Lando isn’t just one of our pets—he’s our fifth roommate, and honestly, the glue that holds all four of us together. Living away from home as college students can be stressful and unpredictable, but Lando has been the one constant in our apartment. No matter what kind of day we’re all having, he somehow brings us together. He’s about to turn 2 in a few weeks, and he’s full of personality. He’s playful, affectionate, and somehow manages to make each of us feel like his favorite. He follows us around the apartment, hangs out while we’re studying, and is always there when we need a break. One of our favorite things is having him sit with us on the couch during Sunday football—he’ll literally watch the games with us like he’s part of the group.

That’s why what happened yesterday hit all of us so hard. Out of nowhere, he started throwing up repeatedly, stopped eating, and began hiding and groaning—something we’ve never seen him do before. It was scary seeing him like that, especially because he’s usually so energetic and social. We rushed to get him help, and we’ve now learned he has a urinary blockage, which is life-threatening and requires immediate treatment and hospitalization. As four college students, this has been incredibly overwhelming—emotionally and financially. We weren’t prepared for something like this, but we all care about Lando so much and want to do everything we can to make sure he gets through this.

Any support means everything to us and will go directly toward his emergency treatment, hospitalization, and recovery. Lando has been there for all of us through so much—we just want the chance to be there for him now.