Max is a 13-year-old Rat Terrier in Pembroke Pines, FL, who needs $2,000 for Leg Amputation.

Hi! My name is Bernardo and I am reaching out on behalf of Max, our beautiful rescue dog adopted in August 2012, when he was two years old.

Max had been abused as a puppy, and to this day he won't allow anyone to touch his head without instinctively recoiling.

Max is now 13 years old, and for the last eleven years has been a wonderful companion, a noble dog always keen on defending the household, an empath who can tell if someone is sad or hurting without them having to say a word, a cheerful and athletic player, a truly kind dog who has touched so many lives for the better.

He also has the habit of sleeping in very odd positions that give credit to his flexibility, as well as having a keen eye for food left too close to the edge of any table :)

Max has a primary bone tumor (osteosarcoma), surrounded by a large, growing soft tissue tumor (fibrosarcoma) that is displacing the kneecap, and severe disuse muscle atrophy on the left hind limb: Max must have been suffering from the growing tumors for quite some time, without ever giving any external signs of discomfort!

We had already incurred credit card debt to cover for the work so far, almost $3,000, and we are now told that the surgery - which is temporarily scheduled for November 30 - will cost an additional $4,800.