Save Bayo's Sight: Surgery for Our Rescue Dog

Hello there! I'm Leigha, and I truly appreciate you taking a moment to read our story. I’m currently raising funds to help cover the costs of our lovable rescue dog Bayo’s entropion surgery in both eyes.

It all started when my mother-in-law found a very malnourished and matted Chow Chow in her backyard near Massillon, Ohio, on June 17th. The next day, we took her to AlterClinic in Canton, where we learned she was about 5 or 6 years old, not spayed or chipped, and suffering from Lyme disease. We made sure she received her shots and medication for Lyme, and we shared her story with over 800 people on local lost animal Facebook pages in hopes of finding her previous owners or a loving new home.

After her visit to the clinic, we took her to a self-grooming station, and honestly, she was an absolute angel, letting me carefully cut away all the heavy mats covering her body. That evening, a friend of the previous owner reached out to confirm our fears — sadly, she’s a backyard breeder mama dog who was being discarded. We’re not sure if she was dumped or ran away, but we were told no one is coming for her. It was a sudden and life-changing moment for our family, but we couldn’t be happier with how well she has already fit into our home with our 4-year-old Labrador mix and our cats.

During her recent vet visit, we discovered she has a condition called “Entropion,” which is common in her breed. It’s when the eyelids roll inward, causing eyelashes and fur to rub against the eye's surface, leading to irritation, pain, and eventual blindness. Since this condition is typically corrected when the dog is a puppy, I’ve scheduled her surgery for as soon as possible, July 29th. The total cost will be around $2,036.

We’ve already fallen so in love with Bayo, and the thought of her suffering needlessly is heartbreaking. However, this bill comes at a tough time for us financially. I volunteer with One of a Kind Pet Rescue and often foster litters of kittens — I plan to pay forward any donations we receive, and I hope to have kittens available once Bayo is healed and settled.

Any support you can give would mean the world to us. Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story and for your kindness!