A couple of weeks ago, our puppy Buddy—a 1.5-year-old Goldendoodle—woke up with significant issues in his left eye. He was favoring it, unable to open it fully. It was very red, and we could see his third eyelid every time he looked at us.

Worried he may have scratched it or hit it on something, I brought him to his primary vet. They performed an exam, didn’t find any cuts, and prescribed eye drops.

Things didn’t get better—they got worse.

Buddy started pawing at his face. He was acting strange. He wouldn’t chase a ball, was less playful, and began leaving food in his bowl. He spent more time in his safe space. We knew something wasn’t right, but we wanted to give the drops a chance.

About a week later, he woke up with the same symptoms in his other eye. I brought him back to the vet as soon as possible. During this second exam, the doctor noticed that both lenses were changing—becoming foggy and less responsive to light. Buddy was less reactive to motion and missing treats placed right in front of him.

The speed and severity of the changes were alarming. We were immediately referred to a veterinary ophthalmologist.

There are only four specialists in the state of Wisconsin, and after spending half a day calling all of them, we were told Buddy couldn’t be seen for months. That wasn’t an option.

We were then referred to a clinic in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They were able to get Buddy in that following Monday. So we made the trip.

Buddy, already anxious with car rides, endured a 10-hour round trip just to be seen.

The hospital was incredible. They gave him the most thorough care we could have hoped for and diagnosed him with rapid-onset juvenile cataracts. Initially, we were told surgery—around $5,000—could restore his vision, pending additional scans.

But after further testing, we received devastating news.

Buddy was not a candidate for standard cataract surgery. He had extensive retinal damage in both eyes. One eye showed a partial retinal detachment, likely caused by the rapid progression and pressure from the cataracts. The other eye showed a large bulge behind the lens, indicating a tear in the capsule.

In just a matter of weeks, our puppy went blind—with no warning.

We were told this was likely caused by a rare genetic condition seen in retrievers.

So what are our options?

That’s why we’re creating this fundraiser.

There is a specialist in Missouri—700 miles away—who can perform a complex retinal and cataract surgery that could address all of Buddy’s issues, with an estimated 85% success rate.

This will be an extensive and expensive journey. Buddy will need lifelong eye medications, including costly drops to manage inflammation. He will also require multiple follow-up trips: once a week for a month, then once a month for three additional months.

Each trip is a 1,400-mile round trip, requiring hotel stays and time off work during the week.

Animals don’t choose their circumstances—people choose to give them homes, love, and care. I brought Buddy home, and I am committed to doing everything I can to give him the life he deserves.

I won’t give up on him.

We are already planning to sell personal items to help cover the cost, but we cannot do this alone.

If you are able, please consider donating. Every little bit helps. If you can’t donate, sharing this means just as much to us.

We just want to give Buddy the chance to see the world again.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any support you can give.