A toy poodle named Franklin needs your help.

Arizona Desert Rotti and Pals Rescue found the dog on the street and found that he had a badly infected facial wound, apparently from having rubber bands wrapped tightly around his snout, said John Rorke, one of the dog’s owners.

“It had its snout bound so tight and for so long that it had cut all the way down to the bone,” Rorke said.

Franklin had surgery to remove the bands, but Rorke and his girlfriend, Effie Craven, realized the damage to his snout was worse than expected.

“We noticed that there was a hole into the sinus cavity,” Rorke said.

The hole is exposed to the outside air, Craven wrote in a Facebook post.

“The large gashes on either side of his snout have widened as the dead tissue has worn away, leaving his nose in fragile condition and with limited circulation,” she wrote.

Franklin needs a second operation to finish repairing the damage. A veterinary surgical specialist estimated the surgery would cost about $2,500.

“It was a very expensive surgery for people who are putting themselves through graduate school,” said Rorke, who works part-time at Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ office.

Kayla Boyer of Speedway Veterinary Hospital offered to do the surgery for about half the cost. Rorke said her generosity would reduce the bill to somewhere between $1,200 and $1,500 — still a financial hardship for the couple.

The rescue center suggested that Rorke and Craven turn to the community to raise the money for Franklin’s surgery. The pair set up an account that allows people to donate directly through PayPal. They have raised about $500 so far, mostly through small donations of $10 or $20.

“Anything is appreciated,” Rorke said.

Here’s where you come in: by clicking here, you can make a donation to help Franklin get the surgery he needs. Rorke and Craven would be extraordinarily grateful.

“It’s not easy to rescue a pet, especially a pet that has some problems,” Rorke said. “We appreciate everyone’s support.”