Help Us Save Cooper – Our Sweet Golden Retriever Puppy

On April 25, 2025, our family welcomed a new puppy into our home. With our three senior dogs all over the age of 10, we thought a new puppy might bring fresh energy into the house and help ease our transition as our older dogs continue to age.

Enter Cooper—a 9-week-old Golden Retriever. He was shy, quiet, and absolutely adorable.

We kept his arrival a surprise from our young kids, just in case things didn’t work out. That Friday, I drove to the Georgia-South Carolina border to bring Cooper home. When our kids met him for the first time, their reaction was priceless—tears, smiles, laughter, and an immediate bond. They named him Cooper on the spot and showered him with love.

That first weekend, Cooper met our other dogs, six more dogs from friends, ten excited kids, and a house full of energy. He was quiet and tired, but we chalked it up to nerves and overstimulation.

By Monday, our best friends noticed something was wrong—his gums and tongue were ghostly white. Karlea rushed him to CVETS, an emergency vet clinic in Columbia. I got the call at work: Cooper was severely anemic. His blood looked like water. He needed an emergency blood transfusion, but the clinic didn’t have the means to perform it. We were told we had to make a decision—rush him to another hospital, or prepare to say goodbye.

I interrupted the doctor—there was no decision to make. Time was critical. Karlea rushed him to a second emergency hospital, not knowing if Cooper would survive the drive.

Thanks to the incredible team, Cooper received a lifesaving transfusion and spent two nights in the ICU. Tests revealed a likely portosystemic shunt—a congenital defect affecting blood flow to the liver. He was sent home on five medications and a prescription diet.

To confirm the diagnosis, Cooper needs a CT scan that costs over $3,000. We got a second opinion from South Carolina Veterinary Specialists, who agreed with the initial findings.

If the shunt is external, surgery can be performed locally. If it's internal, he’ll need a more complex procedure at the University of Georgia, which could cost $7,500–$10,000.

Without surgery, Cooper may not live to see his first birthday. His liver will fail, and he’ll become dangerously anemic again.

The financial burden is simply too much for our family to carry alone.

Cooper has already brought so much joy into our lives, especially to our three children. They've taken him camping, watched him learn to swim, and help give him his medication every day. He’s part of our family, and we want to give him the full, happy life he deserves.

If you’re able to donate—no matter how small—you’re helping give Cooper a fighting chance.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness and support.