It took me four years to decide to get another dog after my last dog passed away at 14 years old. Losing my dog was the hardest thing I'd ever gone through, and I wanted to be sure I was ready before opening my heart again. When I finally decided, I met many rescue dogs, but none felt quite right—until I met Phoebee. She was a 3 1/2-month-old rescue from Mexico, independent, fearless, playful, and loving. From the moment I met her, I knew she was the one.

Phoebee has brought so much joy and laughter into my life, even though she was a handful at first with her boundless energy. In fact, I ended up in the hospital with a broken nose after tripping over her during one of our runs! But every day, she makes me smile with her smart, funny personality. Unlike my last dog, Phoebee loves to eat, which I thought was a blessing—until it became a problem. She tends to chew and swallow bits of her toys, and last week she ate the squeaky plastic part from one. This led to her becoming very sick, with vomiting and refusing to eat or drink. After multiple vet visits, tests, and x-rays, it was clear she needed surgery to remove the obstruction from her intestines.

As most pet owners know, veterinary care can be incredibly expensive, and because Phoebee is so young, I hadn’t yet gotten pet insurance. Her surgery and recovery care are a huge financial burden, and I’ve had to take out credit just to move forward. I’m reaching out for any help you can give to support Phoebee’s surgery and recovery. Your kindness will make a huge difference for both of us, and help Phoebee get back to her happy, playful self.