Hi, my name is Rafael and I’m 16 years old.

On May 1st, my dog Sandy passed away from a tumor. She had been with me since I was 5 years old. Whenever I was sad, anxious, or going through difficult times, she was always by my side.

Losing Sandy was very hard for me. Lately, I’ve been feeling low and haven’t had much of a reason to smile, with my mind full of worries. But now, Tereza — a little dog who came into my life — has brought some joy and hope to my days, something I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Tereza belongs to a family who is moving away on Monday, August 11th. The owner is kindly holding her for me, but I need to give an answer by Saturday. If I can’t pay by then, she’ll have to sell Tereza to someone else who’s already interested.

I asked my mom for help, but she doesn’t have the full amount. And my dad… hasn’t spoken to me since he found out I’m LGBT.

So I created this fundraiser. Any amount, no matter how small, will help me bring Tereza into my life. Helping this dog is also helping me move forward — with love and care in my heart.

Tereza was adopted as a puppy, when she was less than a month old, by her family. Now she’s up for sale again, and I truly feel she needs a forever home.

If you can donate, I’ll be incredibly grateful. And if not, sharing this is already a huge help