Buster came walking onto our front yard last summer, lost and without a collar or tag. My fiancé and I searched everywhere for his owner—calling shelters, rescue centers, and posting on social media—but no one came forward. We want potential donors to know that we didn’t just go out and get a dog knowing we couldn’t care for him. Our backs were against the wall, and we simply couldn’t send him back to the streets when no owner could be found. If we had purchased or adopted him knowing we couldn’t provide for him, that would have been irresponsible. But Buster needed a chance, and we wanted him to finally experience love, food, and some security.

Despite showing signs of past abuse—flinching when we tried to pet him—he slowly started to trust us and became part of our family over the past five months. Just as he began to settle in and feel safe, he was diagnosed with bilateral perineal hernia. Now, he’s in constant pain, unable to eat or move his bowels, and it breaks our hearts to see him suffer. We have literally zero dollars to save his life, as we’re living paycheck to paycheck. My fiancé lost her job and is making minimum wage, and I’m barely making enough to help with the bills.

Buster deserves a chance at the happy life he’s only just begun to experience. We are devastated at the thought of losing him now. We’re reaching out to anyone who loves animals or understands what it means to have a pet become family. Any support you can give will mean the world to us and to Buster. Thank you for helping us give him the chance he’s always deserved.