Hello, I'm Ryan Curtin. I am raising funds for surgery to treat my dog, Toby. Toby is my emotional support dog, a job he excels at. He's attentive and loving, and also a complete goofball who is a joy to be around. He loves bananas more than anything else in the world. He's been the most important part of my life for years and his cleverness still surprises me. He has a huge personality in a little body.

Late last year, Toby began having trouble keeping his footing on smooth surfaces like tile, but he was moving normally otherwise. When we first noticed his impaired movement, his veterinarian thought it was due to aging nerves and it would not worsen quickly.

Over the course of a few months, he became progressively less steady even on grass, to the point where he switched to nearly always dragging himself indoors. During a more recent visit, the veterinarian noted that he had lower back pain, and along with his reduced motor functions, he likely had a herniated disc. Currently he rarely walks, usually he limps.

Per their instruction, I took Toby to a specialist center, where a doctor agreed with the vet's diagnosis. He would need an MRI to confirm and surgery to correct the issue. The estimate given was between $8,000 and $10,000, money I do not have.

I had to leave my job last year due to severe joint and tendon damage, and I've had no luck finding a new job since. I can't get a loan from CareCredit or Scratch Pay without income. I do not want to wait so long that Toby's condition becomes irrecoverable.

While I can carry him when he needs assistance and bandage his scrapes, I cannot relieve his pain alone. Thank you for reading, and if you can, please consider donating.