Just weeks ago, Barb’s beloved dog, Robertito, faced a sudden and - sadly - fatal medical emergency. Barb had spent years caring for him with heroic attention and love, but this was impossible to predict... and impossible for her to cover financially. Every donation to this fundraiser will support Barb as she navigates the financial and emotional impact of this loss. No amount is too small.

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My name is Lisa, and I’m organizing this fundraiser on behalf of my dear friend, Barb. It's still hard to believe that her beloved Robertito - best friend to my own dog, Polar - is gone, after an undiagnosed internal tumour ruptured without warning.

The emergency vet bill, after-care costs, and the financial strain that followed have created challenges Barb could not have prepared for. She has also been dealing with long-term health issues that affect her daily life, making everything more difficult.

My hope is that this GoFundMe can raise enough to cover Robertito’s $5,500 emergency veterinary bill, and offer Barb some stability during an overwhelming time.

I asked Barb to tell the story of Robertito in her own words, which you can read below, but I'll just add that it's impossible to overstate how devoted she was to his care from the very beginning, and how generous Barb has been about sharing her research with anyone else it might help. The whole neighbourhood will miss Robertito!

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My Sweet Robertito

He was my absolute soul dog for nearly five years. Friendly, kind, patient, sensitive, and funny — he had a calm, gentle presence. He also had a stubborn streak and would occasionally show his independence through small, deliberate moments that clearly said: “You’re not the boss of me — I survived more than a year on the streets without anyone telling me what to do!”

Early Life

Robertito survived a harsh early life on the streets of Mexico where I found him — including three hurricanes, gunfire, beatings and other violence, a broken tail, and Ehrlichia (a serious tick-borne disease). In spite of everything he had been through, he remained gentle, sweet, curious, and trusting.

Caring for Robertito

From the earliest days, Robertito showed contact-based protein reactions — not just from eating, but from simple exposure. At first, reactions occurred within 5–15 minutes. He could just sniff a chicken bone and get hives across his entire body. As his body grew stronger and healthier, reactions took longer to appear — sometimes not until two weeks into a new food.

I tried him on kibble, but the many ingredients triggered reactions, so I prepared single-protein meals for him every day. Once he started a raw diet, he became significantly more energetic and healthier, but never tolerated any single protein source for long.

Because the conventional veterinary treatments he received initially made him worse, not better, I pursued expensive holistic treatments, as well as giving him the best supplements and foods available. I tracked every single thing he ate, his reactions, and even tracked his poops in case the vet needed a photo. I spent at least an hour a day researching, trying to figure out what was going on with him. I joined multiple online dog parent groups focused on diet and wellness and researched constantly, trying to figure out what was going on with him and how to keep him safe.

Our Life Together

Three months after bringing him home, I became very ill with a long-term chronic illness that continues to affect me — causing brain fog, fatigue, inflammation, vision problems, difficulty walking, and reduced lung capacity. Despite all this, I cared for Robertito entirely on my own — preparing his food, managing his reactions, researching every day, giving him supplements, and doing everything I knew how.

I also got him word buttons, which he quickly learned to use. He had to be smart to survive on the streets. Using the buttons, he would tell me when he:

• had an ear infection

• had a tick

• felt sick or hungry

• needed to go potty

• wanted to play

And sometimes, he was hilariously bossy. If I asked if he wanted food, he’d press “NOW!”, “Today”, or “Later.”

Veterinary Care

Over the years, Robertito had ongoing veterinary supervision, along with:

• bloodwork done regularly

• ultrasound and x-rays a few years ago (normal)

• more diagnostic testing this past summer (normal)

• 4DX/4DX Plus test in 2024 (screening for Heartworm, Lyme, Anaplasma, Ehrlichiosis) — all clear

No signs of anything except what appeared to be typical allergic reactions to food or environmental irritants.

The Emergency — October 25, 2025

The internal tumour was completely undetected — not visible on tests, not found on imaging, not hinted at in bloodwork. Nothing until October 25th, when the tumour suddenly ruptured. Robertito went into immediate crisis and we rushed him to the emergency veterinary hospital. It was only there, after rupture, that the large, likely cancerous cavitated mass was discovered.

The rupture caused catastrophic internal collapse. Within hours, he had gone septic and could have a fatal cardiac event at any second.

I was given time alone with him. I talked to him, explained what was happening, and apologized over and over. I made the heartbreaking but humane decision for euthanasia. As I spoke, he laid his head in my hand. He was resigned. He understood. He was tired. It was awful. I was with him for the entire procedure, whispering to him until the very end, making sure he never felt alone.

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Barb is one of those people who is the first to help others, but hates to ask for help herself, so I'm doing it for her. Please spread the word to other friends, family, neighbours, and dog parents who might be in a position to help at all. I know any donation will be deeply appreciated, and will make a difference.