John Wayne Devine needs surgery!

John Wayne needs surgery.

John Wayne is one of Anne Devine's Livestock Guardian Dogs. Anybody who has visited Sauk Mountain Farm may have had the good fortune to meet the big white Maremma.

Unfortunately, John Wayne has ruptured his right anterior cruciate ligament. Over a year ago, he had ruptured his left one and had TPLO surgery to correct the injury. After fully recovering from that surgery he returned to work protecting Anne's flock. Cruciate ligament tears are often bilateral since they can be due to gradual deterioration of the ligaments and after tearing one there is added stress on the other leg. This is especially true in big dogs and John Wayne is over 100 pounds.

As defender of Anne's flock and sheep and other farm animals, John Wayne has been invaluable. Along with his partner, Calamity Jane, they have kept Anne's animals safe from numerous predators. Just their presence keeps most dangers away. On multiple occasions John Wayne has had to drive away coyotes who were foolish enough to try to attack Anne's animals. The coyotes didn't return.

John Wayne takes his responsibilities caring for sheep seriously. One time he alerted Anne and then led her to newborn lamb, born unexpectedly out of season. With cold and snow still on the ground, he helped Anne save the lamb from freezing.

There are many more stories and for those who have met John Wayne, they will know that, despite his ferocious attitude toward predators, he is very sweet and can be something of a goof ball.

Right now though, he is pretty lame despite weeks of rest and NSAID therapy.

The purpose of this Go Fund Me is to help Anne out with the cost of his TPLO surgery on this second leg and post operative physical therapy.