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I don't know where you are, but I know that around here, one of your most expensive options would be to go to the vet school. Your best bet would be to either find a nonprofit clinic with a boarded surgeon who does reduced cost surgeries or to find a general practitioner who is comfortable with orthopedic surgery. It will still be costly but not what an boarded surgeon at a referral practice or teaching hospital should charge. I know a number of GPs that do ACLs and patellas, though, since I'm not sure exactly what specific repair surgeries are indicated in this case, it's hard to tell whether it's something really tough or more routine.