Help Harley Get Surgery

My name is Jay, and I’m fundraising for our dog Harley, a 13‑year‑old Pitbull/Labrador mix who has been part of our family for more than a decade. Harley isn’t “just a dog” to us, he is family, protector, best friend, and the heart of our home.

We found Harley 13 years ago in the middle of a busy intersection, terrified and frozen as cars sped around him. I’ll never forget the moment we stopped traffic, my wife scooping him up. She held him against her chest while he shook. He was just a puppy, scared, alone, and desperately needing someone to choose him. We spent over a month searching for his owners: posting flyers, calling shelters, contacting vets, walking him through the neighborhood, and having him scanned for a microchip. No one ever came forward.

Because Pitbull–type dogs are often misunderstood, overlooked, or put at risk in shelters, we made the decision to keep him. We already had pets, but we couldn’t let him end up somewhere unsafe. From the moment he came home, Harley became part of our family in every way that matters.

He grew up alongside our son, who is now 8 years old. They’ve been inseparable since the day our boy learned to walk. Harley has been there for every scraped knee, every bedtime, every moment of joy and every moment of fear. When I work nights, my wife and son say they feel safe because Harley is there. We dont live in the best neighborhood but Harley watches over them, protecting them, loving them. 

Now Harley needs us.

He has a large lipoma, (a fatty mass), that has grown over time and is now causing him pain. It presses on his side when he walks or lays down, and we can see the discomfort in his eyes. The veterinarian said the mass needs to be surgically removed as soon as possible to prevent it from getting worse.

We were able to find a non‑profit veterinary clinic, Anicira San Diego in Encintas, CA and they examined Harley and confirmed that the mass needs to be surgically removed. They have been incredibly kind and are willing to perform the surgery, but even with their reduced nonprofit pricing, the cost is still $1,534–$1,743, which is more than we can manage on our own right now. Knowing that a trusted nonprofit vet is ready to help him gives us hope, we just need help covering the cost so we can move forward.

I’m a veteran, and our family is currently receiving SNAP benefits. We are doing everything we can, applying to every assistance program, reaching out to foundations, and contributing what we’re able, but we simply cannot cover the full cost on our own.

Harley has given us 13 years of unconditional love, loyalty, and protection. He has been there for our family every single day. Now we’re asking for help to be there for him.

If you can donate, share, or simply send good thoughts, it means more than we can ever express. Every bit helps us get Harley the care he needs so he can live the rest of his senior years without pain.

Thank you for reading his story, and thank you for caring about our boy.

Jay, Harley, and family