$9,000 donated for Vancouver shelter dog surgery

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) -- Donations will pay for surgery for a Vancouver shelter dog named Chopper with painful hind legs.

The Vancouver Columbian reports readers donated $4,500 in about two days to match a $4,500 gift from the Thomas A. Plein Foundation of Appleton, Wis.

The Humane Society of Southwest Washington says the 3-year-old Rottweiler mix was surrendered to the shelter in late August and has been undergoing pain management for a deteriorating medical condition.

The 135-pound Chopper needs specialized surgery on the knees of his hind legs, which will cost about $9,000.

The surgery is expected in a week or two. Chopper will need about eight weeks to recover and then will be placed in a new home.