Through sheer wit and tenacity, my boy Paulie the Prodigy managed to survive the unforgiving Sunnyslope streets of Phoenix around this time last year. After being on the run for who knows how long, he finally found himself in the loving hands of HARTT - Humane Animal Rescue and Trapping Team. But despite finding refuge at their shelter and receiving loads of TLC from volunteers, it became clear that Paulie’s troubles weren’t over just yet.

Even with so much going for him and a whole team of people rooting for him, Paulie spent the next year in rescue slowly deteriorating, despite committed efforts to support his needs. Shelter life was simply not for him. It was nothing short of a miracle when an experienced foster home stepped up for Paulie, providing him with much-needed relief and structure while he was up for adoption. However, even after Paulie went into foster care, I just knew in my heart that he was meant to be with me.

So, before the New Year, I officially adopted Paulie with the promise to keep him out of the shelter system for good. There’s just one problem…

Although Paulie has made progress with me—just as he did in foster care—he hasn’t reached his full potential. In fact, he’s still struggling a lot. The most critical issue Paulie needs to overcome from his past life as a shelter pup is anxiety. His fear is so severe that I’m unable to leave him alone at all, or he will hurt himself.

To help Paulie overcome this final hurdle and live his best life with me, I’m raising money to send him to a board-and-train program with Jaime Martinez at Patriot Dog Training. Every dollar raised will go directly toward Paulie the Prodigy’s training, and I can tell you—helping my boy reach his full potential is worth every cent.

Can you help me help him by making a life-changing donation to this GoFundMe?

PS: Paulie and I share a birthday on the 21st! Giving him this training for our birthday would be an amazing gift.