My name is Dash. I am a 10-month-old boxer, who is warm, lovable, and heartbroken.

During my first few months of life, I lived in California, at a homeless camp, amongst people who said they loved me. Unfortunately, my caretakers were homeless, addicted to drugs, hiding from the law, and lacked the resources to feed me regularly. These circumstances led me to become very ill, undernourished, emaciated, covered in urine and feces, barely breathing, clinging to life.

As death beat at my tent, just hours away from my last heartbeat, I was rescued by an organization that helps puppies like me. I spent the next several months getting medical attention, sleeping, and healing. During this process, though, I was shifted around from one temporary foster parent to the next, not knowing where I'd end up the next day.

I was then sent to a prison, where I was coupled with an inmate who was going to train me. Unfortunately, though, the prison scared me too much—the loud bells, alarms, and so many people—that I just couldn't handle it, so I was sent back to a shelter.

I was then adopted by a family that had other animals for me to play with. But after 2 weeks, my nature got the better of me when I tried to eat the family feline, which I felt terrible for, but my adopted parents were too mad, so back to the shelter I went.

I had basically given up; loneliness and sadness consumed me. When a bright shining star happened to contact the shelter. The man explained that he was in his 50s, disabled, alone, and very lonely just like me. He was looking for a forever companion, so I got the chance to go home with him as a foster-to-adopt puppy.

I have daily struggles I am working on. Due to my circumstances in life thus far, I deal with extremely bad separation anxiety and the fear of cars, which makes it difficult to go on walks. Despite these things, my foster-to-adopt parent has fallen in love with me, and me with him. We do everything together, go everywhere together. We eat together and sleep together. He gives me endless love and attention. I can't imagine being anywhere else; I feel God has blessed me finally.

My foster-to-adopt parent lives on social security, so things are tight financially. In order for me to stay with him, the rescue is asking for an $800 donation fee for adoption, which we don't have. I am beside myself with worry; I only have a short time to pay the fee, otherwise the rescue has threatened to take me back to the shelter. I'm hoping someone will help me stay with my forever companion and donate.