Bjorn is a 3-year-old Pitbull Mix in Glen Allen, VA, who needs $1,500 for Staged Bilateral TPLO.

We got Bjorn from a shelter for our daughter's 18th birthday. We've never had a pet in our family before and my husband and son were initially afraid, but in the 3 and half years that we've had him they're probably the ones that spend the most time with him. Bjorn is Norwegian for bear, but he is also identified as chocolate cake, pancake and a bean burrito as terms of endearment.

Bjorn is a fairly energetic dog; he likes greeting people when they come home, giving lots of kisses and licking everything from faces to clothes and even feet. During the day he likes to sleep in the sun and make weird noises while dreaming sometimes. He likes to sneak up on people and boop their hands. He eats a lot of carrots, which he likes to take individually to his corner to munch.

The only time that he barks and groans at us is when he is upholding his "social distancing rules" in the house. No two people shall ever be in close proximity like giving hugs or sitting on the couch together unless of course the enforcer is included and duly petted. He also actively works to restrict movement, like standing still in tight spaces or sitting directly behind chairs to get attention

Bjorn is suffering from an ACL tear in his rear right leg. It's a fairly common injury that can happen even without a major accident or trauma. We noticed him limping a little, and that is when we took him to the vet to get him diagnosed. And now he can't go on the long walks that he loves, he even has trouble getting in the car where he loves to stick his nose out even if it makes him sneeze.

My husband is the only working member in the family who is currently funding our two children through college among other things. And the recent passing away of my brother-in-law has also increased the financial burden in the form of supporting my mother and father-in-law.