Max is our first dog. He’s been with us for a little over 10 years. Everyone loves Max. He walks to school and meets all the kids, the special education teachers all get their daily dog therapy from him. He’s a very special best friend. He loves everyone except Phil the mailman, who loves him back anyway.

last weekend we took him in for something we thought was wrong with his head or ears and discovered jaundice and some liver values that were off the charts. Since that afternoon he’s been moved to a 24hr VCA hospital for diagnostic testing to see if we can get to the bottom of what is wrong. They say that his liver function doesn’t seem to be compromised or failing, but he has a very strong damage response going on with his liver. Possible toxin, or something called "copper storage <mumbled trailing off>" that can cause problems long term in certain breeds, because they, as the name indicates, "collect copper, and keep it."

we are starting to get results but we are 3 days into 24 hour treatment and running up past the $8,000 that we were able to borrow specifically for this. With the VFX industry being what it is, there’s no real guarantee that we have a realistic chance of paying that back in a reasonable amount of time, and we aren’t necessarily on a healing path yet. We just don’t know. (edit, we are starting to know... a little)

Here's what Tara got from the doctor and what I sent out as an update to the people that have contributed:

9/16/2025 Max update-

He, clinically, seems to be doing well.

The test results from his fine needle aspirates of his liver and spleen, show no indication of lymphoma. Just a few irregular red blood cells.

His ALT and AST enzymes are still extremely elevated, but trending in a downward pattern. His total bilirubin is elevated, so he will be coming home with steroids, antibiotics, anti nausea meds, a new change in diet, and Omeprazole to prevent gastro -esophageal reflux disease.

We will recheck his liver enzymes in a week, to see if he is improving.

We’ve set the target here, where we think it will end up, and I can’t even imagine this is a realistic number for the reach we have being relatively private and introverted people. Introverts with sick dog.

I don’t think I’ve ever asked for money. I rely on the universe to come to my rescue, but years of a very dry industry have left us basically tapped out. I’m not sure if you’ve ever experienced swiping credit cards at a hospital trying to find enough room on one card to pay for the deposit for a sick animal. I had to do that. I’m not embarrassed, these have been our choices in life to work, to bake for people, to cook for people. You name it. A side hustle while still trying to run a business and make sure employees can get paid too. It hurt though and it really scared me. I’ve never been at the end of a rope before.

There’s a lot going on in the world at the moment, and money is tight for those of us in the trenches, just trying to live each day. If there is anything you can do to help or to pass this along to an oligarch, (Not necessarily known for compassion, but worth asking) a working actor, a television or film producer, a lover of animals with a healthy investment portfolio that feels like they can “really do some good here with this dog Maximillion.”

So, in closing, smash that donate button or send this to your dog-loving millionaire uncle… or 12,000 people with a spare dollar to give to some random humans and their very special dog. You would really like Max if you don’t know him, but i guarantee he would LOVE you if he met you.

Tara and I are very grateful for every one who has graciously helped us so far. This is a long road financially, and hopefully a long road of having Max with us for more years to continue to bring joy and love to everyone he meets. Except Phil, Phil the mailman.