Ryan Seacrest just earned himself another title: hero.
The radio-personality-producer-entrepreneur-television-host-superstar, recently committed to footing the entire bill for a dog’s surgery.
During a segment called “Tell Me Something Good” for his radio show On Air, a fan named Mercedes Frias called in revealing that her rescue dog, a pit bull named Romeo, had developed arthritis due to two ruptured ligaments in his hind legs. The veterinarian told her she would either need to amputate his leg, or fork over $8,000 to repair the leg.
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It was a tough decision, especially for how much Romeo has done for her. Frias had grown in the foster-care system, going from one home to another between the ages of 10 and 16.
“I developed self hatred towards myself and could not love or trust anyone,” she tells This Dog’s Life. “When I say I was having a difficult time, I mean I was contemplating on ending everything.”
One day, Frias came across a dog named Romeo needing a home and felt an instant connection. The pup was only three weeks old, was extremely emaciated and required someone to bottle feed him.
While her foster mom was unsure of bringing the dog into her home, Frias worked hard to convince her to give him a shot.
“I knew what it was like to be rescued and given a second chance,” she says. “Taking Romeo in meant a lot to me, because he and I both have labels and are judged before we are even known.”
Once her mom gave the green light, Frias worked really hard to prove everyone wrong about Romeo — and it worked. “He loves all types of animals, kids and people,” she says. “Sadly, people still judge him just because of his breed. It hurts, because he gets so excited for attention but when the person walks away with out saying hello, you can see his body language change.”
After playing such a huge role in Frias’ life, the woman knew she had to do something for him when he tore his leg ligaments and required surgery.
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Romeo’s second surgery is scheduled for May, but Frias can already see an improvement.
“Romeo is doing great,” she says. “He is walking on his leg, and I can see a great difference already.”
To keep tabs on the pup, follow his Instagram account, Mr.Romeo_MyLovebug.
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