Aurora is a 2 year old American Pit Bull Terrier in Albuquerque, NM, who needs $2,000 for Cruciate Ligament Repair.

We rescued Aurora in the summer of 2023, thinking she was a beagle mix. She was tiny, sweet, and fit right into our family. But she kept growing—and growing! After a DNA test, we learned she’s actually a pit bull and Australian cattle dog mix. She’s much bigger than we expected, but we wouldn’t trade her for anything. She lives with my parents and me, along with several cats and another young puppy.

Earlier this year, Aurora began limping and seemed to be in pain. We took her to VCA Pet Hospital, where she was diagnosed with torn ligaments in both of her knees—an issue common in her breed. We had no idea she was at risk when we adopted her. So far, we’ve spent nearly $2,000 just to get her X-rayed and diagnosed, and she still needs major surgery to repair her knees and live without pain. Her

Aurora is pure joy wrapped in a big, wiggly body. She’s a bed hog who insists on being spooned. She’s afraid of the dark and absolutely hates baths—she hides as soon as she hears the water running. She’s also the queen of squeaky toys and throws impressively gross farts that clear the room. Her favorite treat is yogurt, and she’ll do anything for a bone. She gets along with our other pets, follows

Our family has been hit hard this past year. In early 2023, my dad suffered a serious accident and broke his neck. He can no longer work, and after his insurance ran out, everything changed financially. I’m starting college in August, and I know we can’t afford the surgery.