Reality is setting in…. A week ago today, Ozzy became extremely sick. She refused to walk, eat, move, drink & stopped looking at me & started hiding under tables, in corners. She is only 3 years old. I knew something terrible was happening inside of her, so I bit the bullet this past Saturday & brought her in to the Emergency Vet of Annapolis (photos attached).

An x-ray showed she had a blockage and she was at the point of if I didn’t keep her there until Monday when she could get surgery, she would die. To choose my savings account over my dog dying is a no-brainer for me. I gave every penny I have to my name to save Ozzy’s life. And it did. She is on day 4 of healing. Ozzy’s recovery has been extremely rough. From uncontrollable bowels, to diapers, to resisting walking, to carrying her up & downstairs a million times per day, & we all love dealing with a dog with a cone, right? It’s been tough doing it all by myself plus working full time. I wake up at 3 am and I get off work at 4:15 pm. Luckily, I have an amazing dog walker that is willing to help with her issues while I work my long shifts.

Anyway, I have attached her medical records from the ER & the costs associated with them.

I rescued Ozzy 1.5 years ago from a puppy mill situation. I had no idea what I was in for . The last year & a half, I have spent literally all my free time & tons of $$ training her, tons of vet visits to help alleviate her anxiety and fearfulness, hours of socializing her every single day, desensitizing her to triggers & finally confidence building through new experiences (she has an EXTREME case of Separation Anxiety, diagnosed by my trainer Hannah from Baltimore K9 Tutors).

Ozzy is my first dog and to say her special needs & care hasn’t been extremely difficult to balance next to my own sanity and friendships would be an understatement. Alas, I decided my number one goal would be to help Ozzy’s confidence & keep going with her progress. Which has meant putting everything in my life aside because she has required that much care (as many of my friends have seen and dealt with ).

BUT the last 6 months have been incredible. She made tremendous strides & I was able to lower her expensive anxiety medications by half! She will actually walk up and sniff people and take treats! She has come SUCH A LONG WAY & I am SO PROUD OF HER!

I hesitated for a week to make a GoFundMe. I wasn’t going to. I’ve been hyper-independent my entire life. I do not ask for help from anyone (besides car issues lol). Instead, I hustle & figure it out myself. But that is not what community is for.

I made this page because reality hit when my neighbor gave me $30 for gas & food until my next paycheck. Even then, I’m still 4k in the hole. But I, of course, choose that over losing Ozzy.

I know everyone is struggling. And I did not want to make this page out of pride & embarrassment. But we all need a little help sometimes. I have never asked for help. But I need it. I need it to be able to pay my dog walker, buy Ozzy more diapers, gloves, pee pads, pay my bills since my savings and accounts are at $0.00 after paying for Ozzy’s stomach surgery out of pocket (please see attached photos).

I am so grateful to anyone who contributes even $1.00 or just sends thoughtful words. Or stops by for company. I truly appreciate anything.

Making this page was literally my last resort & I shoved my pride down & just.did.it.

oh yeah, Ozzy somehow swallowed the pit of a peach, which is poisonous to dogs, and it also became lodged in one of her small intestines. That’s how this all began :-(

thankyou thankyou thankyou & thankyou