Hi, my name is Toby and I am eight years old. This is me singing for my mom's birthday. I’m my mom's, best friend and helper. It’s a good thing she has me as she is getting older and having health issues. I have a health issue too which is why I am having this fundraiser.

My mom and I have something in common. We both have genetic conditions that cause our health problems. My mom was born with a deformed heart and I was born with a condition common to Yorkies that causes the bones that hold my teeth in place to deteriorate. I need special care for my teeth so they don’t get infected and cause me a heart problem. That care is expensive and a real burden on my mom now. Before I go into that more, let me tell you a little about why I am so important to my mom.

Every morning I wake Mom and get her up for breakfast. She says if it weren’t for me she probably wouldn’t get up at all a lot of the time. It is just too hard with her oxygen needs and weak heart. She says she would climb back under the covers, but I am persistent. Fortunately, I am really cute and I make her laugh. That helps her overcome her reluctance to get out of bed.

(Mom and me at Christmas. Lots of years it is only the two of us celebrating but we have fun cause I love to open presents)

We go to the kitchen and she starts her coffee then starts my breakfast. She says this order is kind of like on an airplane where they tell the parents to put on their oxygen masks first before tending to the child. Her coffee is like her oxygen, very necessary. I wait patiently at her feet while she gets my dish ready, but if she looks like she is forgetting I bark to remind her I am waiting. When she sets it out, I am right there to attack it. I’m a really good eater and I love my food so I scarf it up before she can even sit down. I am waiting with a ball by her chair when she comes with her coffee. Oh yeah, I should tell you I am addicted to balls. Balls of all sizes from really little ones to giant beach balls keep me playing for long periods at a time.

My all time favorite ball is my Mr. Giggles and I play with it like it is a soccer ball. I bark a lot while I play with it and it makes lots of noise as it rolls around. I also have small balls and other favorite toys like my rubber bone. I think all toys are for tossing and fetching even my stuffed fox. Mom gets some exercise throwing them for me. At some point mom says time out and tells me to lie down which I do, but I bounce back up quickly which makes her laugh.

(Me with my birthday beach ball deflating. Guess I bit too hard)

I am a real talker and if I want something I will move my little mouth in a dozen different ways to try to get the right words out that will get me a treat, a meal, a toy or just lots of attention. I am well behaved and always go to the door and bark or scratch to be let out when I need to go potty. Mom says taking care of me means she has to get up regularly and go to the door which is good for her.

After play time I curl up in her lap for a good stretch of time while she writes or reads. Soon I am ready for another round of fetch and insist she play. She sometimes grrrs at me but I win cause I am adorable. It helps her get little bits of activity. After that I get up on the corner of the couch where I can keep guard in case the delivery guys come. I have to make sure they know they can’t bother mom.

If mom can’t walk me one of our friends usually takes me out. Most of the time it is my auntie Pam. She and Uncle Charlie take care of me when Mom is away like when she is in the hospital. Sometimes my aunties Lyn or Marlene help out.

When it is time for her medication, I go to her and bark to remind her or she would keep writing or reading and lose track of time. I usually get a treat or some reward and she tells me what a good boy I am. I get lots of pets. That makes me feel like I am doing a good job.

The last two years have been hard for us because of covid. Mom had a bad reaction to the vaccine and was down for over three months. It effected her heart so she rarely drives now. She is on oxygen and her life is very limited. She counts on me for lots of things. Because she is older, (77 this year) we have to be really careful so our circle has been way smaller than it used to be and we don’t go out much. It’s a good thing she has me to keep her company.

(I love to curl up in this comfy mermaid tail Mom got for her birthday)

A few of our friends take us to doctor and dental appointments. The Vet said most Yorkies have lost all their teeth by the time they are my age. Mom gave me enzymes and put them in my water, and finger brushed when she could but that did not help. The Vet said it didn’t matter what she did as the real culprit is deteriorating bone and that is genetic so I had to lose some teeth and will be going back for more work next year.

Mom says it is dangerous to have bad teeth because you can get infections that can go to your heart or even to your brain. They can keep you feeling bad a lot of the time and make eating difficult. She wanted me to have relief as soon as possible. Yorkies live a long time and she said she has met Yorkies who were 18 and 21 who were still active. She tries to give me the best of everything so I can live a long time.

Mom had to put the dental work on her credit card and that is the reason I am doing this fundraiser. She has had a lot of expenses with her own needs but she will not let me go without getting proper care. I thought I would do this fundraiser to ask for your help to pay towards my care.

(This is me bright eyed and dressed for a chilly Halloween)

As a reward to everyone who contributes, Mom has written a fun little ebook about me, “Toby’s Story” how I came to live with her and my life with her, complete with pictures. Everyone who contributes to my fundraiser will receive a copy. Just wait until you see how cute I was as a puppy

Please help out. Even small amounts are welcome as they add up. One of my admirers rolled up all her coins and found $100. Maybe other people will do the same. Please share this fundraiser with your friends and acquaintances. Thank you for reading and thank all of you who choose to help. When you donate, be sure to include your email so we can thank you and send you your copy of my book.

Please take a moment and donate what you can now.