Chico is my 20-year-old rescue dog, and he’s been part of our family for as long as I can remember. He was rescued from an auto shop by my Nina, who thought he was a black dog at first. After a much-needed bath, we discovered he was actually white—he’d just been covered in motor oil. Chico was then gifted to my mom, and he’s been the happiest, most loving dog ever since.

Chico has always been loyal and full of surprises. I remember once when we went on a short vacation and forgot to lock the gate. When we got home, Chico was right there waiting for us, showing us he’d never run away. One of my favorite memories is singing “You Are My Sunshine” to him, but changing the words to “You Are My Chico.” Even now, as he’s gotten older, a little blind and hard of hearing, he still runs around with so much energy and joy.

Recently, Chico broke the toes on his right foot. The x-ray alone took all our savings, and now we’ve learned he may need surgery, which is far more than we can afford. We tried making a splint ourselves, but his foot has become swollen, and the vet says surgery may be necessary. I love Chico dearly and hate asking for help, but I don’t want to lose my old friend. Any support you can give will go directly to his surgery and follow-up vet visits to help him recover and stay comfortable in his golden years. Thank you so much for reading and for any help you can offer.