In November we welcomed Boris, our 6½-year-old Shih Tzu, into our home after rehoming him. We were told his owner had cancer and sadly needed to rehome him. As a single parent, I took Boris in hoping he would become a loving companion for my autistic little boy, who had been longing for a friend. Sadly, it quickly became clear that Boris hadn’t had the life we were told he had. The day after bringing him home, Boris started urinating blood. We rushed him to the vet and he was diagnosed with a UTI and given antibiotics. Since then, we’ve been doing everything we can to help him settle into his new home and feel safe. Last week his symptoms returned. Our vet ran further tests, including a urine test and an ultrasound, and we received heartbreaking news. Boris has a very large bladder stone that is taking up most of his bladder and causing him a lot of pain. The vet believes, from its size, that it has been growing for a long time, long before Boris came to live with us. Boris needs surgery to remove the stone as soon as possible. Without it, he will continue to suffer and his condition could become life-threatening. The lowest price our vet can offer for the surgery is £1,500. As a single parent, I simply don’t have that kind of money available. Unfortunately, because Boris needed veterinary treatment before I had the chance to get insurance, the insurance company will not cover this condition. We are absolutely heartbroken. Boris has already been through so much in his short life, and since coming to us he has finally started to feel safe and loved. My little boy adores him, and seeing Boris in pain is devastating for both of us. We are asking for any help, no matter how small, to give Boris the surgery he desperately needs so he can live a happy, pain-free life. If you’re unable to donate, sharing our story would mean the world to us. Thank you for taking the time to read Boris’s story and for helping us try to give him the healthy future he deserves.