A couple in Arkansas has depleted their savings and wedding fund to rescue a 10-month-old dog found injured by the roadside. Their dedication has sparked an outpouring of support, raising $39,000 in donations to cover the dog’s medical expenses and replenish their finances after they paid for emergency surgery.
The story began on Halloween when Dylan MacCay saw a Facebook post about a Goldendoodle reportedly injured near his home. “She had been struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run,” he recounted in a Facebook post. “It had been raining all day and she was wet. I gathered towels and blankets and sped to the location.”
Upon arrival, he found the dog with her back legs bloodied and broken, unable to move. With the help of some strangers, he lifted her into his car and rushed her to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital. “Despite her life-threatening injuries, she did not whine or growl. She tried to crawl towards me and laid her head on my lap,” he shared.
Later joined by his fiancée, Emily Roberts, MacCay learned at Greenbriar Animal Hospital that the dog had no microchip and that all expenses would fall on him. “In that moment, I decided I would do whatever was necessary to help this puppy. She deserved a chance at life,” he stated while setting up a GoFundMe campaign with Roberts to fund the dog’s care, naming her Acklin.
The diagnosis revealed broken legs, a potential infection, and fleas. The following day, the veterinarian informed them that one leg would need amputation, while the other required specialized treatment at Mississippi State University—a 10-hour drive away—with costs already reaching $7,000.
“We have pulled money from our wedding fund and our overall life savings to cover these medical expenses,” they wrote. “That being said, we are joyful and excited at the possibility of saving this wonderful girl and giving her the best life she could imagine.”
Acklin’s surgery was ultimately successful, allowing her to keep both legs. In an update posted on November 11th, by which time their GoFundMe had exceeded its initial goal of $11,000, MacCay and Roberts reported that Acklin is beginning to bear weight on her legs and is starting physical rehabilitation. “Our sweet girl is able to get this much-deserved help because of all of you,” they expressed. “Her rehabilitation and therapy will be expensive, but we are working as hard as we can.”