Save Gavin: A Beloved Golden Retriever in Need

Please help me save my Golden Retriever and best friend in the world.

Gavin, my boyfriend Max, and I (our little family) were in Gavin's favorite desert spot this weekend camping, when his stomach started bothering him. We packed up camp in record time, and rushed to the closest animal hospital 30 minutes away, but they were not equipped for the level of care he needed. He needed emergency surgery and overnight hospitalization and we were in the middle of nowhere. We picked Gavin up, rushed back to the car, and drove two hours to a facility near home in Irvine. He was brave while we drove from vet.

That facility diagnosed him with something called GDV (gastric dilatation-volvulus). His stomach had flipped over and was now cutting off circulation to his organs. He needed emergency surgery to survive.

We were given an estimate between $7,000-$9,800 before deciding whether to do the surgery. On my own, I would have no chance of affording this bill. Max opened a new credit card and put $9,200 deposit on that and paid cash for the rest, so Gavin went to emergency surgery. We waited...

Gavin survived surgery and his stomach was repositioned correctly, but the doctors had to remove his spleen, too, from lack of circulation. Gavin is currently at ICU in an oxygenated crate being monitored for pneumonia and cardiac arrhythmias he developed during surgery.

We paid another $2,000 for the surgeon to keep him in their care for now while we work out how to prepare for the rest financially and otherwise.

Anyone who knows Gavin knows he is the sweetest, most loving, caring, happy dog in the world. Everywhere he goes he makes people light up like crazy.

He takes care of me everyday. Over the last eight years since I got him, Gavin has gotten me out of bed on the days I did not think I could, he has made me smile and laugh through the hardest of times, and he is pure, unconditional love. He is a faithful, loving companion, and I need to do everything within my power to help him. So, I need to ask for your help in any way you can.

A prayer, a penny, a dollar, or a nice warm thought sent his way.