Tyrion is a 7-year-old Golden Retriever in Madison, WI, who needs $1,000 for Tumor removal.

Tyrion is a truly wonderful companion and has been my best friend since he was six weeks old. His birthday is the most important holiday of the year, and I tell him 10,000 times a day how wonderful he is and how much I appreciate him. He maintains a 75% territory distribution of my bed with his own pillow. I have always have and will continue to do everything I can to keep him happy and healthy.

Tyrion and I live alone together, we take care of one another and spend all of our free time together. He is also the celebrity of the entire neighborhood. As a grad student, I live close to campus. Most students can’t have pets, so they are always delighted to see him. Tyrion loves people and other animals and is never happier than when greeting a new friend. He is a pure source of joy and love.

I am a graduate student, living on a minimal and fixed income. I still have thousands of dollars of student loans and continue to have to pay student fees each semester. While I have always been frugal and saved whenever I could, by savings are rapidly depleting.

He developed a perianal mass six weeks ago, but the vet was confident that it was not urgent or dangerous, so advised me to keep an eye on it and keep it clean. As it got larger, it became clear that it needed to be surgically removed. Two weeks ago, he developed a second mass on his tongue, delaying his surgery until we could see a specialist. The biopsy has since confirmed cancer.

Tyrion is the sweetest, most loving dog I have ever known. Even when confronted by aggressive behaviors from other dogs, he is always reacts with gentle kindness. He is also hilarious and fantastically smart: I have watched him walk to my laundry basket and drop his ball into it, just so he can insist that I come get it for him and play. He nurtures me when I'm sad and bring joy to my life.