Hello, my name is Christy, and I am the proud dog mom of Charlie, my sweet 3-year-old Shih Tzu.

Charlie isn’t just a pet—he’s my world. He’s my emotional support dog, my shadow, my constant companion. He knows when I’m anxious or sad and never fails to comfort me. His presence brings me so much joy, and he has a way of making everyone he meets smile. I don’t have children of my own, so Charlie is truly my baby, and I can’t imagine life without him.

Unfortunately, these past few weeks have been devastating. It all started when Charlie developed a lump on the side of his throat. At first, the vet suspected allergies and a cyst, so we began treatment with antihistamines, antibiotics, steroids, and vitamins. Initially, he responded well, but then everything took a turn for the worse. The swelling grew rapidly, Charlie stopped eating, and he became weak and lethargic.

After further testing and imaging, we received the heartbreaking news: Charlie has cancer. The scans revealed five tumors—one dangerously close to his aorta, two in his molars requiring dental surgery, and two more in his intestines. The tumor near his throat was already compromising his bone.

Charlie needed emergency surgery immediately. Without it, his condition would rapidly deteriorate.

The surgery was incredibly difficult—Charlie lost a lot of blood, required transfusions, and even went into cardiac and respiratory arrest. It was the scariest moment of my life. But my little fighter pulled through, and thanks to an incredible veterinary team, Charlie survived.

Now, he faces a long road to recovery. He requires ongoing vet visits for injections, wound care, and monitoring, along with daily medications and a special diet. I am doing everything I can to give him the best chance at a healthy life, but the medical bills have become overwhelming.

I am asking for help to cover Charlie’s medical expenses. Every little bit counts, and any donation—no matter how small—will help us through this incredibly tough time. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing Charlie’s story.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading, for your support, and for keeping Charlie in your thoughts.

With gratitude,

Christy, Charlie, Chris (Charlie's dad), Carl (Charlie's brother) and the rest of our family!