Staten Island woman's service dog needs expensive surgery

Staten Island woman's service dog gets surgery

Posted: Updated:
NEW YORK (MYFOXNY) -

We have an update to a story about a Staten Island woman who had a service dog that needed a $1,500 surgery.  Thanks to Fox 5 viewers, the dog had the surgery performed on Tuesday afternoon.  The last information that we had was that Squffy is out of the OR and is recovering.

We'll update you with the results when we get them.

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Original article:

Ruth DeJesus spends most of her days tucked away in her cozy Staten Island apartment. She lives with her teenage son, Orlando, and her daughter, Kimberly. Their 8-year-old black lab, Squffy, rounds out the family.

But she may not be there for long. Squffy has cancer of the uterus and needs a $1,500 surgery, which DeJesus says she just can't afford.

The stakes are high for Squffy's survival. DeJesus has OCP, an eye disease that has caused her to gradually go blind over the past 8 years. She has been using scruffy as a seeing-eye dog.

She says Squffy is her lifeline. One time the dog scared off a would-be robber. She also helps DeJesus up when she falls. 

Squffy's just as loyal as she is brave. Despite her fragile state, she forced herself up to sit next to her mom on the couch.

DeJesus hopes to get help for Squffy soon, but she says time is running out. Her doctor says if Squffy doesn't get the surgery in a week she could die. 

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