This is Blanco, the sweetest boy you will ever meet. Blanco is a four-year-old American bulldog mix and he is my daughter’s emotional support dog. My daughter, who is ten, has schizophrenia and she goes through bouts of severe psychological trauma and emotional anxiety. Blanco is always there for her; he senses when she is going through these crises and he gives her the calm love and affection that brings her through these difficult times. Unfortunately, Blanco recently became completely paralyzed in his rear legs. Our veterinarian at Homestead Animal Hospital thinks that Blanco’s paralysis is due to a spinal injury. The veterinarians and staff at Homestead Animal Hospital are trying to help Blanco regenerate some of his neurologic function with therapies such as acupuncture, laser and hyperbaric oxygen treatments. However, they say that his best chance—maybe his only chance—of ever being able to walk again is by going to a neurologic specialist to have an MRI of his back and probably major back surgery. Time is of the essence because the longer he remains paralyzed, the less the chance that the surgery will help him to walk again. The cost of the MRI and surgery would be around $12,000. I am a single, working mother of five children, and I can not afford this major treatment and surgery for Blanco. I want to keep him with us but I am already overwhelmed taking care of my daughter and my other children and I don’t know if I could really care for Blanco if he remains paralyzed. We can’t lose him, though. He is my daughter’s life support and our whole family loves him so much and he deserves to live! We are asking for donations to help us pay for Blanco’s visit to the veterinary neurologist and his surgery. Please help us with whatever amount you can! And thank you so much for helping to give Blanco a chance to walk again and spend his days with his best friend, my daughter.