Hey all, It's Scarlett and I want to introduce you to my new friend, Mr. Tom and explain why he could really use our help.

On my last dog rescue transport trip, I was tasked to pick up Mr. Tom and his beloved Akita, Picasso and get them safely to Jacksonville, FL. He was trying to make his way back to the rescue where he adopted his boy 6 years ago because life had handed him quite the turn and his biggest concern was getting his dog off the street and to safety. Picasso is fine with Akita Rescue Society of Florida, who have so graciously agreed to put him up for as long as necessary, but Mr. Tom needs your help!

My son and I spent 11 hours in a van with this kind gentleman and let me tell y'all, what a gem of a human he is! He has lived a most interesting life, travelling all over with one rescued dog or another, while working and exploring all this great country has to offer. He is a true wanderer and I could listen to his stories and never grow tired of them.

After beating cancer (pics are too graphic), Tom developed what appeared to be an eye infection in April of 2024. Fast forward to December of the same year, and he had finally been diagnosed properly as having shingles but ultimately lost sight in his right eye. He only has 20/200 vision in the left and earlier this year, he had surgery to permanently close the right eyelid.

Due to him not being able to work for well over a year, he fell behind on his rent payments and when his renewal came up June 1st of this year, his leasing company would not renew his lease because he was behind.

Enter this July and with his last bit of pocket change, Mr. Tom boarded a bus bound for FL from his home in TX. WITH the Akita, and all was well until they were forced to switch bus lines in Houston. The new driver forceably kicked a blind 75 year old gentleman and his impeccably trained dog off his bus. They slept on the sidewalk for a night and desperate, he called the woman who runs the rescue here in Jax. She put him up in a hotel (on her own dime) until my amazing friend, Sharita, could give him a ride with her to Lousiana, where Younger and I were going to transport a young Akita back here to Jax.

Now that Tom is here in Jax, the Akita Village as well as some of his friends are trying to help him get on his feet. This is where you all come in. He is staying in a hotel here, after being trampled trying to get into a homeless shelter that subsequently landed him in the hospital for the past 10 days. Needless to say, once inside, the doctors have discovered that he has carotid disease that surgery is too risky for. So, he will have to live with this and all my friend wants is to get on his feet so that his cherished pup can come home. He told me on the ride over that Picasso very likely saved his life a few times. He doesn't know what he would have done facing all that he has, without his best pal by his side. A boarding kennel is no place for a treasured pet, just as a hotel is no place for a 75 year old blind man. Temporarily, absolutely. Permanently? No way.

Mr . Tom also needs to get a state issued ID, a copy of his birth certificate so that he can get a bank account and his affairs in order and return to his happy, adventurous life, Picasso by his side! He is also going to need a surgery on his left eye to hopefully restore his vision in that eye.

Tom has quite literally lost everything he owns with the exception of his best friend, whom he took his last dollar to ensure passage back to safety and security. With all that humankind and life has tossed in his path, he remains upbeat and profoundly grateful. As I said before, an absolute gem of a person.

If you find his story touched your heart and you can help in ANY way, big or small, please donate! If you cannot, will you share his story?

This man is as deserving as any of our care and support.

Thank you to you all in advance! You all rock!

Scarlett