Meet Leo: our 95lb tri‑colored gentle giant with a heart as big as his drool marks. Born January 31st 2020, he’s endlessly kind, loves tug of war, car rides, cuddles, and pup cups. Leo greets every guest with a tail thump you can hear across the room. At night he sleeps pressed against us; by day he keeps our two cats, Poncho and Marley, in check so playtime never gets too rough, always watching over his family.

We found Leo online and knew he was meant for us. Originally named Riot, Leo was found roaming the streets of Southern Illinois in 2020. We drove 9 hours each way to bring him home to Detroit, and he’s been the glue of our little family ever since. Now in Honolulu, he’s the joyful center of our home and gatherings, the one who makes everyone feel welcome.

The Journey So Far (What Happened):

Last year, our community incredibly rallied together to help fund Leo's first TPLO surgery on his left hind leg after an injury over Labor Day weekend. Thanks to your generosity, that surgery was a total success. He spent time recovering and was finally able to run free, do his yard zoomies, and get back to his happy self.

Unfortunately, we are facing a new hurdle. Because Leo had to compensate and put so much extra weight on his "good" leg during the long recovery, that joint has finally failed. He has just been diagnosed with a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in his right hind leg.

Our once-active boy is limping and in pain again, spending his days resting and hopping just to get water. It breaks our hearts to see him back at square one, facing another major surgery.

Updated Plan & Financial Breakdown:

We are moving quickly to get Leo his second TPLO surgery on Oahu so he doesn't lose muscle or mobility. While we fortunately have pet insurance now, the financial math is still a major hurdle for our family.

We have updated our overall fundraising goal to reflect this new chapter.

Our $8,000 goal covers:

Anything beyond funds raised will be covered by us through CareCredit.

Why Your Help Matters:

Leo isn’t just our dog; he’s family. He is a best friend to everyone he meets and the heartbeat of our home. With your help, we can get his second leg repaired and finally get him past this journey for good.

We will continue posting regular updates here regarding his surgery and recovery milestones so you can walk alongside Leo on his road to healing.

If you can give something, please do. If you can’t, sharing Leo’s story means the world to us. From the bottom of our hearts and Leo’s, mahalo nui.

Prefer Fee-Free Donating?:

To ensure 100% of your donation goes directly to his care without any fees, you can donate directly via:

(All donations are recorded here on GoFundMe)