey wants more than anything to continue getting Ruca the proper care that she needs to live the rest of her life in the best shape possible, but the unexpected need to come up with $8,000 for Ruca's surgery right now has left her scrambling to make ends meet.

If everyone reading this is able to make a donation of ANY amount to Ruca's surgery costs, we can all help lessen the financial impact this has caused our friend Hailey. As they always say - every little bit helps! Thank you to all who have read, donated, and/or shared this post.

Check back here for future updates on Ruca's condition and recovery! ❤️‍