Snoopy and Buddy are ten-year-old Dachshunds in Mebane, NC, who need $1,044 for urgent dental surgery.

Any rescue will tell you horror stories about unwanted dogs ending up in shelters when their human parent passed away, and a relative just dumped them at the pound.

But even though Stephen R. has many debilitating health issues, there was no way he would let that happen to his mother's dogs, Snoopy and Buddy.

"My mother died of lung cancer," Stephen R. tells Waggle. "I'm permanently disabled with a bad pancreas, degenerative muscle disease, and on a fixed income. I inherited the two pups after she died. Since then, they have helped me get over my mother's death and are both a huge part of my life. I don't know what I would do without them. They have really helped me get through some rough times."

Recently both pups developed terrible teeth problems. They need to have dental surgery at Town 'n' Country Animal Hospital, but Stephen is struggling to pay for their care. "It breaks my heart to see them with teeth problems and feel like I can't do anything for them. I know how painful teeth problems can be. It can stop you from eating and lead to an infection. I'm just trying to live month to month, barely getting by. I need help for my pups. I can't afford the cost of them needing extensive dental work," Stephen says.

Stephen says he loves and cares for these dogs so much. If he could just come up with the money to help pay for their care, he would be so relieved. "Both sleep in their own small heated beds beside my bed," he says. "It is only the pups and me in my home. They are always there with me and play a huge role in helping me to deal with my disabilities. They both have been very supportive. They follow me everywhere, keeping up with me everywhere I go. It's almost like having little guardian angels watching over you 24/7."

Can you help Snoopy and Buddy get their teeth fixed up? It will leave Stephen smiling from ear to ear!