Help Oliver get ACL surgery.

TL;DR Please help us save our pup.

Have you ever made a connection with another living creature on this Earth? A connection you would do anything to protect? I’m sure the answer is yes. If not, move along since this isn’t going to appeal to your heart. For the rest of us, we know what it feels to love someone or something so unconditionally that we would sacrifice everything we can.

Let me introduce you to Oliver. Oliver is an Australian Shepard Cocker Spaniel mix, and at under 2 years

old he is still a baby. Oliver loves to play. He gets so excited that his back end moves the rest of him. He’s

always ready to give a kiss or cuddle close. Oliver takes special care of his little Human niece, Marlee,

when she comes for visits. He gives her kisses whenever he can sneak them in, but listens when she tells

him “Owiver, stop!” At least until she isn’t looking again. He loves to go for walks, chase the occasional

squirrel, and say hello to everyone he meets along the way. In short, he’s the bestest boy.

Now, let me introduce you to my Father Richard. It isn’t Father’s Day, so I’ll spare you the Hallmark Card.

What I will say is that my father is a man who knows sacrifice. He has worked in a thankless job doing

HVAC service and installation. For those of you that have had the misfortune of waking up with no heat

or AC, you know how much the winter or summer can really hurt. He's the guy who goes

into your freezing house, frozen to the bone alongside you, and right when he gets the heat on, he moves on to the next frozen house. It’s a life of being cold all winter and hot all summer, of carrying

heavy tools up and down flights of stairs all day, of early mornings and late nights, and holidays and

weekends away from family. Why would someone live this you may ask? Because it pays the bills and

keeps food on the table for two kids and a wife.

Let’s bring them together now.

My father has wanted a dog for many years, but the demanding nature of his job and family life kept

him from realizing his dream. Now his children are grown and self-sufficient. He has more

time on his hands, but that isn’t always a good thing. COVID-19 came along, and free time turned into

days of isolation and loneliness. Enter Oliver. The two took to each other immediately. Inseparable best

friends from the start. A connection as strong as that of a father and child was born. The “Welcome

Home” ritual when my father walks in the front door is a fifteen-minute parade of butt wiggles and

kisses.

Recently, Oliver began walking with a limp to avoid the use of his back leg. He was clearly in pain but

kept his spirits up for his family. An appointment with a veterinarian was made. Oliver greeted everyone

in the office with love and excitement, despite his injury. Like I said earlier: he is the bestest boy. The

veterinarian had the unfortunate news of a torn ACL, and a referral to another office. The quote given:

$6000-$10,000.

We have begun doing quite a bit of shopping around, but even so it looks like most places with lower

rates are not taking new patients. For those of you that aren’t aware: veterinarians are not like doctors.

They have no obligation to provide care despite the patients ability to pay. This leaves us in the

precarious position of trying to find a large sum of money to treat his injury.

Here’s the part where you come in.

We are, with hat in hand, imploring you for your aid. None of us are the type to ask for help with any

sort of ease, so believe me when I tell you this is our last hope. We are trying to raise $10,000 to pay for

his immediate care as well as any recovery care, prescriptions, or other miscellaneous things needed to

help him along the way. Have you ever made a connection with another living creature on this Earth? A

connection you would do anything to protect? That is my fathers connection to his best friend Oliver.

The Holiday season is here and money is tight for all of us. Trust me, we get it. Sharing our page and

asking your friends and family to also share is free. Please give what you can. If you can’t give today,

remember us when you can.