Hi, my name is Leila, and I’m raising funds to help support the ongoing medical care of my 16-year-old dog, Tiny — my best friend, my family, and the little soul who has been by my side since I turned 18.

Tiny was born on November 23, 2009. I chose her when she was only 10 weeks old. She was the smallest puppy in her litter and kept getting stepped on by her siblings. I picked her up and promised to protect her — and she has stayed by my side ever since.

When Tiny was 10 years old, she immigrated with me from Iran to Canada as we started a new life together. Because she has epilepsy and required strict medication timing, I extended our already long journey with an extra four-hour layover to make sure she could rest and safely receive her medications, even though she was not allowed to travel in the cabin. That trip lasted over 30 hours, but we made it together.

Tiny has faced an extraordinary number of medical challenges throughout her life. In 2021, she developed acute pancreatitis, which later became chronic pancreatitis. In 2022, she began developing serious eye disease that required multiple specialist visits. While living in Atlantic Canada, I drove her through winter storms from Nova Scotia to New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island so she could receive advanced diagnostics and an MRI — in a small Honda Fit, because she needed help and there was no other option.

After moving to British Columbia during a difficult period of unemployment, Tiny’s medical needs continued to grow. She underwent major eye surgery to treat cataracts and help prevent glaucoma. A few months later, she developed a severe corneal ulcer that would not heal due to immune suppression. The ulcer eventually ruptured, requiring emergency surgery. Because her other eye had already lost vision from optic neuritis and had a high risk of future painful glaucoma, Tiny ultimately underwent bilateral enucleation in March 2025.

Despite losing her vision, Tiny continues to show incredible resilience and joy. She is almost deaf now, but she still lives life in her own special way.

Tiny is deeply attached to me and insists on sleeping on my pillow every night. She absolutely loves fruit — any kind — even oranges. Her nightly routine is longer and more organized than mine. Every evening she gets her dinner, followed by her medications (14 pills per day, including 5 at night), her inhaler treatment, gentle face cleaning to prevent irritation from her inhaler mask, tooth brushing, and snout balm for her nose. And she never goes to sleep without her goodnight kiss.

Tiny also has a very dramatic personality. When she is hungry, she does what we lovingly call her “hangry scream” — she puts her entire effort into a loud, determined screech that is so intense her front legs lift off the floor. It always makes us laugh, and it is one of her many unforgettable quirks.

Tiny lives with several chronic medical conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pancreatitis, chronic kidney and liver disease, degenerative heart disease, epilepsy, and advanced end-stage lung disease that is currently being managed palliatively to maintain her comfort and quality of life.

I work in veterinary medicine and have done everything possible to provide Tiny with the best care. Pet insurance has helped tremendously, and I am deeply grateful for that support. However, many of Tiny’s conditions are considered pre-existing or only partially covered. Over time, the uncovered portions of her treatments and diagnostics have accumulated significantly.

In order to continue providing her care, we have relied heavily on credit cards, which have now accumulated nearly $20,000 in medical debt. The interest on this debt is making it increasingly difficult to maintain financial room for her future care.

I am not asking for help because we have not tried everything ourselves — we have dedicated years, savings, and resources to her treatment because she is family. I am asking for help now to create financial breathing room so we can continue supporting Tiny’s medical needs and keep her comfortable in her senior years.

If you are unable to donate, sharing Tiny’s story would mean the world to us.

Thank you for taking the time to read about Tiny and for helping us continue to give her the love, comfort, and dignity she deserves.

With gratitude,

Leila