Help Bring Coal Home to His Best Friend

Three weeks ago, our sweet 1.5-year-old black lab mix, Coal, became suddenly and severely ill with uncontrollable vomiting. Since then, it has been a terrifying whirlwind of emergency clinic visits, three separate hospitalizations, and a major exploratory surgery to check for a digestive obstruction.

While the surgery ruled out a blockade, Coal was diagnosed with severe Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The treatment that can save his life is a steroid regimen, but because he has lost 10 pounds and is incredibly weak, he needs intensive, round-the-clock supportive care before his body is strong enough to handle the medication.

We rescued Coal from the Tacoma Humane Society last year, and he instantly became the beating heart of our family. He lives for sunny afternoons fetching balls at the Point Defiance Dog Park and spending every possible moment playing with his absolute favorite person in the world—our 10-year-old daughter. Watching him fight so hard to come home to her has been heartbreaking, but Coal is a resilient boy, and we aren't giving up on him.

The cost of his surgeries, hospital stays, and ongoing critical care has quickly grown beyond what we can manage on our own. We are humbly asking for your help to give Coal the medical care he needs to get through this final hurdle.

Every single donation, no matter the size, goes directly toward Coal’s veterinary care and recovery. If you aren't able to donate, sharing his story with your network means the world to us. We are so deeply grateful for your kindness, thoughts, prayers, and support as we fight to bring our boy back to the dog park and home where he belongs.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

The Tripp Family