Therapy Dog for Veterans Needs Second ACL Surgery

Rocky is approximately 6-7 years old. We adopted him 4 years ago and he is the most incredible dog ever. God hardwired Rocky to be a therapy dog. It is not something that I or anyone else trained him to do. Rocky senses when somebody needs some extra loving and he loves filling that void. In March 2022 Rocky sustained a very slight tear in his ACL by slipping on ice while hiking. We tried bed rest for a few months ... that didn't work. In January 2023 we tried a less expensive approach to fixing his ACL through the MSPCA ($1,000). It seemed like it was going to work at first. However, after several months of bed rest and gradually increasing the length of his walks, the repair just isn't working. Last week I brought Rocky outside to meet a dog that was boarding with me. Of course, stupid me let Rocky run around for a minute before I realized what he was doing and stopped him. Now Rocky is back to 3-legging it all the time and needs to have the more invasive orthopedic surgery with plates and screws which I just cannot afford. I have been disabled for over 20 years and live on a fixed income.

In February 2023 Rocky & I started working exclusively with veterans through the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center in Gardner, MA. I was shocked to learn that Rocky & I are the ONLY therapy dog team to ever walk through their doors. Rocky's first official role was at a blood pressure clinic MVOC runs once a month. We arrived early so the staff could meet him and then it was on. He greeted everyone who walked through the door whether they wanted to be greeted or not. After the first clinic, Rocky and I started visiting 8 veterans at one of MVOC's housing units in Gardner, MA. We usually visit every week for several hours at a time. I enjoy getting to know the veterans and listening to their stories. I am so thankful for all of our veterans (living and deceased) and this is my little way of giving back to them.

Rocky and I live in Winchendon. Winchendon is building 44 studio apartments for veterans. It is my goal to find 44 therapy dog teams that will commit to visiting just one veteran one day a week. So if you are reading this and you have a therapy dog and want to get involved, please contact me.

The proceeds will go directly toward Rocky's surgery. If there is any money left over from the surgery, it will be donated to MVOC.