Hi friends,

I’m reaching out on behalf of my beloved 4-year-old Mini Bull Terrier, Geronimo. If you’ve ever met him, you know how special he is—full of love, curiosity, and endless affection for people, dogs, cats, and kids. He’s happiest on walks around the neighborhood, playing at the beach, or making new friends wherever he goes.

Geronimo has struggled with intermittent breathing issues ever since a bout of laryngitis when he was about 1 1/2 years old. Recently, his condition has taken a serious turn. In early July, multiple respiratory crises were triggered by hot, humid weather, fireworks, and thunderstorms.

One terrifying episode on July 21st left him panicked, cyanotic and collapsing, and he was rushed to the vet by his guardian angels, our amazing friends and neighbors. While speeding to the vet to be with Geronimo, I was urged to get there “as soon as possible” because efforts to stabilize him were ongoing and there was no guarantee that he would pull through. I can’t even begin to describe how heartbreaking it was to hear those words - this was the same dog who seemed totally fine when I left him just a few hours before with our usual “have a great day buddy, be a good boy!”

Fortunately, Geronimo is awfully stubborn and has always been tougher than woodpecker lips. Thanks to the amazing professionals at All Creatures Veterinary Services in Long Beach, NY, Geronimo pulled through. Together with his treatment team, we then turned our attention to figuring out how best to help him on a long-term basis.

Initial evaluations suggested laryngeal paralysis—a rare and dangerous diagnosis in a young dog his age. A specialist confirmed it a few days later, along with other abnormalities: an elongated soft palate, epiglottic retroversion, and stiff laryngeal cartilages.

We’ve since taken the first major step. On July 24th, Geronimo underwent surgery to shorten his soft palate, which was successfully completed. But this is only the beginning of his journey to breathe more easily. He will likely need a second, more complex procedure soon: tie-back surgery to address the laryngeal paralysis directly.

So far, I’ve spent about $8,000 on vet visits and surgery, with additional expenses forthcoming for this and any future procedures. While Geronimo does have pet insurance, actual treatment costs for July alone have already soared past the annual policy limit of $5,000 due to the urgency and complexity of his care.

I’m doing everything I can to give Geronimo the happy, comfortable life he deserves because he’d do the same for me. While he may never be 100% due to these congenital issues, your support will help ensure that he can continue to do the things he loves - headbutting people, enjoying his walks, meeting new friends, and breathing easier every day.

Any contribution—no matter how small—makes a big difference. If you can’t donate, sharing this with your network means the world to us.

With love and gratitude,

Sean & Geronimo