Help Us Save Niko: Emergency Surgery for Our Beloved Pup

Niko (short for Nikon — or sometimes Nicolas Cage) is a one-year-old Schipperke with a huge personality, a glorious mane, and enough energy to power a small sun. He’s our zoomie king, loyal guard dog, and the center of my world.

Last week, after guests accidentally left a door open, Niko got into the cat’s litter box and ingested its contents. Days later, he became lethargic, stopped eating, and began vomiting. On April 15th, 2025, we rushed him to the vet, and he was transferred between hospitals as his condition worsened. A scan revealed a large intestinal blockage, fluid in his chest, and signs of sepsis. His chances were slim.

He underwent emergency surgery where necrotic tissue was removed from his bowel and colon. Miraculously, he made it through — but the cost to save him was steep. We paid a $13,330 deposit just for the initial surgery, and he remains in 24/7 care with more costs expected for transfusions and medications.

We’re creating this fundraiser to help cover Niko’s rising medical expenses. This has happened at a time when I’m already dealing with personal medical debt and financial strain.

Anything you can contribute — even just a share — means the world to us. I’ve attached the initial estimate for transparency and will continue posting updates as Niko recovers.

Funds will go towards the CareCredit account opened with the hospital first until about $7,300, then the rest will be distributed amongst the four credit cards used.

Thank you so much for your kindness and support.

Update as of 4/19/2025:

Niko continues to show signs of improvement but they are still seeing a significant amount of fluid with his abdominal drain. He was given his first plasma transfusion yesterday and his second has begun today. We were told he likely has an Acute Kidney Injury from his sepsis. We are discussing possibilities to his care and where to go from here as we cannot remain in hospital care past Sunday due to finances. For full transparency, I am attaching a clip of the updated invoice I received and updating this campaign to reflect that. Donations received off platform so far have been put towards the CareCredit account with the hospital, thank you!!