For anyone who doesn't know me, my name is Phil, and I'm lucky to have Carly, my boxer-mix pup, in my life. I still call her my pup, but she's getting older, nearly 13 now. We've known each other since she was 6 months old. This loyal, loving, protective, all-wheel-drive puppy has been by my side in 3 different states and countless cities. As long as I'm there, and she has a soft bed and a toy to destroy, she's happy.

A few weeks ago, she woke up from a nap unable to breathe. It was one of the scariest moments of my life, and I thought I was going to lose her. I rushed her to my local vet where she was stabilized and then to a doggie ER near LA. She was diagnosed with laryngeal paralysis, which is a condition common in some breeds of older dogs. Part of her larynx becomes paralyzed, making it very difficult for her to breathe.

After this first breathing crisis, under vet advisement, I thought it could be managed with lifestyle changes. She needs to be less active, stay out of the heat, and eat wet food. We tried this for a week, and then she woke up from a nap in another breathing crisis. I feel incredibly lucky that some awesome vets were able to bring her back after that. She was rushed to the doggie ER again, and this time underwent surgery to "tie-back" the paralyzed part of her larynx. She's back home and recovering now, and while she needs to take it a lot easier, she's feeling a lot better.

I don't like asking for help and normally wouldn't. However, 3 vet visits, two ER visits, and surgery was about $18,000. I would never ask for that much, but even a little to pay off some of my credit card would be incredibly helpful. We're in the process of moving to Atlanta. Her recovery postponed that till October. But we still need to move across the country for my job. With nothing in financial reserve, the moving expense on top of her vet bills has made me nervous for both her well-being and mine.

So I'm asking for help, and even the smallest donation will help if you're able. Thank you for anything and everything, for helping me give Carly the best rest of her life.