Vet, 55, mows lawns to fund surgery for dog - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Vet, 55, mows lawns to fund surgery for dog

CHESANING, Mich. — A 55-year-old Army veteran who has trouble walking is offering to mow lawns for $10 each to raise money so his dog can have an about $8,000 hip-replacement operation.

In April, Richard Reister posted fliers that read: “Attention. $10 gets your lawn cut and trimmed. Disabled vet needs work to save money to pay for surgery for my dog and best friend.” But he only got one response.

“I’m putting away some of my disability check, but it’s not enough,” he told The Saginaw News for a Saturday story.

The article, he said, already has spurred interest in the plight of his dog, a 3-year-old Alaskan malamute and German shepherd mix named David. Reister said Saturday that donation offers started coming in Saturday.

“I need this for my best friend,” he said.

Between time with the Army and the Army National Guard, Reister rose to the rank of staff sergeant and had almost 20 years of service, from 1970 to 1989. Among his Army duties, he was a tank mechanic at Fort Knox, Ky.

“Over the years I destroyed one shoulder and screwed up my back,” he said.

The dog had been with Reister constantly in Chesaning, located about 75 miles northwest of Detroit, but started hobbling. A veterinarian told him the dog needs the operation or would need to be euthanized.

“The vet says his hips are deformed and need to be replaced,” Reister said. “He said he’s in a lot of pain.”