Romeo is my service dog and my lifeline as I navigate PTSD. He’s been by my side through divorce, job loss, and the hardest moments of my life. When I had no one else to lean on, Romeo was there—his gentle presence and soulful eyes have comforted not just me, but everyone who meets him. To me, he’s more than a dog; he’s family.

Three nights ago, Romeo suddenly became very ill. He couldn’t use the bathroom and was throwing up bile. I rushed him to the vet hospital, terrified I might lose him. After an $800 emergency procedure, the vet was able to remove urine from his bladder and push the small stones back in, buying us some precious time. Now, Romeo is stable and able to pee again, but he urgently needs surgery to remove the bladder stones for good.

The surgery will cost between $2,500 and $3,000. I’ve already spent $800 at the ER and managed to gather $1,000, but I’m facing so many challenges at once—losing my job, my car breaking down, my kids moving away, and having to move out of my apartment. Through it all, Romeo has been my rock. I know I wouldn’t be asking for help if I didn’t truly need it. Any support you can give means the world to us and gives Romeo the chance he deserves to keep being the healing soul he is. Thank you, Jamie LaPoint.