$1,600? My Saint has had two TPLO's, which is the most common surgery for an ACL(CCL in canines) tear. Each Surgery was $5,000+. You got out on the cheap!

Having said that, still 1/12th of the OP's bill.

Pet insurance. Some companies provide this benefit. One of the reasons we never got a pet, though my kids would absolutely love one.

Crazy, but dog lifespan is considerably less. How long does the repair really have to last for?

I doubt that has a significant impact on the cost of the procedure, though, right? I mean, sort of like replacing the clutch on a car -- the cost isn't (necessarily) based on the lifetime/quality of the new clutch, but rather the labor required to pull the engine, install the clutch, button everything back up.