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Freckles The Firehouse Dog Needs ACL Surgery

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Chicago firehouse dog that was apparently the inspiration for the dog in TV's "Chicago Fire" is ailing right now.

His name is Freckles. He's a 12-year-old Dalmatian-pit bull mix, and around his Near West Side firehouse, he is a popular guy.

"We like to call him the mayor of the West Loop; the king of the West Loop," said Karen Pollack, who lives near the firehouse.

Freckles 3
(Credit: Karen Pollack)

Pollack is one of Freckles' civilian walkers. She said his current troubles started with a walk in the park.

"Off leash, he was running, and decided he wanted to go after a squirrel, and just came down on his leg like a lot of athletes do -- the wrong way -- and was hobbling back home. We took him to the vet," she said.

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Freckles suffered a torn ligament, and will have surgery to repair his ACL on Thursday.

Pollack and another person who walks Freckles have set up a gofundme page.

Freckles 2
(Credit: Karen Pollack)
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