Bear is a 4-year-old Akita Mix in Pomona, CA, who needs $3,000 for TPLO surgery .

Bear is a shelter rescue. It's been a lot of hard work and sacrifice to take of and keep Bear, but after four years of having him in my life, I honestly believe it has been worth it. Currently, our living situation is very complex. I just recently moved in with my fiance, but Bear has been living with my parents since the person that we're staying with already has a lot of dogs.

Bear is beloved by everyone in my family and by those that have met and interacted with him. He loves people, and gets along with most dogs, especially my fiance's terrier mix! Bear and I love to go on walks twice a day, and I love taking him outdoors with me for hikes and whenever I go out on climbing trips. Seeing him so happy outside and with me brings me a lot of joy.

I'm a part-time English teacher and tutor. These surgeries are way more than I can handle solely. I want to help my fur baby, and it breaks my heart to think about other options where I can't keep him or worse since he's helped me to become a better version of myself.

I have visited three different vets over the past two and half months since his injury, and all of them, especially now since both his legs have been confirmed to have an ACL tear, agree that surgery is the best and, honestly, the only option to help him get back to normal. Western University Pet Health Center is the place where he'll get the surgeries, and Dr. Clarke will perform them.

Bear has been so special to me because he's helped me through many difficult situations. He's helped me to become a more confident person and has helped me to enjoy life more. I often battle with depression and, at times, have contemplated suicide, but Bear has been a positive outlet to my mental health and is one of the primary reasons I sought out professional therapists.