Hi All, my name is Freddie and I am creating this page because I truly am at a loss. My puppy, Oberon (3 years old), is the light of my life. I got him when he was three months old. I was a Junior at UCB, and since then, he has been one of my main motivators.

If you've met him, you know how much of a sweet, loving, and stubbornly attention-needy boy he is. He's such an emotive character, but I wouldn't expect anything less from the dog that I've been told is a mix of Lab/Husky/Pomeranian.

Recently, my full-of-energy baby has started coughing, breathing heavily, lost his appetite, and become lethargic. Obi, who would insist on going outside so he could stop and smell every single plant we passed, now walks behind me slowly. I can tell he is still so curious about everything going on around him but simply cannot muster up the energy that he usually has.

After he had a night of no sleep due to constant coughing and an upset stomach that seemed to not pass, we decided to take him to the vet where a series of tests now point to him having Valley Fever. This common respiratory fungal infection requires at minimum 6-12 months of antibiotic treatment as well as semi-annual blood tests to be sure the medication is working.

I took out what is probably a predatory loan of $4,000 for the initial costs that have ruled out everything but VF. The test for Valley Fever has been estimated to be ~$500. After that he will need a special diet so he stops loosing weight, at least a year of antibiotics to clear his system along with a blood panel every 6 months. And if this is a severe case, he will need surgery to replace damaged tissue to his lungs.

As much as I don't want to care about cost, I am a 26-year-old living in one of the most expensive places in the US, and even draining my savings would not cover the costs of this infection.

If you know me, you know that despite being advised to create a GoFundMe when I was a homeless full-time student, or when my catalytic converter got stolen, or when I was bit by another dog at a park and needed 8 stitches and a cane for 5 months, I could not bring myself to ask for help.

But I need my Oberon back, he deserves a long and happy life. Any assistance that can be offered during this time would be so incredibly appreciated.