Help Save Frodo: Our Beloved Dog’s Life Is on the Line

Our world is falling apart, and we need your help to save the life of our precious dog, Frodo. He’s not just a dog—he’s family, and right now, his life is hanging by a thread.

It all started on a day that should have been like any other. On Sunday afternoon my husband stopped by a bakery to grab some surprise goodies for us, and for just five minutes, Frodo was left outside, patiently waiting as the good boy he is. In those five minutes, a stranger made a decision that would change everything—feeding Frodo the end of their corn on the cob. That moment set off a chain of events we couldn’t have imagined.

Monday, everything changed. He became lethargic, struggling to breathe and vomiting every hour. We knew something was wrong. Frodo, a healthy 5-year-old Labrador, had always been full of energy—always the first to greet us at the door, ready to eat, to play, and to cuddle. This sudden change in him was impossible to ignore. His body was telling us something wasn’t right, but we didn’t know what.

We rushed him to the emergency room, and they didn’t suspect bloat, but thought maybe he just had an upset stomach, we were the only ones to feed him that weekend — so we thought — and suspected a new bone we gave him as a treat had made him feel sick. However, as the hours passed and Frodo got worse, we realized this wasn’t just a simple stomach issue. He became more and more lethargic, refusing to eat, drink, or even walk. That’s when we knew—this wasn’t just a passing sickness. Something was terribly wrong.

The next day, after seeing no improvement, we took him to our vet. They immediately took an X-ray, and the news hit us like a freight train. A corn cob—just 3cm in size—was lodged in his intestine. It wasn’t just an inconvenience; it was a life-threatening obstruction. We had no choice but to rush him to the emergency hospital for an ultrasound and surgery. With a heart full of fear, we maxed out every single credit card we had to make sure Frodo got the care he needed. We couldn’t lose him.

For three nights, Frodo stayed in the hospital, and after surgery, we were told he was recovering so well. They said he was doing amazing! But then, just 24 hours later, our worst fears returned. Frodo was still refusing to eat, and his breathing became heavy and labored. We knew something wasn’t right. This wasn’t normal, even after surgery. So back to the ER we went, hoping for answers.

This time, they found something we didn’t expect. After a chest X-ray and ultrasound, we were told Frodo had fluid surrounding his lungs. Just 24 hours prior, before his discharge, everything had looked fine. In such a short period of time, this fluid had built up, and it could be the cause of his difficulty breathing. His vitals were perfect, his chest sounded fine, it was something that even shocked them, but because of how much we love him and how we can notice minor things — knowing something wasn't right — we brought him in at the perfect time. The doctors weren’t sure why this was happening—whether it was heart disease or pneumonia—but either way, the fluid was a ticking time bomb. If it filled his chest completely, it could suffocate him.

Our world was shattered again. Our healthy, vibrant 5-year-old baby—our light—was now fighting for his life. And we are running out of time.

Frodo has been there for us through every high and low, bringing joy and comfort in ways we never thought possible. He’s more than just a dog. He’s our best friend, our family, and we can’t bear the thought of losing him. The first time in all of his life he was left alone outside — because of wanting to get a Sunday surprise while out on a walk — may be the end of him.

But we’ve hit a wall. We don’t have the resources to pay for any more tests, treatments, or surgeries. We did everything we could, but after maxing out every credit card and line of credit, we’re out of options. A year ago, we made every attempt to get pet insurance for Frodo, knowing that veterinary care could be expensive after a friend lost their puppy to a freak accident. Unfortunately, due to how our vet maintains their records, we ran into a major roadblock. Every visit, no matter how minor—whether it was for allergies, swimmer's tail, a funny limp from hurting himself playing or digestive issues—was recorded as an “active issue" that even though resolved could never be recorded as such. Because of this, when we applied for insurance, they denied us coverage. In their eyes, Frodo was already dealing with numerous ongoing health concerns, even though many were small and unrelated to the current situation and they would not cover any future claims.

This left us with no safety net. We didn’t anticipate such a life-threatening emergency and, with no insurance to cover the costs, we are now forced to pay out-of-pocket for Frodo’s critical care.

We are humbly asking for your support, as we face the unimaginable. We cannot let Frodo’s life end because we cannot afford the care he so desperately needs. No donation is too small, and every little bit will help us continue to fight for him. If further tests are needed, if another surgery is required, we won’t be able to afford it. Without your help, we may have no choice but to let our baby go.

Please, from the bottom of our hearts, we ask you to help us save Frodo. He’s only 5 years old. He has so much life left to live, and we can’t lose him now.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Sincerely,

The Rondinelli Family ❤️