Rocket is a 9-month-old White Retriever in Hancock, ME, who needs $2,000 for Stent and Coil Embolization of Portosystemic Shunt.

Rocket or as most call him "Rocket Man", no not the song by Elton John but more of the Guardians of the Galaxy because he's a bit crazy like the character. We adopted Rocket when he was three months old from friends of ours. We live rurally and have plenty of room for him to run around, eat sticks and sniff out deer dung which if you've ever have had a retriever it's literally like candy.

Rocket has been a whirl wind from day one from crashing zoomies in and out of house to batting the giggle ball around all the while having a stuffed animal in his mouth. There are plenty of walks when the weather isn't to frigid and he loves to taunt you when playing. At the end of the day, old boy is curled up in his own bed ready to sleep. He loves everybody and has the sweetest disposition.

Sticks, sticks sticks! It must be a retriever thing because he loves to chew them, eat them or just drag them around. Oh! and sleeping. This pup sleeps with all fours in the air. He is though the most endearing pup we have ever known. Like I said, he loves everybody, is happy, goofy and stubborn. He has this look he'll give you like "uuuh not having it, not doing it and not listening to you."

Rocket was born with an intrahepatic shunt which is the blood supply in liver (toxins) diverted to the major blood supply which would build up toxin levels like ammonia and if not treated they'll have seizures and then death. Surgery is an option, not 100% but will prolong his life from 2-3 yrs if managed medically to 8-13yrs. Dr. John Rush of Tufts hospital for small animals will do the surgery.

While we are able to meet our monthly financial obligations, including Rocket's special food and meds, the cost of the surgery is above and beyond our financial capabilities.