My name is Nikola, and my heart is breaking as I write this. I have a two-year-old dog named Coco, who is more than just a pet to me—she is my baby, my best friend, my family. Since the day I brought her home, she has been by my side through everything: the hard days, the lonely nights, and the moments of joy. She’s the one who greets me with unconditional love every morning, the one who makes me laugh when I feel like crying, and the one who curls up beside me when I need comfort.

A few days ago, something devastating happened. Coco was attacked by another dog, and although I rushed her to the vet right away, her wounds became badly infected. The vet told me I have two options: either put her down or go through with a surgery that could save her life. I cannot imagine life without Coco—she is my child, my companion, my heart—but the cost of surgery is something I simply cannot afford right now.

I am seven months pregnant, and I just recently moved out on my own. Every penny I have goes toward preparing for my baby and keeping a roof over our heads. I never thought I would be faced with a choice like this—choosing between money I don’t have and the life of the dog who has given me nothing but love.

Coco deserves to live. She’s still just a baby herself at only two years old. She loves to run around, to play, to cuddle, and she has so much life left in her. It kills me to see her in pain and know that the only thing standing between her and healing is something I can’t provide right now.

I love Coco more than words can express. She is not just “a dog”—she is my child, my family, my everything. I want to do everything in my power to save her, because she has saved me countless times just by being by my side.