An engaged couple has touched hearts worldwide after using their wedding fund to save a dog they found lying in the road following a hit-and-run.
Dylan McCay, from Conway, Arkansas, was getting ready to leave for work when he spotted a heart-wrenching story on social media – a dog had been badly injured and was left lying on the side of the road.
Despite hoping that some passersby had already stopped to rescue the stricken pooch, he headed 20 minutes out of his way armed with blankets and towels to see if he could help.
To his dismay, he found the puppy — its back legs bloodied and broken.
With the help of passers-by, Dylan loaded the trembling dog into his car and rushed to an emergency veterinary hospital.
Dylan recalled: “A few kind strangers who drove past were able to help me load her into my car and find the nearest emergency hospital.
“She was shivering and coughing. Despite her life threatening injuries, she did not whine, she did not growl. She tried to crawl towards me and laid her head on my lap.”
A Fight for Survival
Veterinary staff determined that the dog, which had no microchip, had sustained severe injuries, including fractured femurs in both hind legs — one of which was an open fracture that exposed bone.
The dog had bruised lungs, was in shock, and carried numerous fleas, increasing the risk of infection.
Despite her critical condition, the dog – who they have since named Acklin – showed extraordinary resilience and affection toward Dylan and his fiancée, Emily Roberts.
Moved by the puppy’s spirit, Dylan and his fiancée decided to cover her treatment costs using their wedding fund, even though Acklin’s lack of ownership meant they would bear the financial burden.
Wedding Dreams Deferred
Faced with an estimated $7,000 in medical expenses, including the cost of an emergency, highly specialized surgery to save her legs, the couple had a difficult choice to make.
Dylan said: “This has been one of the toughest situations that Emily and I have ever experienced, emotionally and financially.
“We were upset, we were worried, we were stressed.”
But despite these concerns, they drained their wedding fund and life savings to ensure Acklin, whom they now call “our wonderful girl,” had a fighting chance.
Dylan added: “We have pulled the money from our wedding fund and our overall life savings to fund these medical expenses.
“We love her and want to care for her long-term.”
A Community Rallies
The couple has since driven 10 hours to Mississippi State University, where veterinary specialists performed the complex surgery required to save both her legs, which was a success.
The initial $7,000 cost estimate was based on surgery on only one leg, but after it was determined they could save the second – the costs rose further to an eye-watering $12,000.
But, despite the extra financial burden, Dyland and Emily didn’t hesitate to stump up the cash.
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After the surgery, Dylan said: “Staff at Mississippi State University and Greenbrier Animal Hospital have all fallen in love with our girl.
“They have all expressed how happy, grateful, and upbeat she has acted throughout this journey— despite all of the difficult circumstances.
“The surgeons believe she is only 9-10 months old based on her growth plates. She deserves the best life.”
The couple have now set up a GoFundMe to help cover the additional costs, and they are also raising funds via CashApp and Venmo, with every dollar going toward Acklin’s recovery and future rehabilitation.
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Emily recently shared an update on Acklin’s post-surgery recovery, saying: “Our sweet girl is still doing very well & is still the sweetest!
“She’s been doing very well in her rehab & PT. She was moved out of the ICU and is now in the surgery ward.
“Unfortunately, she does have a little bit of an infection in one of her wounds, so we didn’t get to bring her home just yet. But we are planning to finally bring her home sometime next week.”
If you want to help Acklin’s recovery, you can donate here.
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