Laya is a one-year-old Catahoula mix in Moab, UT, who needs $2,000 for life-saving surgery.

Laya was surrendered to Underdog Animal Rescue and Rehab, and soon after got seriously ill. Veterinarians discovered the pup's body is creating multiple liver shuts. That means the central vein running to her liver is not connected correctly, making it impossible for her liver to function and remove toxins from her system.

Now she needs intricate and life-saving surgery at Colorado Animal Specialty Emergency (CASE) to fix the problem. "The toxins are being released freely into Laya's bloodstream. The veterinarian at CASE describes her surgery as a 'once in a career operation,'" the rescue tells Waggle.

The nonprofit rescue is doing everything it can to raise the money for Laya's urgent surgery. "Laya has not had a fair start in life," the group says. "We know situations like this are common in the rescue world, but we will always strive for a better tomorrow. Every amount helps."

Laya is one of nearly 1900 dogs the nonprofit organization has saved since they started in 2017. The group is dedicated to helping animals and supporting Native Americans of the Four Corners reservations in the Southwestern United States; that's where Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico meet. "If you look at a map, that point is someplace you can literally go stand with one foot in all four states at the same time," Katy Gullette, who founded the rescue, tells Waggle.

The Four Corners region is home to The Navajo Nation, which alone spans 27,000 square miles, an area bigger than the state of West Virginia. Several other tribes have reservations in the area and all struggle with poverty and a lack of basic services.

Underdog says Laya is a true underdog and hopes you will give to help her this holiday season. "She is the definition of joy. She is gentle, sweet, and so trusting, ready to love and be loved. Everyone who meets her falls head over heels! We believe the universe gifted us the joy of little Laya for a reason. We will do whatever it takes."