WEST LOOP — The West Loop's most famous dog Freckles is in need of surgery and his neighbors are coming to the rescue.
Freckles, who lives at Engine 103's firehouse in the West Loop, recently tore his left ACL during a recent romp at Skinner Park. To get Freckles back into commission, neighbors Karen Pollack and Michelle Langlois have launched a GoFundMe campaign to pay for his needed surgery.
Pollack and Langlois live across the street from the firehouse and have helped walk Freckles for years. Langlois was with Freckles, a 12-year-old Dalmatian-Pitbull mix, when he sprinted after a squirrel, fell on his leg funny and soon started limping, Pollack said Tuesday.
Top veterinarians at the Animal Care Center of Chicago in the West Loop diagnosed Freckles with a torn ACL. Vets Joanna Krol and Jason Long of the Animal Care Center of Chicago in the West Loop will oversee Freckles' surgery to repair the injury on Thursday.
A West Loop celebrity, Freckles has posed for pictures with the cast of "Chicago Fire" and many fans over the years. He also has his own website, a Twitter handle and Facebook fan page.
Pollack said Pouch, the resident firehouse dog on "Chicago Fire," was even modeled after Freckles.
"Freckles loves everybody, he kisses everybody. He takes pictures with everybody. He's very loving," Pollack said. "He is the ambassador of the West Loop."
Freckles doesn't have an official owner, but firefighters have sold T-shirts in the past to raise money for his veterinary care.
The GoFundMe campaign aims to cover the cost of the surgery, which will cost about $3,000. If more money is raised, Pollack said the money will be set aside to establish a medical fund for Freckles' future needs.
"I will be out of commission for a short while recuperating but will be back as myself wagging my tail and giving kisses soon enough," Freckles says on the GoFundMe page.
Neighbors are raising money to help Freckles the firehouse dog, who has a torn ACL and is need of surgery. [Facebook.com/Freckles the Firehouse Dog]
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