My name is Craig Miller, and my best friend Gulliver Hobo Buffalo has been under the weather. He is a 2.5-Year-old Golden Retriever who loves frolicking in the water and woods, while holding down the Serenity Now Outfitters storefront in between adventures. Gulliver is a sweet boy.

We discovered a couple weeks ago he had what appeared to be an eye-infection, coupled with a sprained ACL. During our first vet visit, we took a couple x-rays and a handful of tests to help determine the cause of his discomfort. Pending results, Gulliver's health deteriorated quickly, losing use of his rear right leg, and vision in his left eye. The lymph nodes in his jaw swelled up to nearly the size of a baseball. We discovered he had two tick-born illnesses, but these didn't really explain Gulliver's deteriorating conditions.

After two more vet visits, we were referred to Virginia Tech Emergency Vet. Cytology showed that our little buddy was eaten up with Blastomycosis (Blasto). Blasto is a fungal bacterial infection that is inhaled from wet soil and decaying wood. He could have picked it up in New York, Nashville, the flower-pot on our front porch, the WV State Fairgrouds, or the Greenbrier River. Who really knows?

Last week we had to have his left eye removed, and Gulliver was given a 50/50 chance of survival. The Blasto infecting Gulliver is the most aggressive example many of the vets have ever seen, and we are monitoring his rear leg and the rest of our boy for any additonal swelling, pain, abnormalities, and anything else that puts a frown on his happy face.

We had to have a couple more x-rays done yesterday morning, and are scheduled for routine radiology and internal medicine appointments at Virginia Tech. Gulliver will be on a heavy regiment of medications for at the least the next year, and maybe longer.

I am asking for some help covering the expenses of his bills. Just last week, we spent 5 Grand on the little guy. He's worth every penny, and then some :)

The fact that this happened during the holidays makes it that much harder, but there is never a good time for something like this to happen to your best friend.

Any donation amount will be greatly appreciated, and if you are unable to donate, please say a prayer and keep our little guy in your thoughts.