To all my friends,

The time has come! I'm going in for surgery, and I need you to Help Me Heal.

Can you believe the Animal League has been caring for me almost a whole year? They've given me food, shelter and love and have taken care of all of my medical needs while waiting for my skeleton to fully mature. Well, I'm all grown up and it's time to see if we can fix my wobbly legs. See My Full Story

This is going to be the first of probably two operations. This time it's on the right, and if all goes well, the next will be on the left.

I'm a little bit scared, so I wouldn't mind any good wishes you want to send. We also need your generous support, 'cause caring for animals like me isn't easy and takes tons of resources.

So spot me, I'm goin' in...FOR SURGERY!
I'll be back with an update soon.

Love,

Reggie

Hi hi! My name is Reggie. I'm a little Beagle/Fox Terrier mutt-i-gree (mixed breed), and I was born at North Shore Animal League America with my momma and my brothers and sisters. Momma was rescued from a kill-shelter when we were in her tummy, and she gave birth to us at the Animal League.

All my sisters and brothers are doing very well, thank you, but I have a little problem. I was born with abnormal hind limbs. Both my back legs have laterally luxating patellas, which is a common knee problem and cause of lameness in dogs. Sometimes when I walk, my kneecaps jump out of place and make me tumble over.

Because of this, the Animal League put me in a special program that helps save pets' lives called the Help Me Heal Program. This special group makes sure that I get all the medical care I need for as long as I need it. They'll do everything they can to make sure I have the healthiest, happiest life possible.

Right now, I'm only 8 weeks old, so I can't get corrective surgery. I have to wait until my skeleton is mature, which should be when I'm about 6-8 months old. Then I may be a candidate for surgery or even multiple surgeries to help me walk correctly. If surgery doesn't work, the Animal League will explore more options. Hopefully, the operation will be all the treatment I need, but we'll just have to wait and see.

For now, I'm on a strict regimen of daily hugs and 'round the clock kisses. And I'm working out to try and strengthen my legs too! I exercise on a floor that has good traction so I don't slide all over and hurt myself. The Animal League even found me a foster home that is set up all soft and cushioned – just for me.

I feel very lucky to be able to have such dedicated and compassionate people working so hard for me and other pets like me. The Animal League saves lives every day. Won't you help by supporting the Help Me Heal Program?