My name is John, and I’m reaching out for help for my one and a half year old English bulldog, Shaq. Just a couple of days ago, Shaq started having stomach issues that I hoped would pass with a simple diet adjustment. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse. Early this morning, I woke up to him vomiting and showing signs that something was seriously wrong with his abdomen. We rushed to the emergency vet, where we spent three hours while they ran x-rays and ultrasounds. The scans showed some kind of material in his stomach and possibly intestines, but we couldn’t tell exactly what it was. The vet team tried a scope extraction first, hoping to avoid surgery, but it wasn’t enough. Shaq had to be rushed into surgery to remove the blockage. Thankfully, he made it through the procedure, but the cost was overwhelming. I had to pay a large amount just to get the surgery started, and the original surgery invoice before we decided to try the scope extraction is still a significantly larger amount. I’m now completely financially drained, with no solid work booked until spring, I'm scrambling to find a way keep up with bills now while making sure Shaq gets the care he needs to recover. The funds from this campaign will go directly toward covering Shaq’s emergency vet bills and helping me stay afloat until I can get back to work. I’ve never been the kind of person to ask for help, but I wanted to use GoFundMe to be transparent and accountable about the money I need and receive, and to keep everyone updated on Shaq’s recovery. Everyone who knows Shaq loves him, and even if you’re a stranger, your support will help the best boy in the world get back on his feet. Thank you for reading our story and for any help you can give, every bit truly means the world to us.