Irie is a 8-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier Mix (Beagle & Shiba Inu) in Wilmington, NC, who needs $2,000 for Cervical Foreign Body Extraction.

Irie became a part of my life in December of 2013 after I saw her advertised as a runt in desperate need of a loving home. Her sweet little face immediately drew me in and I knew my two five year old rescue dogs needed a puppy to revive their energy. Irie had never been indoors and had much to learn, but quickly adjusted. She was the perfect fit for our family pack and has been the best blessing.

I am a DV survivor & former homicide detective, so she helps me stay on a routine which is very important as I live with bipolar disorder & (c)PTSD. She loves to snuggle close to her grandma (my mom) at night, her buddy. She's inspired many of my art pieces & her positive spirit keeps Jazmine (14) thriving despite her cancer. Irie also walks with an elderly disabled PTSD veteran neighbor daily.

Irie is brilliant, has a complex vocabulary & does tricks. "Irie" means "good" and she lives up to her name all the time; she is the sweetest, most loving pup. She loves her food and gets so excited about her morning playtime, and always knows what time it is. She snores so loud some times it will make anyone laugh or brighten your mood on a gloomy day. Irie is super loyal & loves to give kisses.

Irie was making strange coughing sounds after eating a Virbac Veggident chew and I felt a hard, large object protruding out of the right side of her neck. She is currently in the ICU at Eastern Carolina Veterinary Referral and waiting for the surgical teams to come to work on Monday to better assess how to safely remove the chew without further damage. She is stable, but if not removed will die.

I live with chronic migraines, asthma, cPTSD, GAD, social anxiety, & ADHD in part from things I was exposed to as a police officer. I cannot work & am on disability, as I must maintain intensive mental health treatment. I live w/my 70 yoa retired mom on a fixed income.