There's an apartment building in Andersonville that sits on a corner, surrounded by a wrought-iron fence on which hangs a small, hand-drawn sign of a smiling cartoon dog and the words "Hi, I'm Jay." And if you look into the yard, you'll see the real JayLoo, the unofficial mayor of this neighborhood. A massive white Golden Retriever with a smile and tail wag for all, Jay is adored by every neighborhood adult, child, and dog who passes his corner.

A few months after his third birthday (in June 2025), Jay started to exhibit weakness in his left hind leg. At first, it was just the occasional stumble. But it quickly progressed to a more pronounced limp. Between being seen by his vet and the first available appointment with a specialist, JayLoo had all but lost the ability to lift, bend, or bear weight on the leg.

After an emotional week filled with vet visits, blood tests, and imaging, JayLoo received an alarming diagnosis: cancer in his spine/spinal cord. The veterinary oncologist recommended chemo and radiation immediately, as this kind of cancer is extremely aggressive, and JayLoo started treatment the next day. Unfortunately, even with comprehensive pet insurance, the last two weeks of care have cost over $15,000--and this is just the beginning.

JayLoo and his mom Junco are linchpins in our community. As members of Chicago's Canine Therapy Corps, they make weekly trips to Northwestern Memorial Hospital to visit patients. Businesses along Clark and Broadway know the duo, and Junco's well-tended garden brightens the parkway on the corner where she lives. JayLoo is an unofficial ambassador for the local dog daycare and is always a joyous friend to dogs at the dog park or dog beach. And as a core member of the neighborhood block club, Junco has helped improve traffic patterns in our neighborhood and coordinate the various social activities, trash pickup days, and yard sales that bring neighbors together.

At this point, Junco and Jay are taking things one day at a time. As beloved as Jay is by all who meet him, he is Junco's whole heart and she will do anything to get him strong and healthy and well. Please consider contributing to help cover JayLoo's medical costs. It would be so appreciated and would help give Junco a tiny bit of relief during this very stressful and scary time. Let's help "our" sweet, happy boy get better.