I am writing to humbly ask for support for a dog named Barkley, whose life story is deeply tied to the unhoused community in Fresno and to my own 11-year journey as formally homeless and a homelessness advocate.

Barkley was born at Roding Park 9 years ago. His human was Ted, one of our street family members (unhoused) who lived at Roding Park for as long as I knew him. Barkley and Ted were inseparable. They survived the streets together, sharing a bond built on loyalty, protection, and love.

Tragically, Ted passed away from cancer while sleeping in their vehicle. We don’t know exactly how long Barkley remained there with him only that when Ted was found, Barkley was still inside the vehicle and refused to leave his human’s side.

Shortly after, Barkley was taken by individuals and placed into a motel room. I was later notified that he was in an unsafe and abusive situation, where individuals were attempting to drug him to make him aggressive for fighting. When I learned this, my heart broke. I searched the streets and local motels until we located Barkley, and through community coordination, I was able to retrieve him and remove him from that danger.

My intention at the time was not to keep Barkley permanently, but to protect him, to ensure he was not further traumatized after surviving the loss of his human, sitting with him after death, and then being exploited. I did not want to place him with just anyone, especially given the stigma and risks pit bulls face.

Over time, Barkley became part of my family.

I have been an advocate for the unhoused community for 11 years, spending nearly every day on the streets serving people, helping individuals access shelter, permanent housing, medical care, transportation, and support services. A large part of my advocacy has involved fighting for people to keep their pets, advocating for pet-friendly shelters and housing, and helping individuals access food and veterinary care for their animals.

Barkley has been alongside me throughout this journey. He has returned with me to Roding Park many times, where he lived with Ted. He has participated in outreach, community events, and even housing and homelessness protests. Despite his large and “intimidating” appearance, Barkley is a gentle giant, friendly, loving, and deeply connected to people. Many in the Fresno community know him.

Over the years, I have rescued many animals. The reality is that advocacy work does not pay , and I have struggled financially for a long time. I have always ensured my animals received their vaccinations and basic care, but comprehensive veterinary treatment is often far beyond my means. I also live with a spinal injury, which has limited my ability to work and made caring for multiple animals physically harder, especially as Barkley has gotten older and slower.

For about a year, Barkley has had a swollen toe. We initially believed it was caused by foxtails. I tried everything within my ability, holistic care, soaking, wrapping, antibiotics, creams, medications, and home treatment. Nothing helped. Over the past six months, the swelling became aggressively worse, and I knew something more serious was wrong.

With the help of a community member’s CareCredit, I was able to get Barkley seen at Abby’s Pet Hospital in Fresno, California. X-rays and lab testing confirmed what I feared: Barkley has a cancerous tumor in his toe.

The veterinarians have been very clear. Barkley urgently needs a toe amputation, ideally within the next week, and no later than three weeks, to prevent the cancer from spreading. Full-body X-rays show that the cancer has not spread to his lungs, which gives us hope, but only if we act quickly. After surgery, the toe will be sent for biopsy to confirm whether the cancer has spread elsewhere.

So far, approximately $500 has already been placed on CareCredit for diagnostics. We are now facing an additional estimated $3,200 for surgery, pathology, and follow-up care.

I am reaching out because I cannot do this alone.

Barkley has survived homelessness, loss, abuse, and trauma and through it all, he has remained a loving, gentle, trusting dog. He deserves a longer, healthier life filled with comfort, safety, and dignity. I am asking for help not because I have failed him, but because I have exhausted every option available to me.

Any support, , would mean the world to us.

Thank you for taking the time to read Barkley’s story. Thank you for seeing him not as “just a dog,” but as a survivor, a companion, and a life worth saving.

With gratitude and hope,

Mama Dez Martinez