Massachusetts school comfort dog needs life-changing surgery

LEE, Mass. (NEWS10) -- Students and faculty at Lee Middle and High School are urging for the public's help to save their comfort dog. Maci, a three-year-old poodle is in need of a life-changing surgery that could help her get back on her feet.

"I see Maci everyday, I love how adorable she is I mean look at her, she's like a cotton ball with legs," said Liam Rooney, a 10th grade student at Lee Middle and High School.

"She is like my comfort dog, I come here all the time for her," said Myranda Smith, a ninth grader at Lee Middle and High School.

Maci is the school's three-year-old comfort dog. She is a standard poodle who was donated to the school by a local breeder in 2022. Students described her as energetic, loving, calming and happy.

“She loves to swim, we go on vacations and she loves to sit on my paddleboard and she gets off and back on, she just loves the water and running around outside," said Shannon Clark, a school guidance counselor who is also Maci's handler.

However, lately, Maci hasn't been up for swimming, or much running at all. Clark said the doctor's performed an X-Ray and noticed a problem.

"There is some bone deformation and she has torn her cruciate ligament in both knees," said Clark.

According to Clark, Maci was diagnosed with Bilateral Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture due to an excessively steep tibial plateau angle. Therefore, Maci will need two surgeries called Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy in order to fix her bones and ligaments.

These surgeries along with Maci's recovery are expected to cost close to $20,000. Without it, doctors believe she won't have much time.

“I think the plan would have to be to keep her as comfortable as possible," said Clark. "And that can only happen for so long, before you can, you know, not allow that anymore."

To prevent the school from ever reaching that point, students and faculty have started a GoFundMe page to raise money for Maci's surgeries. Their goal is $18,000.

“If we don't get the donation, I don't know what any of us would do. It would feel like something's missing because I know she comes into most of my classes, she’s basically a part of my day," said Myranda.

Students said at least four or five students gather every period just to see Maci. They said she has become part of the school's family.

"I just ask my teacher to come in here, I usually just come in here and sit next to her, usually on the floor, just give her treats, play with her," said Myranda. "It just calms me down, it gives me a distraction because I know when I'm upset and I can't get anything to distract me, Maci is usually there.

“I moved here from Pennsylvania in 2023 after I lost my mom and after I left, we had to get rid of our dogs," said Liam. "Where I’m living now, I don't have any other animals or companions to be with and when I'm here, I feel like she fills that gap."

Now, students said they want to repay the favor.

“It would mean that I get to see her another day," said Liam. "Walking around the school actually being happy. It hurts me to see her in pain."

Anyone interested in helping Maci can find a donation link on the school's website, or use the GoFundMe link.