Lucky

About the Campaign

Lucky is a 9-year-old male Black Lab with a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) and meniscus in his left hind leg. His vet has recommended TPLO surgery, a highly effective surgery with a great success rate. Right now poor Lucky is limping, cannot run or play, and has trouble getting up and standing for long.  His family has already paid for all of his exams, medication, and x-rays, and they can cover more than half of the surgery themselves. They need help with the rest.

It happened on July 28, his birthday! Lucky was coming up the steps with Harvey in front of him and Harvey’s sister Holly behind him on the leash when his back legs turned wrong and gave out. He yelped. The family waited two days hoping it was a sprain, then tried two weeks of steroids, which did nothing. X-rays showed the CCL and meniscus tears. A torn CCL does not heal on its own; the joint keeps slipping, which grinds down the cartilage and leads to worse and worse arthritis, and often eventual amputation.

Lucky came from Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem in 2017, a rescue transported up from Georgia. Harvey’s father, a Vietnam veteran, had died of a heart attack the year before and a doctor suggested that a dog would be good emotional support for Harvey’s mother Margaret, so she and Harvey’s sister went to the shelter. Lucky walked right up to Margaret and licked her hand, and that decided it! He has been her dog ever since: lively, energetic, and obsessed with car rides.

The whole household lives together in public housing on two Social Security checks. Margaret is 72, retired, and just had back surgery. Harvey is not working right now and is waiting on an SSI decision. Harvey’s 18-year-old niece also lives with them and just started college. They pool everything and barely get by. What they have set aside for Lucky is a real sacrifice, and it is still short of $8,500.

The good news is that TPLO has an excellent track record, even in older dogs, and Lucky is otherwise a healthy, energetic Lab. Donations will cover the remaining portion of his surgery, anesthesia, pain medication, and follow-up care so he can get back to the car rides he lives for. All donations are paid only to the veterinarian. Estimate below, click to enlarge: