Malachi is a 3-year-old Pitt/American Staffordshire Terrier in Rochester, NY, who needs $1,798 for ACL Surgery.

Malachi came into my life when he was 8 weeks old. We have been together his whole life, all three years of it. We live in the city but we have a fenced in yard for him to run and play in. He likes to socialize through the fence with his neighbor friends. Malachi has always been an active puppy and loves to play toys and race around having fun. I am his person and he is my baby.

Malachi comes into my home office and helps me teach online every day. I am the only human person in the family, but he has two Pomeranian siblings and cats to play with. Every night he lets me know it is time for him to go to bed. This means he gets to go outside while I stand in the doorway to make sure nothing gets him and then he gets a treat and tucked into bed, his bed is next to mine.

I'm living on a fixed income. I have been out of work for a job related injury for 2 1/2 years. I used my savings to pay my bills. Malachi needs this surgery because he is in pain. I have no way to earn the money for it. He needs me to take care of him & fix what hurts him .

Malachi was running in the back yard and started limping badly. He could hardly walk or climb the stairs to get into the house. I tried putting hot packs on it and giving him OTC pain meds safe for dogs. He was not getting better so I took him to see the Dr. DeLucia at Brockport Animal Hospital. He tore his ACL in his left knee, and possibly his right, and needs surgery repair them.

Malachi likes to practice his 'mean face' in front of my dressing mirror. I am not sure when or if he would ever use it because he makes the lion in the Wizard of Oz look very brave. If he needs anything he comes and puts his head on my knee and stares at me until I guess what he wants. Before he can go to sleep he has to have hug and be tucked into bed with his blankets covering all of him.