If you know Lori, you know how much she loves her dogs. They aren't just pets to her. They're family, companions and some of the most important parts of her life.

Recently, Lori's beloved dog, Tavi, lost his sight. Anyone who has watched a dog navigate the world without vision knows how heartbreaking it can be. While Tavi is adapting with bravery and resilience, there is hope. A surgery will restore his vision and allow him to see the people, places and things he loves once again.

Lori is the kind of person who would never ask for help, even when she needs it. She is always the first to show up for others, offer support and put the needs of those she loves ahead of her own. That's why we're asking on her behalf.

We're hoping to raise funds to cover the cost of Tavi's cataract surgery and give him the chance to see Lori’s face again. Every contribution, no matter the size, will help bring Tavi one step closer to reclaiming his sight and enjoying all the things that make life special. If funds raised exceed the cost of Tavi's surgery, all extra monies will be used for his aftercare, including ongoing medications (of which there are many!) and vet appointments.

If you're able, please consider making a donation or sharing this fundraiser with others. Together, we can help Tavi see the world again.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity and support.

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And if you're still with us, here is Tavi's story in Lori's own words:

In the fall of 2015, while I was preparing for a work trip to Africa, my then husband sent me a photo of a dog with one blue eye who was sitting in a high-kill shelter in California. Even though he was beautiful, he wasn’t getting any interest because he didn’t know how to be a dog. With a broken tail that didn’t wag, and the calmness to fall asleep during any attempt at play, his days became numbered.

We already had 3 dogs at the time, including one I had just brought home from another work trip to Romania earlier that year. I told Josh I see a thousand faces a day that need homes, we can’t take another.

Unbeknownst to me, Josh dropped me off at the airport for my trip, parked his car in long-term, and caught a flight across the border.

Two weeks later, I arrived home to find Tavi in our driveway. He didn’t jump, or wag his tail. He didn’t lick me or bark. But from that day onward, he never left my side.

Tavi is like a cat with 9 lives. His allergies make him the recipient of a lifetime supply of ear meds and monthly shots. He beat cancer when no one thought he would. He survived a 100-foot cliff fall and spent 3 days stranded on a rock with saltwater poisoning and in January of this year, he was diagnosed with diabetes and Cushing’s. When I asked about vision loss, the answer I dreaded was, “when, not if.”

After many challenging months, his glucose regulated and the dogs and I set off for a week long holiday. It was on the last day when I looked into his beautiful heterochromic eyes and saw only a film of grey.

If you’ve made it this far, you know I would do anything for my dogs, something I tell them each day. So when told to accept his blindness, my answer was no. It’s been a journey of around the clock care, missed plans, lost sleep, but with every drop I whisper “we’re one step closer, it’s a privilege to be your mama.”

In 5 days, he will have surgery to restore his sight. The road ahead is uncertain with new challenges to face. But Tavi has taught me that you don’t always need to see the whole path before taking the next step. Sometimes it’s simply enough to feel safe, loved and to know that someone will always be there to keep you afloat.