Support After Losing My Cali Girl

March 18, 2025, was the worst day of my life. I had to say goodbye to my sweet Cali girl, my best friend for 14.5 years. She was my everything, my baby, my soul dog. Anyone who met her (or even saw her presence online) fell in love with her.

It was a very sudden and traumatic goodbye. I took her to the regular vet the morning of 3/17 (I noticed she was panting more than usual with some coughing), and they diagnosed her with laryngeal paralysis. Basically, her little throat muscles just weren’t working as well as they used to, and it happens with older, bigger dogs.

Later that night, her panting/breathing got worse, and I rushed her to the ER vet. Long story short-ish, (after a long 5 hours) they diagnosed her with aspiration pneumonia. We had the option to keep her/treat her overnight or say our goodbyes. I knew I couldn’t give up right then and there… there’s no way. She was just fine?!? We were just eating dinner together, hanging out at my apartment, going outside... she was just fine…

When we went to say goodnight to her, even then, I was fully confident she would be okay. She didn’t look that bad, but she was definitely stressed out… my poor baby. They kept her overnight, sedated her, and started giving her meds. Every time they’d take her off of oxygen, she’d turn purple. I wanted her to get as much rest as possible, and we went home to rest for a few hours (at that point, my mom and I had been there from 11:30 pm-5 am).

Throughout the morning, she wasn’t progressing, and they had her on heavy oxygen (tubes in the nose; idk, I’m not a doctor lol). Due to her age and the severity, we had the option to keep treating her, but there wasn’t a sure chance she’d get better or, even worse, she wouldn’t have the same quality of life, and it could possibly happen again… I had to make the hardest decision of my life that day… to say goodbye. I know I made the best decision for her, but it still wrecks me every. single. day.

As I type this with tears in my eyes, I want you to know we love and appreciate the community of love that surrounds us. I could feel the genuine love through the screen (or in real life) every single day.

For those who know me, you KNOW I struggle to ask for help when it comes to anything, ESPECIALLY money. After chatting with close friends and family, I was encouraged to start this GoFundMe in hopes I could get some help paying down the hefty medical bill. After both visits, the total vet bill was $5,300. I’m so thankful for the amazing vets and vet techs at MedVet, and I would pay it 184838282x over again. I always said I’d go in debt 1 million dollars if I had to save Cali. It just sucks so bad paying it when they’re not even here…

With that being said, ANY amount helps and I’m so so thankful for you if you read all of this and decided to donate. From the bottom of my heart, I love you. God bless.

xoxo - Cali & Ali