Asking for help myself doesn’t come naturally- but right now, I’m doing it for Ryder.

Ryder has been by my side through everything. He’s my greatest teacher, and I wouldn’t be who I am today without him. His challenges pushed me to grow and to understand both dogs and people on a deeper level than I ever would have otherwise.

Recently, Ryder was scheduled for a dental procedure that I thought I was fully prepared for. But even going into it, the estimate came in at nearly three times what I expected- and since then, things have escalated quickly:

~$500 – Initial consult / deposit

~$500 – Pre-op bloodwork at the surgeon

~$500 – Echocardiogram

~$1,000 – Emergency hospital transfer and additional testing

~$4,000-$7,000 - Surgery (scheduled for next week)

11 hours in the surgeon's office and ER today.

And through all of this he still hasn't gotten the help he’s needed since January. He’s been in visible pain every day and even after being bumped up today was the soonest they could see him.

Today, his pre-op bloodwork showed some concerning results, including signs of anemia, low protein levels, and elevated liver enzymes. Because of that, they made the call to transfer him to the emergency hospital for further testing before putting him under anesthesia.

Thankfully, after additional testing, his red blood cell levels came back normal, which was a huge relief. But it doesn’t change the reality of how quickly everything has added up and the majority of the bills are still ahead.

If you’ve ever known Ryder, followed his journey, or just understand what it’s like to love a dog, I’m asking you to consider supporting him.

Whether it’s a donation or simply sharing this, it truly means more than I can put into words.

Thank you ❤️

- Kristen