Everybody who knows me knows how much my dogs mean to me.

7 years ago we rescued Toby from the pound after losing our beloved Julie to cancer and Gina (our other boxer girl back then) was delighted to have company again. They only had 4 months together before Gina passed away.

We soon realised that Toby was a very gentle soul and he would really love to have company, so we rescued another boxer girl back then - Bella.

Bella came to us very scared and skittish and Toby was her rock! The two of them became a unit and Toby protected his lil girl from aggressive other dogs, but also helped her heaps in building up confidence and trust. Til this day she knows she can rely on him.

In the meantime we rescued 11y old Buddy who left us after 2 years and then Honey came along. 

Toby welcomed every new dog and always helped them settle in quickly. 

As I started the Boxer Rescue Network Australia Toby was there when we needed to test 'iffy' dogs and with his calm nature always managed to reassure insecure dogs.

There is not one mean bone in this boy, he loves everyone and everybody dog or cat, cow, horse or alpaca (yes, his best friend is an alpaca!).

Shortly after adopting Toby we noticed a heart murmur and the cardiologist diagnosed him with sub-aortic stenosis. By itself nothing too dramatic, the worst thing that could happen would be that he would faint if he overdid it. Clever Toby never fainted, if he played to much, he just took a rest.

Fast forward to last year. Being a boxer Toby developed a few lumps and we decided to get them surgically removed. 

We were not really prepared for the shock we should experience! The moment he was put under anaesthetic Toby's heart stopped! After lots of CPR and injecting adrenaline and atropine Toby was re-animated.

We went to the cardiologist again for further investigations and found out that Toby had developed a 2nd degree heart block. This was completely independent of the sub-aortic stenosis, but of course together not the best combination. Within a few months his condition worsened from a 2nd to a 3rd degree heart block which is also called a full block. The electrical signals are not being transmitted any more and his heart rate dropped to a dramatic 40 bpm. 

Toby surprised everyone and soldiered along with his low heart rate (skipping beats all the time) as if nothing was wrong with him. 

6 months ago he struggled and had a day with a few arrhythmias, but was fine again the next day. 

Back then we decided to put a 24h ECG holter on him to find out how bad it was. Yes, his heart was stopping on and off, but it was not that bad that he needed further treatment apart of some medication. 

We did another 24h ECG holter 3 months later and his condition had improved! Even the cardiologist was surprised as it is a progressive condition.

Well, last weekend in the night from Saturday to Sunday Toby started shivering and I felt his heart rate expecting the for him 'normal' 40 bpm, I was shocked what I felt, his heart was racing with at least 200bpm! 

From that moment on over the next few hours Toby had the worst arrhythmias ever, up and down within seconds between 40 and 200+bpm, he became very restless, he would walk and collapse, eventually he would lay down, only to shoot up again and collapse. We were afraid he may injure himself and went to nearest emergency clinic to be told they can only observe him, so we took him home again.

Later that afternoon we got him to the specialist clinic where the cardiologist works (1 hour drive from home) to make sure he would be there first thing Monday morning when the specialist would return to work to check him out.

It was the hardest thing to leave Toby there and say good-bye not knowing whether or not we would ever see him again.

He made it to the morning and was checked out and the cardiologist suggested to either continue with the medication, but we are on our upper limit dosage already and it is a progressing disease or implant a pacemaker.

We decided to opt for the pacemaker. It will be a risky surgery because as we know his heart will stop when put under anaesthetic, but we have to try.

The way the cardiologist explained it how it works is as follows:
They will put Toby under a twilight sedation and insert a temporary pacemaker. Once that is in place, they will put Toby under a general anaesthetic and insert the real pacemaker. Surgery time will be about 3 hours and afterwards he needs to be kept quiet for 4 weeks to heal.

We believe we have to give our boy this chance which could give him another lease on life.

The catch - the surgery was quote between $7,000-9,000!

As I told my friends that I will do whatever is needed for my boy, even if that means I have to sell my car, they suggested I put up a GoFundMe. I would need my car to get him to the cardiologist - valid point. 

I've never done that before and I have to admit, I feel a bit awkward asking people for help. I will be eternally grateful for every bit that will be given toward my Toby's surgery, he is my baby and all I want for him is that he is feeling better. 

Surgery is planned for the 25 July 2018 and I really hope we can make this happen (and I can keep my car). 

If you can, please give whatever you feel you can give. I promise all funds will be used for my Toby and only him.