Hi, our names are Jeff and Elizabeth Hollingsworth, and our dog Toby recently had surgery for Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD). This is a common back problem among dachshunds and can cause pain and paralysis if not treated. Unfortunately, Toby's case happened suddenly and required surgery to fix it. His recovery required two nights at the vet's office as well as physical therapy sessions to regain the ability to walk. We hadn't expected any of this and had to use a credit card to cover the initial costs, which have reached almost $7,000 (and are still climbing). While we haven't received the first credit card statement yet, I know it will be difficult for us to make the payments. Any help you can give will be appreciated and will be put toward his care.

Toby was originally Elizabeth's aunt's dog, but moved to her parents' house after her aunt passed away in 2016. Since he is epileptic and needs medication, we would often take care of him while Elizabeth's parents were out of town. Over the years, he bonded with us and seemed to enjoy his time at our house. About 4 years ago, Toby officially moved to Mississippi to live with us permanently.

On Saturday, January 17, 2026, we noticed Toby struggling to climb the steps from our backyard to the door. By that night, he couldn't walk in a straight line. His balance and coordination continued to get worse, and on Wednesday (January 21), we decided that he needed to go to the vet. The vet examined him and diagnosed him with IVDD. His case was severe enough that if he didn't have surgery, he would soon lose the ability to walk, and the longer we waited, the lower his chances of recovery would be. We discussed our options and ultimately decided to do the surgery. Toby now requires physical therapy several times per week to relearn how to use his back legs. We have seen progress, but his therapist warned us that he seems likely to have a long recovery ahead of him.

Any donation you can make, no matter how small, will be a huge help. It will be applied to his surgery and physical therapy costs. If you are unable to donate, we completely understand. Please share Toby's story to help us get the word out and help our boy.