Gizmo is my energetic, happy little camper—a dog with a big personality who’s been my constant companion since I brought him home during Covid. At a time when I was struggling with depression and my household was full of special circumstances—my own stage 3 heart failure and my twins’ autism—Gizmo became our angel. He brings each of us joy and happiness in ways I can’t describe, and he’s truly my soulmate. Gizmo is always by my side, and his love has helped me and my family through some of our toughest days.

Recently, I noticed Gizmo wasn’t himself. He started straining when going outside, almost doing a handstand on his front legs, and then began sleeping curled up at the bottom of the bed, facing the wall—so unlike his usual spot in my arms. He vomited twice, and as I pieced together his symptoms, I realized he may have eaten chicken bones left out after dinner. My twins, who are special needs, can’t clean up after themselves, and I found the plate on the floor, empty. I’m scared Gizmo has an obstruction from the bones. I rushed him to the emergency vet, where the doctor recommended blood work. With help from a friend, I managed to cover it, and while the results were mostly normal, his liver enzymes were elevated. The vet now recommends an ultrasound, but my income is restricted due to SSD and my heart condition.

Gizmo hasn’t passed a stool in three days, and I know he’s in pain. Dogs are so good at hiding their suffering, but I can see my rock is hurting. I need to bring him back to the vet hospital for an ultrasound, further tests, and medication. Anything you can give to help Gizmo and me would mean the world to us. Thank you for reading our story and for any support you can offer.