Alfie

About the Campaign

Alfie is a 6-year-old male mixed-breed dog with a torn CCL that needs surgical repair so he can walk comfortably and stop reinjuring his knee. The University of Illinois has given Sara a rough estimate of $5,500–$6,500 for the procedure. Sara has a small amount saved and is hoping to receive some assistance through the University’s gifting program, but she’s still coming up short by about half.

Alfie’s injury began last summer during the thing he loves most: chasing a ball. He launched three to four feet in the air to catch it and likely landed wrong. He limped afterward, then seemed to improve—until about three weeks ago, when another jumping play session brought the limp roaring back. Alfie has zero self-preservation when it comes to fetch. Sara says “ball is life” for him—he will do anything to get it—which is exactly why this won’t resolve with rest alone.

Sara got Alfie in 2020 through a Facebook rehoming post for backyard puppies. The mother rejected the litter when they were only about 4 weeks old, and Sara took Alfie home at five weeks. She didn’t pay a rehoming fee—she simply saw a tiny fawn-colored puppy who looked comically grumpy, like he’d been woken up mid-nap, and she knew he was hers. Alfie has been her companion through everything since. Alfie the puppy:

The problem is timing and money. Sara works for HCSC as a claims recovery specialist and earns about $24/hour, but the cost of living, student loans, and a car payment make it impossible to save thousands quickly. She has had multiple major financial hits in the last year and a half, including unexpected medical expenses for her own health and caring for family during recovery from surgery. She also lost her cat, Professor Higgins, just days after learning Alfie would need knee surgery—another heartbreak in an already heavy season.

Sara has still been trying to do the responsible thing for Alfie—getting him evaluated, pursuing a surgical estimate, and exploring the University’s gifting program to reduce the burden. But Alfie is in pain now, and waiting risks worse arthritis and further damage, especially in a dog who can’t resist jumping for the ball.

Donations will help cover Alfie’s CCL surgery and related veterinary care so he can get back on his feet safely and comfortably. All donations are paid only to the veterinarian. Thank you for helping Sara get Alfie the surgery he needs—so “ball is life” doesn’t keep turning into “pain is life.”