Hello friends,

Romeo needs your help! Romeo was rescued from an unsafe home where dogs were being bred and abused. The environment was chaotic and harmful, and Romeo’s earliest experiences were marked by fear and neglect rather than safety and care. When he was finally removed from that home, he was given a second chance at life one built on love, protection, and healing.

I adopted Romeo early last year, committed to giving him the life he always deserved. From the start, he showed just how special he is. Sensitive, affectionate, deeply bonded, and incredibly intuitive, Romeo quickly became my constant companion. He is the kind of dog who feels everything deeply and loves with his whole heart.

But not long after bringing him home, we began to notice that something wasn’t right.

Romeo started experiencing seizures, often after bursts of excitement and zoomies. Each terrifying episode left him disoriented, scared and confused. Romeo was hospitalized multiple times as veterinarians worked urgently to understand what was happening to his body.

In hopes of finding answers, Romeo underwent emergency airway surgery for Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome at Cornell University. We believed this surgery might finally explain and resolve the seizures by correcting oxygen flow issues. While the surgery was critical and necessary, the seizures did not stop.

In December, Romeo was hospitalized again at Orchard Park Animal Hospital after another severe episode. This time, doctors performed an MRI in an effort to identify a neurological cause. Even with advanced imaging and specialist care, the results still did not reveal a clear explanation. Once again, we were left with more questions than answers.

This week, Romeo suffered his most severe and frightening seizure yet.

The episode became emergent and life threatening, cutting off oxygen to his brain and triggering aspiration pneumonia. He is currently hospitalized, fighting to recover, while doctors stabilize his lungs and plan for additional surgeries once the pneumonia clears. Each step forward requires careful monitoring, intensive treatment, and ongoing specialist involvement.

In just the first year of his life, Romeo has been seen by five different animal care facilities. Adoring Pets. BluePearl. Cornell University. Veterinary Alternatives. Orchard Park Animal Hospital. Each has worked tirelessly to help him, yet his condition remains complex and unresolved.

Romeo is not just a medical case. He is a young dog who has already endured more than most ever should. He wants to run, play, cuddle, and live without fear of the next episode stealing his breath or his consciousness. These unexplained events are wreaking havoc on his life, and the emotional and financial toll of his care has become overwhelming.

Still, Romeo keeps fighting.

What makes Romeo so special isn’t just how hard he’s fought, it’s how deeply he loves. Romeo is a big lover in every sense of the word. He meets the world with an open heart. Everywhere he goes, strangers become friends. Vet visits turn into love fests. Even in the most stressful moments, he finds a way to connect, to comfort, to soften the room.

Every hospital we’ve been to tells me the same thing: he’s everyone’s favorite.

The staff always comment on his gentle nature, his patience, and how much he seems to understand what’s happening around him. He leans into their hands, looks up at them with complete trust.

When it’s time for him to come home, it’s never a quick exit. Romeo gets paraded through the hospital so he can say goodbye to everyone. Techs, nurses, doctors he has to see them all. He soaks up every hug, every “I’ll miss you,” every whispered encouragement. It’s become a ritual, one that reminds me how deeply he impacts the people who care for him.

Even in a place where so many animals come through the doors, Romeo stands out. Not because of his illness, but because of his presence. His kindness. His ability to make people feel something real.

He gives so much love to everyone he meets. All I want is to make sure he gets to keep giving it for a long, long time.

If you’re able to help, please consider donating toward Romeo’s vet bills or sharing his story with others!

let’s give Romeo the chance he deserves!