Last week, my 4-year-old dog Zeus suddenly became very ill after unknowingly eating something dangerous that ended up in my backyard. He stopped eating, started vomiting, and was acting strangely. By Thursday, things took a turn for the worse—while outside, Zeus collapsed and I had to rush him to the vet. As a disabled man living on limited social security, it was a challenge just to get my 100-pound dog into my truck, but I knew I had to do whatever it took to save him.

At the vet, blood work showed his white blood cell count was extremely high, and x-rays revealed a severe blockage in his small intestines caused by a foreign object. The vet told me Zeus was dying and needed emergency surgery right away. I was sent home during the procedure, anxiously waiting for news. Hours later, I learned that Zeus had survived the surgery, but his intestines were badly damaged. The vets removed a children’s toy from his stomach, and he remained in critical condition for several days. I wasn’t allowed to visit him, and he refused to eat until finally, after seeing me, he started to recover enough to come home.

Zeus is still on the road to recovery. He needs ongoing blood work, a special diet, and will have his staples removed in a couple of weeks. The vet bills are overwhelming, not including the cost of his future care and special food. As someone who would never ask for help for myself, but would do anything for my animals, I’m reaching out for support to help Zeus heal and get back to his happy, healthy self.