Help Tolkien James Get Life-Changing ACL Surgery

Greetings, thank you for coming to our GoFundMe page.

My name is Elizabeth, I am writing this today, because the love of my life, Tolkien James needs ACL surgery. His surgery will cost $7,000. This is very difficult for me to write, because I am not one to ask for help, however, God has been guiding me to be open and honest.

I started my dog business in 2005, but during Covid, I decided to go full-time in 2021. I am so grateful to have been able to take care of so many animals over the years, but unfortunately 2024 has been a really difficult year financially.

I have cared for hundreds of dogs over the past few years in Fort Lauderdale, but I have always been an animal lover. I went to law school for animal and environmental law, and chose to become a small business owner and care for other peoples animals like my own.

Well, I have had a lot of people not pay, try to under pay, negotiate my rates, ie my value and the work that I do, and a lot of "friends" take advantage of me and my kindness. To the point I completely started re-evaluating my business and whether or not I even wanted to continue it. It has been a really hard year, I even got evicted, not once, but THREE times. How, I was able to pay anything is literally, GOD. (No, this is not easy to share, let alone with the public).

Today, I write to all of you as a broken dog mom, who just wants to provide the best care for her dog. I gave literally everything for everyone else's animals for the past four years. My place and my items have been destroyed over time by other peoples dogs. I buy food, toys, treats, dog beds, blankets, pee pads, cleaning products, etc. all things that no one provides nor replaces, why because thats that these animals deserve.

I also provide my unconditional love to them in ways that I know you all appreciate and I probably provide even more love and care for them than some of their owners.

I even moved out of my place, the place that helped to make my business flourish because I knew I needed to find a way to save money to pay for Tolkien's surgery.

In the process of being a professional dog mom to other dogs, my poor dog was not given the same care and attention. Now, I come to you, the people I have sacrificed everything for, to please help me and my dog. HE deserves to have this surgery to regain his quality of life.

I know this painful time will be temporary, but I also know I am in a place where I have to ask for help, which is probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. To be so vulnerable and feel helpless.

Any amount would be so helpful and Tolkien and I would appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts. WE have helped so many dogs and cats over the years, and I have been doing this since I was in high school, almost 20 years.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this and for any help you can provide. We appreciate you sharing this.

Tolkien's surgery is schedule for October 29th, 2024. I have gone to 3 different veterinarians before making this decision because my only care is his quality of life. Tolkien has already lost a lot of muscle in his back left leg and cannot use the leg at all and I truly do not want him to lose his leg.

I adopted Tolkien in law school in 2016, His 9th birthday is in November, 11/16. He has been my healer, running partner, tree climber, and hiking partner for 8 years and I would do anything for him and I am so devastated that I even have to ask for help, to the point I am sobbing writing this. Tolkien survived our four and half year domestic violence relationship and is much of a survivor as I am. All I ever wanted was for us to live a life of freedom in the wilderness. We had plans to go on a hiking adventure this fall as I reevaluated my business, but that has all changed.

I just want to be the best dog mom I can be and I hope you all share that sentiment with me. I really appreciate you making it this far in our story.

I give you my utmost love and gratitude for any contribution to his surgery. I love you all and I know God will provide.

Love always your favorite Hippie,

Lizzie and Tolkien <3