Meet Teddy—a sweet, senior pup who has already been through so much. He was found wandering alone in the pouring rain, lost and afraid, in a parking lot. My sister, Michelle, couldn’t bear to leave him there, so she took him to be scanned for a microchip, hoping to reunite him with his family. Sadly, he had no chip, and the shelter was full. Animal control was closed. There was nowhere for him to go.

So, Michelle did what any true animal lover would—she took him home to keep him safe.

On the way home, she noticed something heartbreaking: Teddy was covered in fleas and coughing. She immediately gave him a warm bath and rushed him to the emergency vet, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia. But that was only the beginning.

A few days later, Michelle’s regular vet confirmed that Teddy’s health issues ran deeper. His X-rays and blood tests revealed a severely enlarged heart and a painful cough caused by advanced heartworm disease. This poor boy had clearly been suffering for a long time—alone, untreated, and in need of love. Based on his condition, the vet estimates he is around 11 years old.

The 14-day stray hold has passed, and no one has come forward to claim him. But Michelle has. She has committed to making the rest of Teddy’s days full of love, comfort, and care—exactly how a dog’s life should be. He now has a warm bed, homemade meals, and a new best friend in his canine sister Bailey.

But giving Teddy the life he deserves comes at a cost.

In just the first two weeks, Michelle has spent $267 at the emergency vet and $762 at her regular vet, all in hopes that Teddy’s family might return. Now that she’s his forever home, she is moving forward with the vet’s recommended heartworm treatment, which will cost another $1,400.

Michelle has a huge heart, but as a single mom, these unexpected expenses are overwhelming. Any donation—big or small—will help offset these expenses and support Teddy's new loved and happy life he has always deserved.

If we raise more than needed for his care, Michelle will donate the extra funds to Daisy Bean Rescue (daisybeanrescue.org), a local nonprofit that helps dogs like Teddy in the Charlotte area.

Please consider donating or sharing Teddy’s story. Together, we can show him that he was never truly alone—because he has us now.