Hello everyone!

My name is Lauren Truscott and this is my dog, Joe (aka Joe Cocker, Joji berry, Coconut Joe, Jodle, etc). Joe is the sweetest boy I've ever known. He's been through a lot! He was rescued from a high kill shelter in California over a year ago...I don't know what he was doing before, but, at approximately 8 years old, he wasn't trained to go for walks, pee outside, or to sit or stay, etc. Joe had severe glaucoma and some lovely human took him from the high kill shelter to have his eye removed - he still had one eye to see from. While he was in the care of the lovely Cat's Cradle rescue, I saw him online at Victoria Humane Society and fell in love. By the time Joe and I met, his one remaining eye had gone completely blind with glaucoma, but love is blind and we fell in love instantly. I took Joe home last February 2015 and we've been together ever since!

In June, Joe's one eye started to cause him pain and his glaucoma became very bad. After weighing options, we had his eye removed to rid him of pain and because his sight was likely not to come back. At the time, this seemed very upsetting, but being the brave boy he is, he proved to me that this was the best move. After Joe healed from eye surgery, he became happier, and bouncier, and actually started running and enjoying walks. His pain was gone, and now he sees with his sense of smell and hearing (although his hearing is not great - his huge heavy ears don't help).

Joe and I help each other. He's been with me through some rough times this past year and he always cheers me up. He's my number one. He's a funny guy - he likes being silly and dancing around his bed; he loves scratches (especially around where his eyes were) and belly rubs; he loves to wiggle his little bum and stubby tail; and he loves to cuddle. He's amazing hiking up mountains and finding his way around houses, always onto the couch. Sometimes he's lazy and doesn't like to walk, but that's what humans are for, he thinks! I carry him.

Unfortunately, joe has bad teeth. I could handle it if the halitosis was the only problem, even when he licks my face, but the vet says he needs dental care fairly urgently or he could be in pain and may have complications from gum and tooth infection. He wasn't well taken care of the first half of his life, and I want the second half of his life to be pain free and joyous.

I'm trying to raise money to pay for his dental surgery. The surgery will decrease his pain and infection and prevent toxins from spreading from his gums and teeth. Without surgery, toxins from his peridontal disease can be absorbed into a dog's blood stream. As the kidneys, liver, and brain filter the blood, small infections occur causing permanent and at times fatal organ damage. Of course, I will do whatever I can do help Joe, but as vet bills are expensive, any help will be greatly appreciated and will mean his surgery can come soon.

Thank you for taking the time to read about Joe. If you ever meet him, you'll know what I mean about how lovely he is.

LOVE from Joe and Lauren! xo

p.s. To avoid having a percentage of your donation going to Fundrazr, please contact me directly at lauren.truscott@gmail.com  Thank you!