Many of you have met Lito, who we found living—abandoned, with crude stitches in one of his legs—under a food truck, covered in grease and hoping to sneak into the no-pets-allowed apartment building on that block.

Since rescuing him five years ago, I’ve come to realize Lito is the smartest dog I’ve ever met (and one of the most mischievous). I love him very much and would do anything to keep him safe.

Unfortunately, over the weekend, Lito had to undergo emergency intestinal surgery. It seems to have gone OK, pending a follow-up visit, and he is at the start of a long recovery. The bad news is that, before he was even rolled into the operating room, I was able to watch as my bank account literally evaporated before my eyes.

Look: people are dying. Your living expenses are surely outrageous, too. And he’s already had the surgery; barring complications (knock on wood) Lito is not going to die if you—yes, you—don’t have any cash to spare.

And some of this is the risk inherent to pet ownership. This is why I’m only seeking to cover half of his surgery bills.

Any donations will go toward him and the toddler who loves him.