This is our sweet charcoal lab, River. She is a beloved part of our family and has been a loyal companion to me from the first moment I picked her out up in 2016. River was the runt, and no one wanted her. She was the last pup left when I found her, and I know she was waiting for me.

River loves to swim, play fetch with her orange ball, and explore the outdoors with the family. She loves car rides and is up for any adventure. She has a fierce bark but is all talk, and she will immediately roll onto her back for belly rubs from anyone. She loves to eat and will let us know when it's time for dinner. When she wants a late night snack, she will bring us her Kong toy and sit in front of us until we fill it with peanut butter. She loves ripping up her toys to find the squeaker inside. She is sweet, gentle, and an integral member of our family.

I have suffered from immense anxiety my entire life. On a daily basis, River calms my heart and mind with her endless love. She gets me like no one else. My oldest son inherited a propensity for high anxiety, and I am grateful to see River have the same calming effect on him (except when she snatches his bacon at breakfast). Often he and River will be found snuggling on our bed with my son stroking her head and saying, "I love you River."

River sustained a serious injury to one of her rear legs three weeks ago. She has seen two different vets, and both gave the same diagnosis: the ligament in front of her knee is severed, and if she is to ever be able to fully use her hind leg again without being in great pain, then an expensive $8,000 surgery is needed. The good news is that with the surgery, she is expected to make a full recovery and be able to return to normal activity.

Without the surgery, the best we can do is keep her on a daily dose of pain killers and anti inflammatory medication to make her as comfortable as possible. Unfortunately, in addition to not being able to put weight on her leg the rest of her life, the long term use of the medications will wreak havoc on her liver and kidneys, which we are told will lead to organ failure within a year or so.

While we know that her time will eventually come to an end and we'll have to let her go, we are not yet ready for that. We know she has several years ahead of her and are determined to do all we can to give her a second chance to live an active life doing what she loves.

While most of those who see this request do not know me, my family, or River personally, I humbly ask for any financial support you feel you can donate to a fellow stranger who is trying to be the best husband, father, and provider to his family while also trying to save River. I will forever be grateful and look forward to a time in my life when I can pay it forward to someone else.

Sincerely,

Andrew & Family