Hello everyone,

I hope you and your families are all doing well.

I never imagined our family would ever need to start a GoFundMe, but here we are. This weekend, our sweet Jax had to undergo an emergency, life-saving surgery after a sudden medical issue. Thankfully, the procedure went smoothly and without complications. Jax has handled recovery like a champ, and the vets even let him come home a day earlier than expected. He’s tired but doing great — and we’re so grateful to have him back home where he belongs.

It all started when Jax began vomiting Thursday morning. We assumed it was just a mild stomach bug or something he ate that didn’t sit right. After a few vet visits, shots, medicine, IV and X-rays, we finally discovered the real problem — he had swallowed a small piece of corn cob that one of the kids was eating, and it had become lodged in his small intestine. The blockage required immediate surgery to save his life.

If you’ve ever met Jax, you know he’s not just a dog — he’s family. Jax joined our family when I was in college and working nights as a door guy at bars in Houston. Everyone knew him. He grew up surrounded by people, attention, and love — and somewhere along the way, I didn’t realize I raised him as if he was a human too.

Over the years, Jax has been part of so many of our family’s memories — birthday parties, holidays, sporting events, and endless get-togethers. He’s truly been there for so many chapters of our lives.

As time has gone on, our family has grown — we now have two amazing kids, Mila and Tommy. Like many parents, we know that pets sometimes take a backseat once kids arrive. But that hasn’t stopped Jax from being the most patient, loving, and protective big brother.

Our new neighborhood has been incredible — a cul-de-sac full of kids and pet-loving families. Most evenings, we hang outside with neighbors while Jax and our other dog, Sophie, run around soaking up all the attention. Jax has quickly become part of the neighborhood family, loved by everyone who meets him.

Jax’s emergency surgery was completely unexpected and came with a significant cost — $9,000 to be exact. We’ve done our best to cover what we can, but we could really use some help with the rest and his recovery care.

For anyone who’s ever loved a dog, you know they give us everything — love, loyalty, and comfort — without expecting anything in return. We just want to give Jax the same love back and make sure he recovers fully.

Every donation, big or small, truly helps — and even a simple share means so much to our family. ❤️

With heartfelt thanks,

The Peña’s