Ruby is an 8-year-old Pit/Lab mix in Glen Allen, VA, who needs $1,500 for tibial tuberosity advancement surgery.

I adopted Ruby when she was just a puppy. She was so small, she rode home on my lap. 8 years later, she still thinks she is a lap dog, but at 60 lbs she settles for being a partial lap dog! It's just her and I in our 2 story home but she has tons of friends! She likes to stretch out on mom's bed at night and steal all the covers!

Ruby enjoys going to our local dog park and hanging out with her friends, but she goes there mostly for the people! She loves people and anyone who gives her attention. She likes to go to the pet stores and stare at each customer until they give her pets! She has a "cousin" (my brother's boxer puppy) that she tolerates, but sometimes is a bit too much energy for her.

Had I known at that time the problems she would have, I definitely would have taken care of her first instead of using all my savings to buy a house! Even though Ruby is 8, she has many years left and I don't want her to be in pain the rest of her life.

Ruby started having problems after we moved into a 2 story townhouse. She couldn't get up easily from laying down and had a constant limp while walking. She can no longer get into the car without assistance and has a very hard time going upstairs. After seeing Dr. Taylor Scott at Locke A Taylor, he diagnosed her with bilateral cruciate ligament tears in her back legs.

Ruby hates the water, so she is never happy during bath time but tolerates it! She also is my personal emotional support animal. Prior to COVID, she was training to become a therapy dog to visit patients in the hospital since she loves people so much, and we plan on continuing our training after her surgery to help brighten peoples day!