Hi friends, this is Daisy’s mom

I’m reaching out with some nervousness (and a lot of hope) to ask for help with a big dental surgery Daisy needs on June 16th. The estimated cost is between $2,250 and $3,600, depending on how many teeth need to be pulled. Two of her canines are loose and may need to come out, but we won’t know exactly what needs to happen until she’s under anesthesia. She may very well end up with the Muttville Salute™ like her sister Dot.

Daisy is one of the great loves of my life. She came into my world when I wasn’t looking for another pet, but she knew better. And thank goodness she did, because within 13 months of her adoption, I lost my entire animal family: Pearl (my first dog and forever angel), Bruno (my cat of 17 years), and Wednesday (my dearest baby dog). Daisy was the glue that held me together. She still is.

When she was rescued, Daisy was in really rough shape. She was found stray in Oakland, and her fur had gotten so matted that it created a tourniquet around her back leg, which had to be amputated. She was described as being “caked in feces,” and her teeth were in such bad condition that most had to be removed. Despite whatever she went through before we met, Daisy wakes up thrilled to be alive every single day. She absolutely loves every person she meets, demands compliments and pets shamelessly (as she should), and brings joy to total strangers on a regular basis. Her smile is infectious. Being a tripod has never slowed her down. If anything, it just makes her even cooler. I honestly don’t know how I got so lucky to be her person.

I myself have been dealing with very intrusive, and at times debilitating, complex and chronic medical symptoms for the past 4.5 years, and have not been able to work consistently because of this. I do what work I can when my body allows for it. I have enough saved to pay for Daisy’s surgery, so she is getting it no matter what. I also have a surgery of my own coming up later this year (I'll spare the details on my health journey here- but there is a modicum of hope for the first time in years with recent developments, and hopefully I will be in a better place physically and financially soon). I’m doing my best to prepare and stay afloat, but I’m scared, and this is a hard time, so I am humbly reaching out to our community for support. I know that it is a very hard time for so many people, and we have no expectations. Just sending love to Daisy to make it through her surgery healthily and happily is wonderful and appreciated support.

Several friends have kindly offered to pitch in for Daisy’s care, so I’m making this GoFundMe as a place for that support to live. Even $5 makes a difference and is received with so much gratitude. If you’re not in a position to donate we completely understand. If you are willing, sharing this with your circles would also mean a lot.

If we somehow raise more than the final cost of Daisy’s procedure, any extra funds will be donated to Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco, where Daisy (and all my other dogs—Pearl, Wednesday, and Dot) came from. I am a huge believer in senior pet rescue and giving endless love and care to those who others have abandoned or forgotten (or can no longer care for for no fault of their own).

Thank you so much for reading, and for being part of our little corner of love and resilience.

With true love,

Mia and Daisy (who is "napping" right now with one eye open, just in case something fun is about to happen)