When Curt’s Pitbull mix, Charlie, started limping, he hoped it was a passing strain. As the weeks went by, however, the limp worsened until Charlie struggled to put weight on his back leg. “He was constantly in pain,” Curt recalled. “When I took him to the vet, I found out that he needed surgery for a torn cruciate ligament. The estimate was much more than I could afford.”
Curt, who worked at our Pet Health Centers before relocating to North Carolina, reached out to see if there was any help available. That’s when he learned about the Ann M. Bryand Health Care Fund, which offers financial assistance to pet owners facing unexpected veterinary expenses. “Without that grant, I would definitely not have been able to do the surgery,” he said.
Animal rescue is deep in Curt’s background, growing up in a household that would take in stray cats and dogs, and that is how he and Charlie found each other. He picked up Charlie after seeing him wandering outside alone, abandoned by owners who didn’t want him anymore. That was a blessing for both of them. “He turned out to be one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever had. He loves everybody, every animal, every person.”
With the help of the Ann M. Bryand Fund, Charlie received his much-needed surgery at our Pet Health Centers. While Charlie still has healing ahead of him, his quality of life has been vastly approved, and that’s a responsibility that Curt feels deeply. “Dogs bring us so much joy,” he added, “and it’s our job to take care of them. I’m so grateful to the Fund’s donors – more than they can ever imagine – for making Charlie’s surgery possible.”